In 1913, she established the Anna Palmer Draper Fund in memory of her father, Courtlandt Palmer, for the purchase of books on architecture, decoration, embroidery, etc. After the death of Dr. John S. Billings, first Director of The New York Public Library, Mrs. Draper established the John S. Billings Memorial Fund for the purchase of books for the Reference Department, and had a book-plate designed for the volumes bought with the proceeds of the fund. A bequest in Mrs. Draper's will left to the Library $200,000 as a fund of which the interest is to be spent to perpetuate the John S. Billings Memorial. Another fund of $200,000 from the residuary estate, which will under certain circumstances be increased, is to have its interest applied to perpetuate the Anna Palmer Draper Fund. Further bequests include one of $50,000 of which the interest is to be used for the assistance of employees of the Library who may be ill or disabled. This, also, is to perpetuate a fund established for a similar purpose during Mrs. Draper's life. Still further, she left to the Library such books and prints as might be selected from her library, together with her collection of engraved gems, rosaries, amulets, and other objects of art. These included the oil portraits of Mrs. Draper, by John W. Alexander, and of John William Draper, by Joseph Fagnani. The books and pamphlets left to the Library by Mrs. Draper number 2,570. There were, in addition, 336 prints and sixty-three photographs. The books constitute a good collection of general literature in excellent editions. It includes books of fiction, history, poetry, and travel, but it is especially strong in works of astronomy, art, exploration, and anthropology. In the latter class, Mrs. Draper's interest in folklore, primitive religions, curious beliefs and superstitions, is especially apparent, and there are many titles of books about witchcraft, the evil eye, second sight, social customs, astrology, sorcery, dreams, spectral phenomena, and other similar topics. The subjects of engraved gems, scarabs, and the art of cutting gems and seals are represented by a number of titles. The prints which came through the Draper bequest comprise mainly modern work. There are etchings by Haig (of whose work the Library, through gifts from Mrs. Draper, already had a large collection), Fitton, Cameron, Haden, Millet, and others, including a number of Americans: Pennell, Platt, Parrish, Bacher, Manley, Mielatz, Washburn and Whistler; lithographs by Kallmorgen and others furnished their note of contrast. Original drawings bear the signatures of A. B. Frost, C. Green, Pennell, Haig, and E. van Muyden. And there is a little group of older prints: stipple engravings by Bartolozzi, Delattre, Sintzenich; mezzotints; line engravings. Finally, there are prints of purely historical interest, such as Duplessi-Bertaux's portrait of Napoleon. Thus, the varied interest to be found in the field of prints is well emphasized in this collection, part of which has been placed on view in the present exhibition of recent additions. In the collection of rosaries, amulets, and engraved gems, etc., are found (to name only a few items) a number of modern Egyptian necklace-charms, two ancient Egyptian amulets, eleven small Chinese amulets (seven of stone and four of bronze), forty-two Buddhist rosaries, twentytwo Chinese Mandarin necklaces, a bone rosary from Zanzibar, two tikitikis from New Zealand (one of jade and one of whalebone), a Jewish phylactery, a rolled lead cursing plate, an African witch-doctor's switch, twenty-seven Russian ikons and amulets, thirteen Russian rosaries, sixteen ancient seals of agate, carnelian, etc., an obsidian mask from ancient Egypt, fifty-two Assyrian and other cylindrical seals in agate, carnelian, hematite, etc., some with cuneiform inscriptions. There are also necklaces of ancient Greek silver coins and of Egyptian scarabs, gold and silver coins of Greece, Egypt, Japan, and China, Arabian bangles mounted in modern gold filigree work, snuffboxes, gold and silver rings, and necklaces of ancient glass beads, gold coins and silver plaques. T THE LIBRARY'S PRINT ROOM BY DR. FRANK WEITENKAMPF, CHIEF OF THE ART AND PRINTS DIVISION HE customary spring exhibition of "Recent Additions" to the Print Room offers an annual