PAPERS OF GENERAL INTEREST 69 



EEPOET OX THE PROGRESS AND CONDITION OF 

 THE ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM 



February, 1920 



A. R. Crook, State Museum, Springfield 



The Illinois State Academy of Science is the logical 

 body to whom an auuiial report should be made on the 

 condition and progress of the Illinois State Museum, 

 since the Academy is composed of men from all portions 

 of the State, connected with all kinds of educational in- 

 stitutions, representing a great variety of occupations, 

 and interested in aU branches of science, and since the 

 purpose of the museum is to present in concrete form all 

 kinds of scientific knowledge for the use of all people of 

 the State. Four out of live of the men composing the 

 museum Board of Ad^dsers are now members of the 

 Academy. The Academy has from time to time made its 

 influence felt by resolutions and by personal work on be- 

 half of the museum. The first meeting of the Academy 

 was held 1907 under the auspices of the museum. The 

 financial relationship of the two institutions is intimate. 

 And finally there is no body of men in the State more 

 competent to pass judgment on the work of the museum 

 than are the members of the State Academy. Hence this 

 report. 



The first and most important item of progress to be 

 noted is the work on the new building. After many years 

 of urging the need of a new building and of involuntary 

 '' watchful waiting" a magnificent new structure is being 

 erected just south of the State House. The top floor of 

 this building 270 feet long by 68 feet ^vide, commodious 

 and weU lighted, has been assigned to the museum, and 

 it is thought that it will be ready for occupancy next year. 

 It is realized that as soon as the building is completed 

 various departments now waiting for quarters will pour 

 into the building like sand through a sieve and hence it 

 is very important that the musuem have ready exhibits 

 which may in a measure block out the space assigned, be 

 worthy of their surroundings and convey some concep- 



