Cambridge sketches
Estelle M. H. Merrill, Ed.

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[119] the value of the information hidden in what were generally regarded merely as curious relics. Collections were begun, but collectors were feeling their way, and hardly knew how to arrange or study their material.

In 1866, just at the most favorable time for beginning a thorough scientific work, George Peabody gave $150,000 for the establishment of a museum and professorship of American Archaeology and Ethnology, in connection with Harvard University. Harvard was thus enabled to have a leading part in the new work. Of Mr. Peabody's gift, $60,000 was to be used for a building fund, and the rest was to be divided equally between a professorship and a museum fund.

In the early days of the Museum, articles were stored and exhibited in Boylston Hall. The first section of the present structure was built in 1875. Generous as was Mr. Peabody's gift, it was not nearly sufficient to have permitted the accomplishnient of all that has been done. The building alone has cost more than twice the amount of the original building fund. Other generous gifts have been made, and volunteer assistants in the field have contributed valuable articles. Although the original building has twice been added to, great quantities of material are packed away out of sight. This is available for use by special students, but there is not room for it to be permanently exhibited.

One of the most interesting rooms in the Museum is the large lecture hall on the first floor, for students in archaeology. On the walls hang many portraits in oil, of Indian chiefs. In the cases around the edge is a somewhat diversified exhibition — masks from New Guinea, wax models of different tribes of Indians and Esquimaux, skeletons