SYMPOSIUM ON SCIENCE AND RECONSTRUCTION 63 



made available for the lav visitor, the undergraduate, the 

 research student, and the scientilic specialist? And why 

 may not Illinois be a leader in museum work among the 

 universities? Tlie time is not far distant when a museum 

 building will become a necessity on the campus, a building 

 which may not be numbered among the largest of museum 

 edifices, but which may well be one of the best buildings 

 devoted to the particular needs of a university community 

 and an efficient aid to the educational forces of the Uni- 

 versity in nearly all its departments. 



To hasten the realization of the aims outlined, may I ask 

 the cooperation of the members of the State Academy. 

 There are doubtless collections in ditlerent parts of the 

 State that could be obtained if their owners knew that spe- 

 cial attention is now being given to the development of the 

 museum along modern lines. Many of the members may 

 be in position to make collections during their summer 

 vacations and these niight form really valuable additions, 

 especially if the material came from a locality which was 

 little known scientifically. Much of the material obtained 

 in this way is of considerable research value, frequently 

 revealing new species to Science or adding information of 

 value concerning geographical distribution or variation. 

 The alumni of the University should be especially active in 

 the museum's behalf, as is the case witli many of the 

 universities previously mentioned. 



In closing let me express my appreciation of the labors 

 of my predecessor. Professor Frank Smitli, of the Depart- 

 ment of Zoology, who laid the firm foundation for the 

 development of the museum along the lines outlined above, 

 and who established a standard of equipment and a system 

 of record tliat has made i)ossible the present and future 

 development along the most approved modern lines. 



