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{
    "localId": "4587211",
    "label": "Meteorite Materials",
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    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4587211"
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    "id": "4587211",
    "sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4587211",
    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Meteorite Materials",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4587211",
    "collections": [
        "Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary Family Collection",
        "Manuscripts, Published Writings, and Lectures"
    ],
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{
    "url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4587211",
    "naId": 4587211,
    "coverageEndDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1908-12-31",
        "year": 1908
    },
    "coverageStartDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1908-01-01",
        "year": 1908
    },
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{
    "seq": 32,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "document",
    "url": "https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/dc-metro/coll-xp/3432822/4587211/4587211-001.pdf",
    "mediaId": "aabd02befb080460",
    "ocrText": "Washington,\nMarch 15, 1908.\nDear Sir:\nI take the opportunity to bring to your\nattention the three Cape York Meteorites, now\non exhibition in the Museum of Natural History.\nThis group of meteorites can never be\nduplicated in any way, by any other Museum,\nthe three specimens including the entire fall\nand one, the \"Ahnighito\", being the largest\nknown meteorite in existence.\nIn size, in locality, in difficulty of\nlocating and transporting to New York, in hu-\nman and historical associations and interest,\nthey are unapproached by any other known me-\nteorites.\nThey were first heard of in 1818 when\nSir John Ross visited the Aretic shores of\nMelville Bay, but repeated endeavors by the\nBritish and Danish governments to discover\nthem proved unsuccessful.\nIt was reserved for Commander Peary,\nafter years of effort, to locate them and de-\ntermine absolutely that they were of meteorio\norigin. Three successive voyages were then\nnecessary to remove them from their Arctic\nbed and bring them to this country.\nIt was your late President's constant\nand often expressed wish that these meteorites\nbecome the property of your Museum. Not more\nthan a year ago Mr. Jesup said to me, \"I wish\nI were able to buy your meteorites, because I\n2TT\n2\nthink you ought to be enjoying your money, but\nthe Museum is not able at present to do it, and\nunless we can find some one who will make them\na gift to the Museum I am afraid I shall have\nto ask you to wait a little longer.\"\nAt another time Mr. Jesup said, \"The Im-\nperial Royal Museum of Vienna has now the larg-\nest collection of meteorites in the world, but\nwith the Cape York Meteorites in its posses-\nsion, the Museum of Natural History will have\nby far the most valuable.\"\nMr. Jesup also wrote me, \"The Museum\nwill purchase your meteorites.\"\nTwo of these meteorites have been in\nthe possession of the Museum since 1895. The\nthird and largest for several years. This\ngroup constitutes fifty per cent or more of\nyour foyer siderite collection.\nDuring all these years the meteorites\nhave been entirely at the disposal of the Mu-\nseum, to handle and exhibit as it thought best,\nand neither Commander Peary nor I have made any\nattempt either to dispose of them elsewhere, or\nto hurry the Museum to conclude the matter.\nToday, through Mr. Jesup's beneficence,\nthe Museum has a million dollar fund, the in-\nterest of which, by his request is to be de-\nvoted to the buying of specimens.\nPossibly nothing could be more in line\nwith the wishes of Mr. Jesup and those who will\nalways hold his memory in reverence, than that\nthis group standing at the head of all known\nmeteorites, should be added to the Museum's\ntreasures, with his name attached, and go down\nto posterity as his last great direct gift to\nthe Museum's collections.\n3\nI think it only fair to state that the\nmeteorites are my property, and that the money\nobtained for them will not be expended in Arc-\ntic Exploration. It is all I have with which\nto educate my children in the event of anything\nhappening to my husband. of this Mr. Jesup was\ncognizant and he approved entirely my keeping\nthe proceeds as a nest egg.\nWith the earnest request that you take\nsome action in this matter, I am\nVery truly yours,\nJosephine D. Peary\nP.S. I enclose photographs to give you an\nidea of some of the difficulties encountered\nin securing the great \"Ahnighito\" meteorite,\nand I shall be very glad to furnish you with\ncopy or copies of history of this group, if\nyou desire.\nJ.W.P.\nMr. George G. Haven,\nЙЕЙ\nTrustee, American Museum of Natural History,\n24 B. 39th Street,\nTHE New York City.\nET\n1896\nThe annighte Meteorite in situ\nalmost entirely buried in the ground.\nMeteorite Excavated.\n7\nStarting the Meteorite towards the ship.\nMeteorite + surroundings at end\nof by first the iee years behind work. Thi Hopi caught\n1897\nThe \"Hope\" just arrived alongside the\nMeteorite; second year aug. 17th Melville\nBay ice + bergs in the background\nMeteorite at beginning of second\nyears work.\n189.7\nThe Bridge from the shore to\nthe ship\n1897\nComing on Board\n1897\nIn the Hatchway.\nm\n19\n1897\nOF\n18-8 if\nfill\nà\nrind\nn\nd\n4048\n4\n3\nI\nV100 -\nNEW\n8 Q P\n4048\n7\nM W DE 10.00 no\nAN\nK\nUNITED"
}