tutions which now gives to the City of New York 
the lead among all the cities of the world. 
From this auspicious beginning Mr. Choate 
served voluntarily as Counsel from 1869 to 1917, 
lending his tact, his sagacity, his influence, and, 
where necessary, his best fighting powers to the 
protection of the Museum. In the Legislature of 
the State of New York, who but Mr. Choate could 
have influenced William M. Tweed to favor the 
Museum’s Charter? In subsequent years, who but 
he could have fought off the legislative bill to tax the 
property of the Museum? Who but Mr. Choate 
could have defended the rights of the Museum in 
the new Charter? 
It is interesting at this point to cite in succes- 
sion the entries in THE MINUTES OF THE 
BOARD OF TRUSTEES which manifest his great 
and varied activities between February 1, 1869, 
and May 7, 1917: 
[31] 
