ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. 



1915 



To the Trustees of Field Museum of Natural History: 



I have the honor to present a report of the operations of the Museum 

 for the year ending December 31, 191 5. 



Pursuing the announced policy of the Musetmi, its efforts during 

 the year have continued to concentrate upon the preparation for ex- 

 hibition in the new Museum building of such material as had been 

 previously acquired. This material is of a character that when properiy 

 installed will fit into the general exhibition scheme which has been based 

 fully as much upon material in storage as material in cases. Therefore 

 the progress that has marked the period of this report has been largely 

 due to the labors of the preparators, the taxidermists and the skilled 

 workmen, and no particular effort has been made to acquire new mate- 

 rial either by expedition or purchase. Later it is expected that some 

 elimination of early work and imperfect material will take place. 



The contract between the South Park Commissioners and the Mu- 

 seum corporation, granting a site for the new building near and south of 

 Twelfth street extended in an easterly direction, was consimimated on 

 January 27th. The work upon the new Museum building, actually 

 commenced on July 26th, has progressed with such vigor that the date 

 on which the edifice will be ready for occupation has been considerably 

 advanced. The impetus given to the building operations has had its 

 influence during the past four months upon the scientific staff, and plans 

 for installation, the system of transfer, the arrangements of the halls, 

 ofi&ces, laboratories, work rooms, shops, etc., have received much at- 

 tention on the part of the curators and their assistants. It is not con- 

 sidered necessary, if pertinent, to discuss the progress of the new build- 

 ing in these reports, in as much as the entire work and its responsibil- 

 ities rests upon and within the Building Committee, but, as items of 

 history in the development of the Musetmi as a whole, simple record of 

 the work is considered permissible. The Board of Trustees has granted 

 the request of the Chicago Geographic Society for permanent quarters 

 in the new Museum building. 



The report of the expert from Graham, Burnham & Company, who 

 examined the present Museum building, indicates that the physical 



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