Final Report of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission Part 83

I have not been able to give very definite replies as I had so little time to investigate the work. I served on the section of Indian education, and the work of the women was usually better than that of the men, and in every case they were more persistent in their efforts. It seems to me that there are more opportunities open to women along educational lines, especially that of domestic economy. The extent of women's influence in the home will never be known, so I am very glad that at present there is a great interest taken in that subject.

Miss Peters further says that the nature of the exhibits was historical, such as those by the Daughters of the American Revolution of Indian relics, and the exhibit in the Alaska Building, the latter being the most striking exhibit in the department. The women had more displays than men, and some of their work was very creditable, and in some cases was as well appreciated when placed by the side of that of men; that in one case it might have been more beneficial in result had it been separately exhibited, but as a whole I think women were given due consideration. The proportion of the work performed by women was not as large in proportion as that performed by the men, but in the Indian section of which I was a juror I think the awards were about evenly divided. The greater part of the exhibits consisted of collections of relics, and the exhibits by women showed great skill and ingenuity, and in nearly every case the installation of exhibits was considered very good, as was the taste displayed. Some of them were better than those by men.

Group 128, Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, Cambridge, Ma.s.s., Juror.

Under the group heading "Ethnography," the one cla.s.s represented races and peoples from earliest man to the present time; tribal and racial exhibits, showing by means of specimens, groups, and photographs, the stages of culture reached by different peoples of various times and under special conditions of environment.

Families, groups, and tribes of living peoples.

Mrs. Nuttall's report in the sections of archaeology, ethnology, and history is as follows:

Exhibits of original work by women in these three sections were conspicuous by their absence. At the same time the names of several women figure in the catalogue as collaborators in the installment of archaeological collections. Mrs. Quibbell and Miss c.o.x gave valuable a.s.sistance in arranging the Egyptian exhibit from the Museum at Cairo.

Miss Mary Louise Dalton not only helped to install the archaeological and historical specimens belonging to the Missouri Historical Society, but was also inst.i.tuted as the custodian of these exhibits.

It is impossible to overrate the value of the services rendered to the exposition by the special commissioner for history, Miss Florence Hayward, who not only secured the special exhibit of the Queen's jubilee presents, but also the exhibits of the Louisiana State Historical Society, the historical exhibit of the city of New Orleans, and several interesting private collections.

The highest award was given to Miss Hayward, and bronze medals were a.s.signed to Miss Dalton and to Miss Valentine Smith, the secretary of the Chicago Historical Society, who installed its loan exhibition, and likewise lent some doc.u.ments belonging to her private collection.

Two women only figured as exhibitors of single ethnological and archaeological objects, but merely as their possessors.

The foregoing facts establish that of the three sections under consideration (ethnology, archaeology, and history) it was in the section of history that women distinguished themselves most at the St. Louis exposition. It may perhaps be said that the activity of women in bringing together and cla.s.sifying historical material was a feature of the exposition, and marks an encouraging stage in the history of women's work in the United States.

Department O, social economy, Dr. Howard J. Rogers, chief, comprised 13 groups and 58 cla.s.ses, the board of lady managers receiving representation in 5 groups.

Group 129, Miss Caroline Griesheimer, Washington, D.C., Juror.

Under the group heading "Study and investigation of social and economic conditions," the five cla.s.ses into which it was divided represented Official bureaus and offices. Private bureaus, museums, boards of trade, etc. Economic and social reform a.s.sociations, congresses. Economic serials, reviews, and other publications. Scholastic instruction in economics and social economy.

Miss Greisheimer says:

Studies and investigations of exhibits, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, social economy group 129. The exhibits, by means of reports and statistics, of leading States and countries showing the commercial and industrial conditions of the State or country, in regard to exports and imports, wages, occupations, hours of daily labor, health statistics, educational facilities, means provided for industrial betterment of employees, and photographs and graphic charts ill.u.s.trative of the above, no doubt attracted the attention of thousands of visitors at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and will result in much good.

