Forty-second Annual Meeting. 15 



be governed by no idea of self-aggrandizement, but should 

 unite in a common effort to make our state library the most 

 important institution of its class within our borders. The 

 only way to do this is to agitate the question and bring it be- 

 fore the people and then before the legislature. 



There is one direction in which we can enlarge our library, 

 which is by purchase of books not likely to be found in any 

 other collection in the state. A small beginning was made 

 this year, as noted above, but the committee appointed last 

 year hesitated to buy one set authorized till the Academy 

 should have a chance to reflect and see if this is the best 

 thing to do. 



THE MUSEUM. 



The founders of this Academy, men like Snow, Mudge, 

 Parker and Savage, were collectors, and often brought con- 

 tributions which formed the nucleus of a museum. This was 

 especially true in the years when the Academy was quartered 

 with the State Board of Agriculture. Quite a display of 

 natural history as well as agricultural specimens was taken to 

 Philadelphia for the Centennial, and when brought back 

 crowded the narrow space west of the oflflce of the secretary 

 of agriculture with a heterogeneous mixture more or less in 

 charge of the Academy. When the St. Louis Exposition came, 

 our Secretary Grimsley was given charge of the Kansas 

 mineral exhibits, and secured from the authorities of the Ex- 

 position the transfer to our Academy of the whole mineral 

 collection from Kansas. This was a fine foundation for an 

 economic museum, and it seems fitting that the Academy should 

 go on enlarging and perfecting it until it represents in a proper 

 way the mineral resources of Kansas. Such a museum would 

 be a great attraction in the Memorial building, but its main- 

 tenance requires direct state aid, which can be secured only by 

 act of the legislature. 



Respectfully submitted. 



J. T. LOVEWELL. Secretary. 



