THE FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE INSTITUTE. 35 



all, furnishes intellectual pleasure and rational amusement 

 in a most graphic way. 



Our museum is unique in that it combines not only a 

 collection of the animals and plants, rocks and minerals 

 and prehistoric relics of Essex County, hut an epitome- 

 collection of the animals of the world. These are exhib- 

 ited in one great hall. In another hall are displayed the 

 weapons, utensils and handiwork of the nations of the 

 world. Among these are many objects of great rarity. 

 Since the opening of the museum in 1868 over one mill- 

 ion two hundred and fifty thousand visitors have passed 

 through its halls. Salem does not realize the importance 

 of its ethnological collections, which stand third in rank 

 in the United States at the present time. 



The President then said : 



Thirteen towns and cities of the County, — a round 

 dozen, — are now supporting local historical and scientific 

 societies of their own, and almost all of them recognize 

 their obligations to the Essex Institute as the parent 

 society of them all. It is fitting that these kindred 

 bodies should be heard from here, and I call upon the 

 President of the Danvers Historical Society, one of the 

 most vigorous of the brood, to speak for the affiliated 

 bodies of the County. 



Dr. Putnam said : 

 Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



Surely no one can catch sight of the stately and spa- 

 cious buildings of the Essex Institute so close at hand and 

 think of the vast and priceless collections which they hold 

 without a fresh feeling of gratitude and honor to the illus- 

 trious Dr. Wheatland for what he did to make the whole 

 the one crowning glory of the Salem of to-day; nor, let 

 me add, without rejoicing that, under the direction of 



