MORRIS KETCHUM JESUP 



the purchase of land or the payment of salaries, or for labor 

 or for services of any kind, ordinarily considered under the 

 item of maintenance. 



I wish to explain that I have bequeathed this sum of one 

 million dollars ($1,000,000) to The American Museum of 

 Natural History, and that I have made for it the other be- 

 quests and provisions contained in my Will because of the 

 fact that I have been identified with the Museum from its 

 Act of Incorporation to the present time. I have been its 

 President since 1881. Since that time I have devoted a great 

 part of my life, my time, my thoughts and my attention to its 

 interests. I believe it to be to-day one of the most effective 

 agencies which exist in The City of New York for furnishing 

 education, innocent amusement and instruction to the people. 

 It can be immensely increased in its usefulness by increasing 

 its powers. The City of New York, under its contract with 

 the Museum, is to provide buildings and to maintain them, 

 but the buildings must be filled with specimens. This means 

 that for the purpose, the necessary amount must come from 

 individual donors. It is in order that the means for this pur- 

 pose may be helped, as the Museum must grow in additional 

 buildings by the City, and in view of its great possibilities for 

 the future, that I make for the Museum the bequests and pro- 

 visions contained in my Will, relying upon the Trustees of 

 the Museum to do their share, by looking after the invest- 

 ment of the funds, the use of its income and by carefully 

 watching over, and wisely planning for the best interests of 

 this great institution. 



[39] 



