Worth a million: Priceless pieces stay

Antiquarian Society keeps valued artifacts in Green Bay, out of darkness

BY: TERRY ANDERSON
tanderso@greenbaypressgazette.com
A year ago, the Green Bay and De Pere Antiquarian Society was deep in an unprecedented fundraising campaign, racing against time to raise $1.2 million and ensure that 69 valued artifacts remain in local hands and not disappear into the shadowy world of private collections.

"We had 365 days to raise $1.2 million, and we did it," Carol Jones, governor of the society, said while gazing at the exhibit that is on display until Nov. 12 at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay. "It's all due to the broad based support of communities, individuals, families, businesses and corporations."

The collection features treasures of historic and cultural value that were donated by philanthropists to the Brown County Library in the early 20th century.
Among the items are paintings, sculptures, photographs, letters and documents from U.S. presidents.

Perhaps the singular most important item is an autographed photo of Abraham Lincoln and his son, Tad, leafing through a book. The photograph, taken by Mathew Brady in his Washington, D.C., studio on Feb. 9, 1864, is one of the very few known to exist that bear Lincoln's signature.

"I think that it's important that these items remain here," said Betsy Hendrickson, who with her husband, Phil, made a significant financial donation that helped make the campaign a success. "They are important to the history of Wisconsin and this area and they should be here."

While the collection remains the property of the antiquarians, it will remain for safekeeping with the museum. The full collection will be on display until Nov. 12, and then most items will be put into storage, brought out for display at the appropriate time.

The museum has already agreed to loan two paintings by Howard Pyle to the Hudson River Museum in Younkers, N.Y., when it celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the Hudson River.

"This is probably the only time to ever see the entire collection in one spot and on public display," said Neville Museum Director Eugene Umberger. "The reason is because exhibits usually have themes and this is a very eclectic collection."

Umberger added that the Lincoln photograph is extremely sensitive to light and so valuable that it will probably be displayed only on special occasions.

One of the museum's long-term goals is to eventually update and renovate the permanent exhibit "The Edge of the Inland Sea." Umberger believes that some of the artifacts from the library collection could find their way into that exhibit.

Umberger added that the antiquarian society was created in the early 1900s to support the efforts of others to protect cultural and historical artifacts when it seemed that there was danger they could slip away into the hands of private collectors.

Nearly a century later, the group stepped forward and again saved a collection of treasures for the enjoyment and education of area residents.
And it's not finished. Jones said that the antiquarians hope to raise about $500,000 for restoration of the library collection.

"We're not just preserving items from the past," she said. "We're passionate about history, because it help us remember who we are, as a community."