440 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



objects, books, etc., haviiig a total value of $1<H),()()(). In 1872 the 

 societ}" was reorganized, but in 1874 a second time lost its collections 

 1)V fir(>. In 1877 it was oro-anized anew and soon installed in a tempo- 

 I'ar}' building. Its present structure at 142 Dearborn avenue, not very 

 far from the Academy of Sciences (see p. 430) and the Newberry Library 

 (see p. 459), was begun in 1892 atid the society moved into it in 1896. 

 It was designed by Heniy Ives CobI), architect of the Newberry Library 

 and of the Universit}" of Chicago, in a Romanesque st3de, and cost 

 $190,000, whicli was contri))uted ])y tlie mem))ers. Unfortunately a 

 ground plan of it could not be obtained. The collection contains pic- 

 tures, including 75 portraits in oil, manuscripts, historical reminiscences 

 of Chicago and the Northwest, prehistoric o])jects, together with a 

 library of 26,000 volumes and 60,000 pamphlets, relating chiefly to 

 historical matters. This library is placed in the back part of the second 

 story, where the high windows are seen in Plate 18. ' The nuiseum is in 

 rooms on the ground floor and on the second floor. In the right wing 

 in the illustration is a large and lofty lecture hall. All of the rooms 

 are particularly well lighted. 



What makes this structure uncommonly interesting and wherein it 

 is unique, as far as I am aware, is the fact that, made wise by two 

 grievous disasters, an absolutelv fireproof building has been produced, 

 in which the use of wood has been entirel}^ avoided. All is of stone, 

 brick, cement, and the like — iron and glass. The only combustible 

 things that I saw there, besides the books, papers, and collections, 

 were the curtains and carpets in the auditorium. The entire structure 

 consists almost wholly of large intercommunicating rooms, each of 

 which can be closed ofl' l)y iron doors, so that it forms a "safe" by 

 itself. The city furnishes the electric light. It is heated by natural 

 gas brought from a distance of over 150 miles. The large, open, 

 heating rooms in the basement, besides, are entirely isolated. Window 

 frames, doors, stairways, book stacks, show desks, and similai" stru(v 

 tures are made of iron and stone, as are also all utensils and furniture, 

 such as writing desks, tabh^s, chairs, and the like. The shelves to the 

 ii'on book stacks are stone slabs. Th(» neighboring houses, some of 

 which are very high, as will be seen from l*late 18, can, on this account, 

 hardly be considered as a danger, although one would be glad to see 

 them farther a\\ay. 



The right conception here shown of a secure building seems to me 

 well wortliy ol" imitation. For 1 am of the opinion tliat in this way, and 

 no other, should umseums and libraries be l)uiltand furnished. What, 

 indeed, hinders this, except the prejudice which exists in man}- quar- 

 ters (even in (yhicago, as we shall see in the New))errv Lil)rary) against 

 iron, except the designs of those architects who continually build from 

 the same "ready-made" plans, formal and without originality, and 

 except the lack of proper qualifications in those to whom nmseuni 



