synopsis of proceedings. 353 



president's annual address. 



Edward S. Hammatt, January ~, 1S96. 



In reviewing the work of our Academy for the past year, a few sug- 

 gestions may be made, which possibly leading to others of greater im- 

 portance, may prove an incentive to renewed activity in the field of 

 original investigation. 



In some departments of the museum, as in mineralogy and conchol- 

 ogy, little has been accomplished except in the way of getting ready 

 for work by re-arranging cases for these collections. In zoology and 

 ornithology a number of interesting specimens have been added to the 

 collections. Chemistry is one of the departments of the museum, and 

 at one time biology was also on ourlist. Workers in both should find 

 facilities for original investigations , in this building. To carry^ on such 

 work a thoroughly equipped laboratory is necessary and should be 

 secured as soon as may be. Such a laboratory would also be of the 

 greatest advantage to workers in other departments of natural science. 



Our botanical collections have been put to good use during the past 

 year by students in this branch of science. It may be well to state 

 again, as has been repeatedly done, that our valuable collections are, 

 under proper regulations, available for study to those not members of 

 the Academy. 



We are still receiving large numbers of stone and flint implements 

 secured for us by that most zealous collector, Captain VV. P. Hall. 

 Our already priceless collection of mound relics will receive valuable 

 additions in the coming year if workers and funds can be secured. 

 Several mounds of promising value have recently been located as a 

 direct result of Prof. Frederick Starr's "Summary of Iowa Archaeol- 

 ogy," and the circulars of instruction sent out under the auspices of 

 the Academy. While the archaeological field of Iowa is in a measure 

 limited, as far as we know at the present time, to the work of the 

 mound builders and Indians, the subject is one of great importance in 

 the almost modern field of anthropology. To this field and Egyptian 

 history, Prof. Petrie's marvelous explorations, q^rly in the past year, 

 gave a new race, a race totally unlike the ancient Egyptians, contem- 

 poraneous with them, but more cultivated. 



One of the most important parts of museum work is the accurate 

 labehng of specimens. For this, with a special reference to palaeon- 

 tology, we are fortunate in having the valuable services of Prof. W. H. 

 Barris, our curator. 



The Library is constantly receiving valuable additions in the way of 

 exchanges and government publications. To further increase the li- 

 brary it would be well if foreign governments could be induced to 

 place our Academy on their publication lists: some means should be 

 devised to secure this end. Good work has been done by part of the 

 Library Committee and a few other interested members in adding 

 more shelf-room, numbering sections and shelves, and in re -arranging 

 books and pamphlets. As soon as funds are available an appropria- 



