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Show WHERE TRADITION AND MODERNISM MEET ' The oldest museum In America has been Intrusted to the direction of a woman. One hundred and fifty years ngo the fathers of the Carolinas who had settled Charleston established the first scientific museum In America. About that time the wife of the governor gov-ernor of Connecticut became Insane. Covernor Winthrop of Massachusetts, with all the dignity of his office and his colonial scholarship, announced : "Had she not gone out of her way and calling to meddle In such things as are proper for men, whose minds nre stronger, she had kept her wits." Yet the poor governor's lady was far, In her simple desire for reading, from seeking such knowledge as would fit her to he curator of a scientific Institution. Insti-tution. Miss Laura M. Bragg, however, Is said to be quite able to keep hr wits, for she is credited not only with being be-ing a scientist but also a business woman who has placed the museum on a sound financial basis. In addition, addi-tion, her staff Is so completely Imbued Im-bued with her vision that the educational educa-tional service rendered the community, commun-ity, has astonished the museum board of governors. An exhibit added through her foresight fore-sight consists of ancient prescriptions, mortars and the early American glass bottles which accumulated t" the oldest old-est dvris store In Charleston. When It was moved to modern quarters, the antique equipment was destined for the dump heap until Miss Bragg asked to make It one of the most Interesting Interest-ing exhibits of the museum. Daughter of a Methodist minister, she seems always to have understood people. A young B. S., fresh from technical training in biology and library li-brary work, she started a museum at Owl's Island, Me., consisting mainly of fish and shells of the vicinity, which greatly interested the native population. popula-tion. Visitors to the convention of the American Association of Museums, which met In Charleston in April to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth birthday of the museum, found the jjame commingling of scientific and neighborhood spirit in Miss Bragg's work. Alongside the rslre antique furniture fur-niture of the old South which draws connoisseurs from afar, are classes In modeling for Charleston children, and In simple research for their elders. |