The American Museum Journal 



Volume XVII 



MAY, 1917 



Number 5 



Reminiscences of a Founder of the 

 American Museum 



THE CITY OF NEW YORK IS THE ABSOLUTE OWNER OF THE BUILDINGS, 



THE MUSEUM OW^NS THE COLLECTIONS — AN ARRANGEMENT WHICH 



HAS STEADILY FOSTERED MORE AND MORE CLOSE AND CORDIAL 



RELATIONS BETWEEN THE MUSEUM AND THE PEOPLE 



Bv JOSEPH H. C H O A T E 



YOU ask me to contribute for 

 the Journal something about 

 the beginnings of the Ameri- 

 can Museum, in which, as the only sur- 

 viving founder, I had something to do. 

 Nobody ever dreamed at that remote 

 time, nearly fifty years ago, that the 

 American Museum of Natural History 

 vrould ever reach its present vast pro- 



portions and splendid utility. New York 

 was far behind other American cities in 

 this development of knowledge and sci- 

 ence. Sporadic efforts had indeed been 

 made to establish a museum where the 

 collections of New York's learned nat- 

 uralists might be gathered, but thus far 

 Philadelphia and Boston had been al- 

 lowed to lead. I remember that, when 



In Memoriam. — We have the voice of Mr. Choate with us today, in a loyal and proud 

 word for the institution he helped to found. With other trustees he has for nearly fifty 

 years had a feeling of fatherly ownership and responsibility as year after year he watched 

 the organization rise from its infancy to its present commanding stature in science and 

 education. And for the same fifty years the American Museum on its side has looked upon 

 him -with affectionate admiration, and, feeling a contented mind under the protection of 

 this representative of the law, the foremost advocate of the American Bar, has been able 

 to devote itself unreservedly to the work for which it was founded. 



It is a satisfaction to remember how greatly Mr. Choate enjoyed the Museum he had 

 helped to found. He was a very frequent visitor up to the last days of his life. I recall 

 one occasion when his enjoyment was very evident. It was one Saturday forenoon in the 

 early spring of 1917, and about time for the "Children's Lecture" to begin in the audi- 

 torium of the Museum. Outside, the weather was gray, with a cold wind; inside, where 

 many hundred children had come gaily trooping, there was a great sunshine of adventure 

 and anticipation of the journeyings they were to make into the jungleland of Africa — or 

 was it into the American wildernesses of our wild flowers or birds? I forget, I fear, what 

 was the subject of that particular children's lecture. 



Then he came in smiling, among the children, and many people both young and old 

 whispered "Mr. Choate," with accents of reverence for his great name and exultation that 

 they were in an audience of which he was to be a member. He was in one of his gayest 

 moods, it seemed. He was holding a grandchild by each hand, and I veritably believe he 

 Avas quite as filled with fun and anticipation of the pleasure ahead as were the children. 

 After the lecture and after they had viewed some of the Museum exhibits, accompanying 

 Mr. Sherwood, head of the department of education of the Museum, one of the children said 

 exultingly, "Are we not lucky to have grandpa for a grandpa!" She had quite the right 

 point of view. And the American Museum could have said with equal sincerity and em- 

 phasis, "We are immeasurably glad that Mr. Choate is our founder, trustee, and friend." 



I regret that the following article, written by Mr. Choate very shortly before his death, 

 was not published, together Avith an expression of the Museum's appreciation of his wise 

 counsels and his loyalty through the many years, while he could yet see them. The portrait, 

 he sent as his favorite among recent pictures of himself. It conveys the magnetism of his 

 personality in large degree — with its intellectuality and benignity in the upper face and 

 its pathos and humor about the mouth. It is true that from his standpoint at least it could 

 scarcely have mattered that they were not published in time. His last days were full of 



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