Important subjects are thus brought to the front and many employers and capitalists are benefited by the experience of others, and so go away and work out some plan for the betterment of the conditions of their employees. It opens the way for the capitalist to meet his workmen in the adoption of measures for harmonizing the interests of capital and labor and binding together in mutual interest and good will the men whose work enriches the State and the employer who directs their labor and converts its products into wages.

The many photographs exhibited ill.u.s.trating the line of betterment evolution and industrial commercial pursuits and development bring facts relating to these subjects before the public and lead captains of industry and the employer to investigate betterment inst.i.tutions and profit by the experience of others. They also furnish an idea of the large industries, progress, and natural resources of the country. Thus the photographs of the coffee plantations of Brazil thoroughly ill.u.s.trated the coffee industry and gave an idea of this great industry, its commercial value, its growth and development. The exhibits of New Jersey by means of photographs of industrial betterment inst.i.tutions and industrial conditions furnished plenty of matter for studies and investigations to students of social economics.

Representatives of large industries, through the medium of international expositions, study the means of improving the productions of their factories, either by the use of better raw material, securing it cheaper by importing it direct from the producing centers, or by the improvement of their processes by using modern machinery, and by the study of the social betterment conditions of the employees of other large industrial enterprises.

Many of the foreign governmental publications, reports, photographs, statistics, and graphic charts exhibited showed the degree of advancement reached in some parts of the country with relation to these particular subjects, and the splendid condition and resources of the State or country. Many of these exhibits were beautifully ill.u.s.trated, giving information of the social and economic conditions, as well as the history, geography, physical resources, etc., of the State or country.

The exhibits of France, Belgium, Germany, and Great Britain were elaborate and systematically arranged, and furnished a fund of information in social economic studies and investigations by their most eminent economists.

The exhibits of the American Inst.i.tute of Social Service deserves especial mention. We learn from them how we can aid in humanizing and elevating the spirit, methods, and conditions of modern life.

This inst.i.tute had on exhibition about 2,000 photographs in 10 wing-frame cabinets, which visualize and interpret all forms of social and industrial betterment, arranged as follows: (1) The American Inst.i.tute of Social Service. (2) Civic betterment. (3) Improved housing. (4, 5, and 6) Industrial betterment. (7) European social studies. (8) Salvation Army and denominational work. (9) Young Men's and Young Women's Christian a.s.sociations.

(10) Inst.i.tutional churches. After the exposition these cabinets will be put on permanent exhibition at the headquarters of the inst.i.tution in New York.

These photos make a deep and lasting impression upon the mind of the observer of the great work being done in all forms of social and industrial betterment. It is an efficient way of showing the needs of the times created by the new conditions in the industrial world, and is a means of bringing together the best thinkers of the age to devise feasible plans for the betterment of mankind, and the solving of problems of social conditions and industrial betterment. They also show what is being done by the American Inst.i.tute of Social Service.

The American Inst.i.tute of Social Service is a clearing house for exchange of facts, experiences and ideas on social and industrial betterment. It is both a laboratory for investigation and a distributor of the knowledge gained. It is practically an international university for the study and promotion of social and industrial progress. Its work is done on a large and thorough plan, and benefits mult.i.tudes.

The fundamental principle and purpose of the inst.i.tute is to make the experience of all available for the instruction of each. This principle is applicable alike to individuals, corporations, churches, societies, cities, States, and nations.

The inst.i.tute places human experience on file. It welcomes inquiries from anyone. The answers aim to be complete, or, if necessary, to refer the writer to the most direct and trustworthy sources.

It furnishes expert advice for solving local problems to employers of every kind, to workingmen, to munic.i.p.al officers, to teachers and ministers, to writers, students, and others.

Through its many foreign collaborators, the inst.i.tute receives reports, and is in close touch with social movements abroad.