opportunity for retrospection. On this occasion we may rest on our oars and take note of progress. Not altogether of progress. If the exhibit this year shows growth it also shows lack of growth; by its very record of additions - numerous and valuable though these are - it accentuates wants. Now, what we have may give us much cause for satisfaction, but what we have not occupies us quite as much, - perhaps even more, at the proper time. This point of view may be, and undoubtedly is, shared by that portion of the public which is interested in our Prints Division beyond the attractions of the exhibition of the moment. There are a number of such friends of the Print Room; for the sake of the institution, of the public, of the city, there should be many more. That belief is not inspired primarily by the thought of donations of prints (although they are a matter of vital necessity), but by the need of a more widespread active interest. What is wanted is a more general realization of the fact that here is a nucleus of a print collection, a collection remarkably developed in certain directions, but unevenly developed - a base on which to build up a collection worthy of New York. Very many visitors come to our exhibitions, yet neither the scope nor the wants of our print collection seem to be appreciated fully. If American or foreign artists donate specimens of their etched or lithographed or graven work, if a collector permits us to profit, during his lifetime, from his years of activity in bringing together a remarkable collection of the engravings of Faithorne, if some one unobtrusively offers a rare print (a beautiful proof before letters of Drevet's "Lecouvreur" reached us in such manner some years ago), if an amateur bequeathes to us his collection to pass on to others the pleasure which he had while living with it, we, for the public, are thankful and appreciative. Such examples of active interest, however, might well be much more numerous. The Library has a small, well-selected collection of old prints. Portions thereof have been displayed at various times. A recent exhibition in our print gallery, which excited much interest on account of its unusual character, was devoted to 17th century etchings. It was succeeded by the exhibition now on view, illustrating the "Making of a Line Engraving," in which a number of 14th and 15th century prints, German, Italian and French, help to show the development of the art. All of that, however, is a mere beginning. The proper conduct of the work lies absolutely beyond the financial possibilities of this or any similar institution. The Library intends to issue, shortly, a list of its old prints, particularly those of the 14th and 15th centuries, so that those interested, and those able to aid by word or deed, may see what we have and, still more important, what we lack. With the exception of the remarkable collection of mezzotints bequeathed by the Library's late president, John L. Cadwalader, last year's accessions consisted almost altogether of modern prints. Even the few older prints do not go back of the 17th century, and in most cases not back of the 18th. Still, there is a greatly varied interest in our exhibition of Recent Additions, now on view in the Stuart Gallery (room 316). Naturally it reflects difference in point of view and in taste of the various donors. Mr. Sam. P. Avery has made noteworthy additions to the unequalled collection of 19th century etchings and other prints formed by his father, the late Samuel P. Avery. From this gift there have been selected for the present exhibition etchings by Jacque, Manet, Veyrassat, Buhot, Flameng, Koepping, Egusquiza, J. Foxcroft Cole; lithographs by Millet, Raffaëlli; Josey's mezzotint after Whistler's portrait of his mother; drawings by Bracquemond, Pissarro, Daubigny, Seymour Haden, Doré. The portion of the exhibit devoted to the bequest of Mrs. Henry Draper is described elsewhere in the present issue of the "Bulletin." With the bequest of the late Samuel Isham there came to us, beside a number of old prints, 19th century etchings which in a number of cases were entirely new to our collection, and in others represented states of given plates which we lacked. Of these there are shown plates by Ribot, Fortuny, Desboutin, Hervier, Delacroix, Courtry, Bacher, Besnard, Lançon; and