HISTORICAL SUMMARY, 9 
1875 Mr. Peter Cowell appointed Chief Librarian, in succession to Mr. George 
Hudson, deceased. 
Foundation Stone of Picton Reading Room, William Brown Street, 
laid by Councillor James A. Picton, J.P., F.s.a., Chairman of the 
Library, Museum, and Arts Committee, 2nd December. 
1876 The Chairman of the Museum Sub-Committee (Rev. H. H. Higgins) and 
two assistants took part in an Expedition to the West Indies on the 
Steam Yacht ‘ Argo ’”’ for the purpose of collecting marine specimens 
of Natural History, on the invitation of Mr. R. Ghobawutsley: of 
Condover Hall, Salop. 
1877 Councillor Thomas Holder, s.v., elected Chairman of the Lectures Sub- 
Committee, in succession to Councillor J. Armstrong. 
The Rutter-Phillips collection of Minerals presented to the Museum 
by the Liverpool Medical Institution. 
Mr. Charles Dyall appointed first Curator of the Walker Art Gallery. 
The Walker Art Gallery opened by the Right Honourable Edward-Henry, 
15th Earl of Derby, k.¢., 6th September. 
The Seventh Autumn Exhibition of Modern Art opened in the Walker 
Art Gallery, 8th September. 
1879 The office of Superintendent of Branch Libraries abolished, and the duties 
transferred to the Chief Librarian. 
The Picton Reading Room, William Brown Street (adjoining the 
Brown Library and Museum) opened by the Mayor of Liverpool, 
Mr. Thomas B. Royden (afterwards Sir Thomas Royden, Bart.) 
8th October. 
Mr. Charles T. Gatty appointed Curator of the “ Mayer’? Museum. 
1880 Councillor William J. Lunt elected Chairman of the Lectures Sub-Committee, 
in succession to Councillor T. Holder, retired. 
1881 Temporary Annexe to hold the Museum Ethnographical Collections built 
at the rear of the Walker Art Gallery. 
Extension of the Walker Art Gallery determined upon by the City 
Council. 
1882 Inauguration of the Picton Lecture Hall for Free Lectures, 3rd January. 
The Hall is constructed in the basement of the Picton Reading Room, 
and was first styled the Rotunda Lecture Hall. 
1883 Newspapers provided for the first time in the Reference Library. 
{ The Library Association of the United Kingdom held their 6th Annual 
Meeting in the Reference Library, 11th-14th September, under the 
Presidency of Sir James A. Picton, s.p., F.s.A., Chairman of the 
Library, Museum, and Arts Committee. 
1884 Evening Reading Rooms opened in five Schoolrooms: Stanley Road, 
Queen’s Road, Chatsworth Street, Wellington Road, Low Hill. (In 
consequence of the subsequent establishment of Branch Libraries in 
| the several districts, these Reading Rooms, excepting that in 
; Chatsworth Street Council School, have since been closed.) 
First issue of the Circulating School Museum Cabinets to various Schools 
: in the City, in May. 
Entire cost of the extension of Walker Art Gallery, on completion, 
| defrayed by Alderman Sir Andrew Barclay Walker. The extension 
| was opened 30th August. 
1885 Bequest to the Museum of the Nicholas Cooke Collection of Lepidoptera. 
_ 1886 The Major Austin collection of Crinoids purchased for the Museum. 
Ioan Exhibition of works of Art from Lancashire Collections, in the 
Walker Art Gallery. 
