320 Proceedings 



In his address "On the Function and Future of the Academy**, 

 •Mr. T. B. Walker referred to his first interest in the Academy in get- 

 tiDg it moved from the East Side in the Keily block in 1882, to his 

 Interest being mainly that of a business man, although he had for- 

 merly studied geology much and had read a paper in connection with 

 Che Academy meeting on Sanitary Science, which also touched his 

 long-studied sociolcgical subjects. As an active director in the old 

 Athenaeum he had been largely instrumental in forming the new 

 Library, the president of whose board he had been since its organiza- 

 tion. He recalled how the original plan of the organization of the 

 Public Library was for a co-organization of the Athenaeum, Academy 

 and the Art Society. He had been instrumental in providing new 

 cases needed by the Museum in the Library Building, and had pre- 

 sented minerals and other specimens to the collections. The great 

 value of the museum as a means of public education was emphasized 

 and the Library oflicers had realized of late what a persistent public 

 demand there was to see the museum. 



Thus, the Library Board, at its meeting yesterday, had decided 

 to finish off the third floor in the new wing for the Academy's Museum, 

 along with the fourth floor for the Art School. Thus the present 

 building and quarters will last for some years, although we may look 

 forward to a separate building sometime. For such a building some 

 friend of his had spoken of offering $50,000 and others would doubt- 

 less help; for such an enterprise must be done by private means 

 given for public purposes. Such a purpose is ,however, far more im- 

 portant to the State than most people realize. 



The speaker's ambition for Minneapolis was to make it the edu- 

 cational center of this Northwest, — "We can make it the highest 

 grade city in proportion to its size, in the world." The Academy of 

 Science helps largely to make the city attractive to families and 

 children. Thus he desires to see in our city one of the foremost li- 

 braries and museums in the country, so that it shall be the center of 

 half the United States. 



The Librarian, Miss Gratia Countryman, asked the privilege of 

 telling the Academy that it was Mr. Walker's personal generosity 

 which had made possible the immediate finishing of its museum room. 

 She realizes more than ever the great educative value of the museum. 

 She is decidedly not in favor of paid admissions, however, and she 

 suggests a lease of the museum and library to the Library Board, 

 similar t othe Athenaeum arrangement, by which the Board will prob- 

 ably care for the Academy's property. 



Mr. Walker suggested to first get the museum set up in good shape, 

 then let the Library Board see how valuuble it is, and it would then 

 probably be glad to take charge. 



Prof. Sardeson referred to the inducements to move the museum to 

 St. Paul. 



Additional words of reminiscence were given by Nathan Butler, 

 who had been present at the early meetings in Dr. Johnson's oflSice, 

 by R. X Mendenhall, who was almost an original member, by Franklin 

 Benner, who desired to renew his active membership and hoped that 



