464 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The day was set aside for both the formal opening of the Indian 

 museum and for the ceremonies of presentation and acceptance. 

 Of Mrs Converse's work, Secretary Dewey in his address to the 

 assemblage said: 



We have recently had most valuable assistance from Mr Edward 

 Winslow Paige of Schenectady, who as well as Mr Richmond has 

 for years been deeply interested in all that pertains to the Iroquois. 

 Not least are we indebted to Mrs Harriet Maxwell Converse, who 

 early and late has labored for the success of this museum, which will 

 do so much to stimulate public interest in the Indians whom she loves 

 so well, and in whose behalf she hesitates at no labor or sacrifice. 

 With the singular felicity which has so often characterized the 

 Indian names, she bears among the Iroquois, to whom she belongs 

 by adoption, and in whose councils she holds a high and honorable 

 position, the name Yaiewano, which means " she watches for us." 

 Her work, of which it has been my good fortune to know not a 

 little in recent years, entitles her richly to this name. 



With the cooperation of such friends and the very judicious 

 expenditure of the small sum appropriated, we have secured a 

 splendid collection, which a few years later no money could buy, 

 as the national and other museums are seeking to add to their own 

 collections anything of so great ethnographic interest as the relics 

 of the famous Six Nations. Among these, like the Sibylline and 

 Doomsday books, infinitely the most precious were the wampums. 

 Their possible destruction, loss or injury was feared alike by the 

 red men and the white men who understood their value, and happily 

 they saw alike that the most fitting place of safety in all the world 

 would be this fireproof Capitol of the State. The proposition found 

 favor and after full consideration was formally adopted by the 

 Onondagas, with whom this responsibility rests, and the original 

 papers constituting the University keeper of the wampums forever 

 have been duly executed with all legal form and deposited in the 

 archives of the State with the wampums themselves, which are 

 exhibited here in the Senate chamber this afternoon. 



It seemed to me that such an event deserves some more public 

 recognition and that the members of the convocation who are in- 

 trusted with the conduct of the institutions of higher education of 

 this great State would be glad to be present at what is doubtless 

 the last great council of the most famous confederacy known to 

 aboriginal times. It seemed especially desirable that delegates chosen 

 by each of the nations should meet and formally and solemnly 

 ratify the action of the Onondagas in making safe forever the most 

 precious records connected with Indian history. Invitations were 

 issued and sent to all the reservations. Councils were held in due 

 form and delegates were chosen to share in this ratification. 

 Through the courtesy of the New York Central Railroad, special 

 cars were put at the disposal of these delegates. The Albany His- 

 torical Society with its accustomed liberality asked to share in the 



