Prof. Breasted Outlines Plans for Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem

Tells of Preliminary Negotiations with Palestine Government (Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Additional facts with regard to the plans for the archeological museum to be erected in Jerusalem thorugh the gift of $2,000,000 by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to the Palestine government were made public here by Professor James Breasted, director of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago and famous Egyptologist.

Negotiations preliminary to the making of the gift by Mr. Rockefeller were carried on by Prof. Breasted with Lord Planner. High Commissioner for Palestine. while Prof. Breasted was in Egypt directing work of the Oriental Institute early this year.

“Since the Great War, the Palestine Government. under the British Mandate, has been courageously meeting its economic problems with a regime of strict economy.” said Prof. Breasted in a press interview. “Yet from an already burdened treasury it has annually appropriated £16.000 to the administration of the Antiquities Department. As a result of the wise application of these funds and the steady accumulation of newly discovered monuments, the Department has greatly expanded the already existent collection of antiquities.

“Palestine has never possessed a museum building and the funds required for an adequate building to house the collections have heretofore exceeded the Government’s available means. The present gift is further expression of appreciation of this and other problems in the Near East, and of her desire to cooperate in meeting them.

“The Palestine government has agreed to contribute as the site for the new museum a plot of land called in Arabic Karm-el-Sheikk’ which means “vineyard of the Shelk!” Prof. Breasted declared. “It is situated outside and immediately north of the northeast corner of the wall of Jerusalem in a sightly position commanding a view of the Mount of Olives eastward and an impressive prospect of the Temple Mount on the south. This plot of land was carly appropriated by the Crusaders and on it still stands a picturesque and massive tower of one of their early castles which it is hoped can be per### preserved in connection with the new museum building Overshadowing this Crusaders’ castle stands one of the finest cedars in Palestine and looks down upon an ancient olive grove which covers much of the seven and a half are she. It is hoped to preserve the venerable cedar also. The ### development of the she and the ### building will from part of the so-called Jerusalem Town Planning Scheme now being carried out with great energy by the Palestine Government.

The new museum building will not only provide ample facilities for displaying the collections now in hand but also for an anticipated expansion in the future as a result of discoveries being made each season by the numerous archeologist expeditions now excavating in Palestine. Mr. Austen St. B. Harrison, the able English architect at present attached to the Public Works Department of Jerusalem and previously associated with Sir Arthur Lutyens, the architect of the great Defhi group of British Government buildings in India and of the new British Embassy in Washington, has already submitted preliminary sketches for the museum. He proposes a building in the Romanesque style, characteristic of the Mediterranean from Sicily eastward and therefore entirely appropriate for Palestine. The building material to be used will be local mestone which will blend barmoniously with both the ancient and modern structures of Jerusalem,” Prof. Breasted said.

Over 300 people gathered at the Israel Orphan Asyham. New York City on Sunday afternoon to witness the unveiling of is tablets which were erected in honor of those who had endowed beds in the orphan asylum.

Justive Gustave Hartman of the City Court founder and President of the instituation was master of ceremonies. Cantor Israel Breeh officiated.