— 
section of geology. 
WASHINGTON STAR 
UNDER NEW CHIEFS 
Head Curators of Sections in the Na- 
tional Museum, - 
ee nS 
RETURN OF PROP, WILLIAM H, HOLMES 
Trio of Distinguished Students Se- 
lected to Preside. 
———- 
THE MUSEUM REORGANIZED 
Prefessor William H. Holmes, who was 
appointed head curator of the section of 
anthropology of the National Museum July 
1, has returned to Wasnington to assume his 
G@uties. Professor Holmes has been in Chi- 
| cago for the past three years and a half. 
| His appointment was a source of great, 
gratification to his many friends in this 
city, which he made his residence for a | 
long nember of years previous to his ac- | 
eeptance of a position in Chicago. From a 
Scientific point of view alone, Washington 
is a great gainer by Professor Holmes 
| leaving Chicago, as he is one of the most 
/ eminent anthropologists in America. 
| As was stated at the time in ‘The Star, at 
the suggestion of Acting Seeretary Wolcott 
of the Smithsonian Institution, in, charge 
of the National Museum, and with the | 
consent of Secretary Langley, who has 
charge of .the institution, the different de-_ 
partments were divided into three sections | 
W. H. Holmes. 
Bates of anthropology, biology and ge- 
Head curators were appointed to. have 
charge of these, with salaries ¢ach of 
$3,500 a year. Prof. Holmes was appointed 
to the anthropological section, Dr. Frederick 
W. True in charge of that. of Bislogy and 
Dr. George P. Merrill at the head of the 
i 
OCTOBER @, L897. 
The Classifications. : 
In the section of anthropology is class- 
ed everything pertaining to man; in the 
biological section are placed the things re- 
lating to zoology and botanical subjects, 
while in the section of geology. are classed 
mineralogical specimens. and those of sim- | 
| 
| 
ilar character. : 
Two of these head curators are at pres- 
ent.in the city—Prof. Holmes and Dr. True. 
Dr. Merrill is absent, having. gone to. the | 
geological congress in Moscow, Russia, — 
from where he is expected to return by the 
first of November Z 
Of the three head curators Prof. Holmes 
is probably the best known in Washing- 
ten, he having been a resident of the cap- 
ital for more than twenty-five years, and 
being closely identified with itS interests. 
He lett Washington three and a half years 
ago to become professor of anthrovie ge- 
ology, and at the same time was tendered | 
the position of curator of anthropology in | 
“the Field -Colunwiataiuseunr of Chicago. | 
Prof. Holmes is a native of Harrison | 
-eounty, Chio, and is-a graduate of one of | 
the state normal schools. His introduction | 
to the scientific life of the capital was of 
rather strange occurrence. He was pass- | 
ing through Washington: on his way to | 
continue his education in Salem, Mass., and | 
stopped over a day to visit the Smithsonian | 
Institution. He was engaged there; for his | 
own amusement, in making a Sketch of a. 
brilliant bird, which had struck bis fancy. 
While engaged at this a gentleman hap- 
pened to pass by and stopped to watch the | 
young man’s work. Becoming interested, | 
the gentleman inquired if he could draw | 
a variety of objects, stating that he him- 
self was going to Alaska, and he wished-to | 
engage some one in his place. It was Prof. 
Hiesiteiett—-who took Holmes upstairs, 
and introduced him to Prof. Meek, who was 
a leading authority on paleontological mat- 
ters... : See 
Prof. Holmes was engaged to make draw- 
ings of different objects, after a short con- 
versation, and continued the work all sum- | 
‘mer, giving entire satisfactino. This was in | 
the summer’of 1871. : 
Engaged as Artist. 
In the following spring Prof. Holmes_ 
was appointed to a position with the Hay- 
den survey, which left for the Rocky. 
mountains, as artist. He remained there 
three years, and was then placed in charge’ 
of a geological division He . continued 
survey work in the southwest, having in- 
‘structions to make examinations of cliff 
dwellings. Reports were made of these 
and Prof. Holmes became greatly inter- 
ested in the subject. 5 
A little later the survey was reorganized | 
and Prof. Holmes was transferred to the 
new one, under Prof. Powell. He began 
the study’ of aboriginal American arts, 
started with his cliff dwelling explorations. 
He became an honorary curator in the 
National Museum and had charge of native 
ceramics. ; : 
In 1889 Major Powell had Prof. Holmes 
transferred to the bureau of ethnology, 
so that he might take up the study of 
‘archacology.. The questions at issue -re- 
Del od 
oe 9 eA 
jating to glacial man seemed to require, 
not only a Knowledge of archaeology, but 
of geology. Several years were spent in| 
field work, of which he had charge, in re-— 
lation to the antiquity of man in America. 
ca. j Roe 
Prof. Holmes’ discovery of the quarries 
on Piney branch, Mt. Pleasant, were pub= 
dished at the time, and caused a décided. 
sensation in scientific circles; as they had 
a bearing upon the whole htetory of: 
7A. 
