1918.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 123 



were in the care of the members of the sections or of individual 

 volunteers, the preservation of most of the historic material belonging 

 to the institution was a serious problem. Dr. Dixon, assuming the 

 position of executive Curator without salary, took over all the 

 responsibilities of the museum management, instituting many 

 reforms and introducing more businesslike methods. Needless to 

 say almost his entire time was spent at the Academy. 



Shortly after his election to the presidency the munificent bequest 

 of the late Robert H. Lamborn became available, and he was by 

 virtue of his two offices able not only to direct the general appro- 

 priation of this fund, but also to carry out in detail the further 

 development of the museum, which had long been hampered by 

 lack of means. Gradually additions were made to the museum staff 

 until all of the perishable collections were under the care of salaried 

 specialists. By constantly conferring with the members of the 

 staff he ascertained the needs of the several departments and these, 

 under his direction, were provided for as far as possible. Modern 

 cases both for storage and exhibition purposes were installed and 

 the way opened for the accumulation and systematic arrangement 

 of the extensive study collections which have been brought together 

 in recent years, and which have made the Academy more than ever 

 a Mecca for systematists from all parts of the country. 



Later Dr. Dixon, largely through his personal efforts, secured 

 several appropriations from the State with which the museum 

 building was enlarged, improved and rendered fireproof — while a 

 new library and a commodious lecture hall were erected, providing 

 for two other important branches of the Academy's activities. The 

 details of all this constructive work — plans, contracts and specifi- 

 cations — he insisted upon attending to in person, as well as carefully 

 superintending the building operations as they progressed. The 

 provision of a fireproof stack for the safeguarding of the priceless 

 library of the Academy was a matter of the greatest satisfaction to 

 Dr. Dixon, as it has been to all who are acquainted with its riches. 



In the extension of public education at the Academy, Dr. Dixon 

 took an earnest interest and through his influence the Ludwick 

 Institute, of which he was a director and later Vice-President, was 

 led to establish a course of free public lectures at the Academy 

 under the direction of the Lecture Committee, primarily for the 

 benefit of school children and teachers, in which popular courses 

 in various branches of natural history are given every year. 



A mere summary of developments and improvements in such an 



