774 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. up in the condition in which they were originally transferred from Philadelphia, some 4,000 boxes or packages in all, and subject to various forms of deterioration and injury. The museum halls of the Smithsonian Institution prior to the Philadelphia exhibition were filled almost to their utmost capacity, and but a very small proportion of the collections either prepared on purpose for exhibition at Philadelphia or obtained there are displayed in them at the present time. Besides the 20,000 square feet of floor covered with packages in the Armory building the entire basement of the Smithsonian building is filled with other packages, representing nearly an equal amount, and quite as important in an educational point of view to the people of the United States. The collections in the Smithsonian building now open to the public occupy about 30,000 square feet of floor space. It is quite within bounds to estimate that the articles stored away will require for their satisfactory exhibition between three and four times that area, even allowing for a great reduction of the objects by the elimination and distribution of the duplicate specimens. There is no provision whatever at present for the display of these articles, and unless Congress furnishes the means this magnificent property of the people will go to decay and destruction in the course of time, the animal products being destroyed rapidly by insects and many objects of a mineral or metallurgical character by rust. As every day of delay in arranging and exhibiting this collection is accompanied with the question of erecting a suitable building for its accommodation and has occupied the attention of the Smithsonian Institution, a plan has been devised which, it is believed, will furnish the facilities required in the shortest possible interval of time and at the minimum of expense. To erect an edifice of the necessary magnitude, in the style of architecture heretofore adopted by the Government for its use in Washington, would involve an expenditure of many millions of dollars, and it could not be completed and available for occupation in a shorter period than from five to eight years. Nevertheless, on a simple plan originally suggested by General Meigs, a building somewhat similar in character to those erected for the National Exposition, 300 feet square, or having an area of 90,000 square feet-something over two acres-perfectly fireproof, amply lighted, and properly adapted for all its objects, can be constructed for about $250,000, and can be ready for occupation within ten months, or at most a year, from the time of its commencement. By the plan contemplated everything would be on one floor, without any stairways or second story, no cellar or fireproof floor being required. The single floor of the building to be of concrete, and thus FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1877-1879. 775 water and vermin proof; the walls and other portions of the building of brick: and the beams, rafters, and framework of the roof of iron, without a particle of wood. It is therefore much to be desired that the means be furnished at an early day for the construction of this building, so that the rich material now belonging to the United States Government can be utilized. It is believed that when properly arranged the National Museum of the United States will take rank as one of the great industrial and economical displays of the natural resources of the globe. The accommodation will then be afforded for the exhibition of the mineral wealth of every State and Territory, and the display of samples of every new mine, with all the appliances for rendering the study of the whole interesting and profitable. The coals, the marbles, and other ornamental minerals will be exhibited systematically; the useful and ornamental products and derivatives of the animal kingdom will be shown--not only such as relate to the United States, but with illustrations of the whole subject in other parts of the world-which can not fail to suggest new and important applications in this country. Illustrations of the food and other fishes of this and other countries, the best methods of securing them and of preparing them for the requirements of mankind, and the varied productions of the aboriginal races of North America can also be displayed on a proper scale. To illustrate more fully the necessity and importance of the early construction of the building provided for by this bill, the committee deem it proper to embrace in this report the following list of the more important collections presented by foreign commissioners to the United States Government and taken charge of in behalf of the National Museum by the Smithsonian Institution. (Printed in Smithsonian Report for 1876, pp. 131–137.) Ordered to be printed and recommitted. March 6, 1878-House. Mr. CASEY YOUNG, from Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, reported favorably the bill H. 2662. (See January 21, 1878, House proceedings.) Mr. JOHN R. EDEN made a point of order that the bill should receive first consideration in the Committee of the Whole. The Speaker (Mr. SAMUEL J. RANDALL) sustained the point of order, as the bill contained an appropriation. Bill referred to Committee of the Whole and placed on the public calendar. May 27, 1878-Senate. Mr. JUSTIN S. MORRILL introduced bill (S. 1320) for fireproof building for National Museum. Referred to Committee on Public Buildings. ENCLOSURE No. 2 Cost figures used by the National Park Service are projected over a 5-year period. Development costs for the proposed Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia, are estimated at $920,100 over that period. Expenditures for park operation will rise from $407,800 in the first year to $805,900 in the fifth year when such costs are expected to begin stabilizing. Personnel needs will rise from 6 permanent and 5.2 non-permanent positions initially to 12 permanents and 17.8 non-permanents in the fifth year following the park's establishment by Congress. ENCLOSURE No. 3 Black history and culture represent a significant emphasis for many of the Smithsonian's activities in Washington, D.C. Among those concerned with the old-world African experience are the Museum of African Art, with its extensive collections, exhibition and education activities, publications, and teacher-training programs; the National Museum of Natural History's Department of Anthropology (whose collection of African materials is actually larger than that of the Museum of African Art) which features an exhibition hall devoted to the cultures of Africa and maintains an active program of scholarly research concerning the people and traditions of that continent; and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden which has a small but fine collection of bronze sculptures from Benin. Among those which address themselves to the American black experience are, again, the Museum of African Art which has an unparalleled collection of some 250 black American paintings from the 19th Century and maintains a permanent exhibit on Frederick Douglass in his first residence in Washington, D.C.: the National Portrait Gallery whose permanent collection includes some 75 portraits of 60 distinguished black Americans in our national history; the National Museum of History and Technology which features the black American experience in many of its exhibits (and which, under its new director, Roger Kennedy, is planning a much more vigorous program of research and exhibition in this area); the Anacostia Neighborhood Museum whose activities are devoted to the history and peopling of Anacostia; and the African Diaspora program of the Division of Performing Arts which concentrates on the expressive forms (song, dance, folklore, etc.) of black Americans. In addition there is an active exhibition program maintained by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Currently, seven exhibitions on black American history and culture are circulating from city to city. Exhibition topics range from contemporary Afro-American quilts to Blacks in the westward movement. Generally, it is the policy of the Smithsonian Institution to treat Afro-American history as an integral part of the history and culture of the United States. Thus, black American topics in art or science or history or technology are treated in the respective Smithsonian museums which concern themselves with these matters rather than in one central place. More than half of the historic areas administered by the National Park System to one degree or another relate to black history. Those units displaying a significant association with the history of black Americans, however, include the following: Booker T. Washington National Monument, Virginia. Boston National Historical Park, Massachusetts. Colonial National Historical Park (Jamestown), Virginia. Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas. Fort Larned National Historic Site, Kansas. Fort Scott National Historic Site, Kansas. Frederick Douglass Home, District of Columbia. George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, West Virginia-Maryland. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Historic Site, Missouri. Lincoln Memorial, District of Columbia. Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Virginia. Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial, Ohio. Petersburg National Battlefield, Virginia. Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, Alabama. Senator GLENN. The next witness this morning is the Honorable C. J. McLin from the Ohio House of Representatives. He has followed this long and hard and been one of the key movers in the Ohio Legislature for getting the funding passed that has been passed so far. Mr. McLin, we welcome you this morning and we welcome any statement you have to make. TESTIMONY OF C. J. McLIN, JR., REPRESENTATIVE IN THE OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. McLIN. Thank you, Senator. I have some copies of the presentation for the committee members. I will leave them here. Senator GLENN. Thank you very much. Mr. McLIN. Before I start, Mr. Chairman, I would like to just make a few comments on the bill and then give my presentation. On page 5, section 8, where it has 21 members, I would like to suggest perhaps it should be cut down to about 15 members. My question is whether 29 might be a little bit large but I think 23, with 12 for a quorum, would be much better to have. Also, on page 9, where the bill specifically states that it be the Charles Young home, which I have no objection to, I think we should have broader language in case we want to utilize some of the State land, as for cause should be there rather than being specific as is stated. In the last question of Congressman Brown, I wonder how much money the State of Georgia appropriated to the Martin Luther King National Historic Site which the feds are giving support to. I wonder how interested Georgia was in supporting that. Senator GLENN. That is a good question. I would like to ask the staff to check on that. Mr. McLIN. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you and members of the Governmental Affairs Committee. I am extremely proud to appear before you today as a proponent of S. 1814. This is the dawn of a new day as several years ago I sponsored companion legislation which passed the Ohio General Assembly in 1972, providing for a National Museum of Afro-American History and Culture at Wilberforce, Ohio. Your assignment of this bill, S. 1814, for an early hearing demonstrates to the American people your genuine interest in insuring the establishment of a National Center of Afro-American History and Culture. Ohio has worked diligently preparing and planning for this facility. Commencing in 1975, a staff was retained and began developing broad-based support for the project. Many local, State, and National organizations have indicated an interest in, and support of, this effort. Our staff in Ohio assisted the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, in conducting the suitability/feasibility study pursuant to Public Law 94-518 which concluded that Wilberforce, Ohio, is a suitable and feasible location for the facility. The Ohio General Assembly has appropriated $3.5 million and has $5 million in the new budget now for the planning of this museum of which more than $300,000 was recently earmarked for design and content development by nationally known professionals. Within the very near future we expect the general assembly to pass legislation which broadens the membership on the planning council to include representatives of nationally prominent organizations. The following organizations have agreed to recommend nominees for selection to the council: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; The Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History; Central State University; Wilberforce University; Congressional Black Caucus; National Association of Media Women; National Council for Negro Women; National Caucus of the Black Aged; National Caucus of Black School Board Members; National Education Association Black Caucus; National Newspaper Publishers Association; National Urban League; Organization of American Historians; Society of American Archivists. In response to the question of "Why a national black museum?" we would respond that of the hundreds of museums-more than 1,800 in America representing different facets of American lifethere is not a single national museum identifying and relating to the contributions of Afro-Americans to our culture. Many, many of the museums receive Federal funding. "Why in Ohio?" you might ask. Ohio has taken the initiative, supported by monetary appropriations of $3.5 million already and $5 million this year. This is an effort unequaled by any other State. Equally important is the fact that Wilberforce, Ohio, is a center of Afro-American history and culture geographically located in the heartland of America. More than half of the Nation's population resides in areas that are within a day's drive to Ohio. Fifteen miles west of Wilberforce, Ohio, is the location of the renowned Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and less than an hour's drive to the north is the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum. Wilberforce, Ohio, is a community founded nearly 150 years ago by manumitted slaves and has developed into a uniquely thriving community with several institutions of higher learning-Central State University, Payne Theological Seminary and Wilberforce University-each of which have trained and educated thousands of people of African heritage for service to America and to the world. Senator Glenn and distinguished members of this committee, I respectfully request your approval of this bill which will assist with the creation of a worthwhile institution dedicated to the research, preservation and exhibition of many of the contributions of the Afro-Americans to the history of these United States. Thank you. Senator GLENN. Thank you, Mr. McLin. I know personally of your long backing of this project and of your great efforts at the State legislature level in getting the funding through that has gone through so far. What do you think the odds are this year of getting the additional $5 million that is now before the State legislature? Mr. McLIN. Senator Glenn and members of the committee, we have a little dilemma in our capital appropriation, but I will say this: If we have a capital appropriation bill, which I hope we will, I think we will, I am sure that we will have $5 million in for the museum. Senator GLENN. Good. Knowing of your influence in the State legislature back home, that puts a good stamp on it as far as the likelihood of approval. |