As he walked across the country from Cincinnati to Los Angeles in 1884 and 1885 Charles Lummis, learned of the plight of Native Americans, and he became determined to raise the public's awareness of Native American life and culture.
In 1907 he began planning the Southwest Museum, which opened seven years later, in 1914.
In recent years, however, the museum struggled financially. Its directors agreed in 2003 to merge with the Autry Museum in Griffith Park, an agreement that was to include the Autry making needed repairs to the Southwest Museum structures and the Autry underwriting the smaller museum's operating costs of more than $100,000 a month.
But as local activists watched, concern grew that the Autry's long term plan was to remove the priceless collection of artifacts out of the Southwest Museum, and into a newly expanded Griffith Park location, reducing the Southwest to nothing more than meeting rooms.
On June 30, both sides: Local activists, and Autry supporters met at Los Angeles City Hall for a showdown.
In a surprising development, City Councilman Jose Huizar said it was time for the Autry to reaffirm its commitment to the Southwest by agreeing to attach a legally binding document to a lease agreement the Autry is seeking in order to expand its Griffith Park Autry Museum.
Thus making the preservation of the Southwest collection at the Southwest Museum a condition of the city's approval of the Autry's expansion plans in Griffith Park.
Good move, Mr. Huizar, thank you.
Follow the links below to read more:
http://www.scottrubel.com/foswm_win_090630.html#
http://egpnews.com/?p=10844
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-autry-southwest2-2009jul02,0,2958556.story
http://egpnews.com/?p=11061
http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/
The petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/SWM/petition.html
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