The inst.i.tute also arranges for addresses and lectures, with or without lantern slides, on many important subjects, such as: The Child Problem, History of Labor, Food, Tenements and Improved Housing, Industrial Betterment, Subst.i.tutes for the Saloon, The Newer Charity, Munic.i.p.al Problems, Inst.i.tutional Churches, Public Baths and Wash Houses, The Better New York.

Its publications are: Social Service, an ill.u.s.trated monthly magazine; The Better New York, monographs, and leaflets.

It has a specialized and growing library, with many foreign books and pamphlets, 3,000 lantern slides, and 4,000 photographs, showing social and industrial conditions throughout the world.

_Results_.--Plans for new factories have been modified for comfort and health. Result: Better workers and better work.

Facilities for warm lunches, baths, and recreation at noon have been provided. Result: Hold of the saloon weakened.

Social secretaries have been appointed in factories and department stores. Result: Employees and employers in harmony.

Ministers, lecturers, and writers have been aided in presenting moral questions with force and persuasiveness. Result: Public conscience aroused.

The attention of societies and clubs has been turned to vital civic questions. Result: Energies given practical value.

Many private individuals have been encouraged to undertake local efforts of great value from which they reluctantly shrank for lack of knowledge and experience. Result: Individuals and communities have been both beautified.

Theodore Roosevelt said: "This inst.i.tute is fitted to render a great and peculiar service, not merely to the country but to all countries. The possibilities of usefulness for the inst.i.tute are well nigh boundless. It will hasten the progress of civilization and the uplifting of humanity."

The exhibits of the Philadelphia Commercial Museum of the World's Commerce and American Industries by means of 88 graphically ill.u.s.trated charts also deserve mention. These charts ill.u.s.trate the progress and present conditions of the commerce of the world, of the manufacturing industries of the United States, and of the British and American shipping industries.

This graphic method shows more clearly than statistics alone would do what proportion of the world's trade belongs to each of the princ.i.p.al nations, and the relative importance, from a manufacturing standpoint, of the leading cities of the United States.

The Philadelphia Museum was organized in 1884 by ordinance of the city councils, and is governed by a board of trustees. The board maintains the Commercial Museum and a Commercial Library, and is acc.u.mulating material for a group of city museums devoted to public education, ethnology, economics, economic botany, and general science.

The Commercial Museum comprises collections ill.u.s.trating the production and commerce of all nations. A bureau of information collates all available data regarding the subject of foreign trade, and distributes, upon application, reports tending to the extension of American trade abroad.

The Commercial Library is free to the public and contains books bearing particularly on the subjects of international trade, productions, transportation, banking, economics, and munic.i.p.al affairs. It also contains more important books, pamphlets, periodicals, and foreign reports of recent date relating to foreign trade and commerce than any other commercial library in the world.

This valuable collection of trade literature includes statistical reports of all foreign governments issuing such doc.u.ments, and foreign governments' gazettes, reports of board of trade bodies, regulations of customs tariffs, yearbooks descriptive of many foreign countries, colonies, and settlements, the consular reports from all countries, special work regarding trade, commerce, agriculture, mining, and general conditions in foreign countries. It also has periodicals, city directories, and trade directories from all countries.

The museums are maintained by an annual appropriation from the city of Philadelphia, and the bureau of information by contributions from business firms and individuals desiring special service.

The Commercial Museum has accomplished much along the educational lines. The growing feeling that an increased export trade is necessary to the prosperity of the country is forcing upon schools and colleges the necessity of courses in commercial geography and commerce.

The Commercial Museum, with its wealth of products collected from every part of the world, is in the position to supply the necessary demand for the material on which such schools must depend. It has distributed over 225 collections of such products, with photographs arranged for the study of commercial geography, and so is intended to eventually include within its scope schools, colleges, and universities.

_Salvation Army_.--It is impossible to describe in a few words the great work and the good being accomplished by the Salvation Army. Many photographs were exhibited ill.u.s.trating the work being done by this n.o.ble army.