drawings by Rops and Willette. From other sources there came etchings by Béjot, Beurdeley, F. M. Armington, Svabinsky; lithographs by Isabey, Hnatek, Toulouse-Lautrer, Ludwig Hofmann and Albert Sterner; wood-engravings by T. Cole, W. G. Watt, Helen Hyde, Fritz Endell, Jiranek; book-plates by A. J. Brown, J. W. Spenceley, W. F. Hopson, A. N. Macdonald, R. M. Pearson, E. B. Bird. All of this makes a brave showing, represents a distinct and considerable gain to our print collection, and will give pleasure to many. But it must not blind us to the fact that so much remains to be done. To do that, to build up such a collection as New York should have, is a matter which the Library authorities cannot accomplish unaided. It can be done only with the help of the public which is to reap the ultimate benefit. D DR. HORACE WHITE'S GIFT R. HORACE WHITE, former president and editor-in-chief of the "New York Evening Post," has presented to the Library a collection of autograph letters and signatures of distinguished statesmen, generals, authors, actresses, singers, etc., as follows: BLESSINGTON, MARGUERITE, Countess of. 4 p., 8°. September 2, 1835. BOWLES, SAMUEL. Journalist. 2 p., 8°. Springfield, Mass., August 8, 1872. To the Editor of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. COQUELIN, CONSTANT. French actor. 2 p., 8°. April 9, 1872. GREELEY, HORACE. Journalist. 1 p., 8°. New York, October 4, 1872. To J. C. Derby. JEFFERSON, THOMAS, and JAMES MADISON. 1 p., folio. March 11, 1807. A ship's pass signed by them as President of the United States and as Secretary of State, respectively, Parchment. LOWELL, JAMES RUSSELL. Poet. 4 p., 16°. London, October 11, 1880. MALIBRAN, M. F. Singer. 1 p., 4°. June 8, 1833. NEILSON, ADELAIDE. Actress. 3 p., 12°. April 13 [s.a.]. [To Grace Greenwood.] PATTI, ADELINA. Singer. 1 p., 8°. New York, March 7, 1882; also another. 3 p., 8°. [n. p., n. d.] RACHEL, ELISA RACHEL FÉLIX. French actress. 2 p., 12°. [n. p., n. d.] RANDALL, ALEXANDER. Postmaster General. 1 p., 8°. Washington, April 20, 1868. RISTORI, ADELAIDE. Actress. 4 p., 12°. Philadelphia, April 22, 1875. SCHURZ, CARL. Statesman and publicist. 1 p., 4°. Washington, December 12, 1872. Toronto, April 2, 1890. SMITH, GOLDWIN. Author and educator. 2 p., 8°. STEPHENS, ALexander H. Statesman. 1 p., 4°. Milledgeville, Ga., November 13, 1843. Το TOOMBS, ROBERT. Brigadier General, C. S. A. 1 p., 8°. Washington, Ga., February 8, 1868. To J. L. Harris. TROLLOPE, FRANCES. Authoress. 1 p., 12°. June 17, 1839. WEBSTER, DANIEL. Agreement of W. A. Bradley and Gilbert L. Thompson, of Washington, D. C., for a note payable to Webster's order, with his signature. 1 p., folio. May 17, 1850. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. Cut signatures or cards of Monroe, Van Buren, Tyler, HAMILTON, ALEXANDER. Statesman. Signature cut from document, as secretary of the HOUSTON, SAMUEL. General and statesman. Cut signature. LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH. Poet. Cut signature. T SIR SIDNEY SMITH TO THE HIS letter is one of the number presented to the Library by Dr. Horace White. (A list of the items in Dr. White's gift appears above.) Sir William Sidney Smith, generally known as Sir Sidney Smith, was born in 1764, and died in 1840. In 1796, while in the British navy, he was captured by the French, taken to France and confined at Paris until 1798, when he effected a dramatic escape. He was in command as senior officer in the Levant, in the campaign of 1798-1799, and in the latter year was victor against Bonaparte in the siege of Acre. He was made a vice-admiral in 1810; knightel a commander of Bath in 1815; promoted full admiral in 1821, and was nominated a G. C. B. in 1838. His "Memoirs," in two volumes, by E. G. G. Howard, appeared in 1839, but the chief biography of Smith was written by J. Barrow (London, 1848), two volumes, and it contains many of his letters. Private & Confidential My Dear Lord Paris June 30th 1818 As you were so good as to feel for & with me when I detailed to you the delay I experienced in the settlement of my pending claim on Government to be reimbursed what I had advanced & the interest I was out of pocket in carrying on the public service from 1798-9 to the close of the war. |