in the new work rooms. The public reading room was formally 

 opened on October 31st. 



The most important improvements necessary to complete the 

 building include additional skylights for the main hall, the com- 

 pletion of the galleries, and interior and exterior painting. 



Finances 



The running expenses for the year exceeded the City Appro- 

 priation for Maintenance by $353.93. This deficit was met by 

 transfer from the General Account, leaving $392.50 for perma- 

 nent improvements. The General Account received the con- 

 tributions of twenty-two Sustaining Members and six Annual 

 Members, to the amount of $640. A balance of $130.57 carried 

 over from 1907 brought the General Account up to $770.57. 

 In addition to those who qualified as members in the usual 

 manner, Mrs. Henry S. Holmes was elected a Sustaining Mem- 

 ber for the year in recognition of her gift of three framed Audu- 

 bon plates, and Mrs. H. B. Sewell in recognition of her gift of 

 books to the library. 



The Building Account carried a balance of $4762.55 at the 

 beginning of the year and received from City Council during the 

 year appropriations to the amount of $2814.00, making a total 

 for the year of $7576.55, all of which has been expended in fitting 

 the new building for the use of the Museum. 



For 1909 it is essential that the main exhibition hall be com- 

 pleted and installation of the collections actively carried on. 

 For installation about eight thousand dollars must be raised 

 from private sources and this constitutes the chief problem of 

 the coming year. 



While funds for installation are the most pressing immediate 

 need, the fact should not be forgotten that until an adequate 

 endowment is obtained the Museum rests upon a dangerously 

 precarious foundation. 



