246 DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN MUSEUMS 



ART. A few well chosen casts of Greek sculpture, lantern slides, 

 and photographs. 



BOTANY. Cryptogamic herbaria, 200 ; Phanerogamic herbaria, 

 5oo ; Plants in fluid, 5oo . 



GEOLOGY. Minerals, on exhibition, 4000, in storage, 2000; Rocks, 

 on exhibition, 200, in storage, 100; Relief maps and models, 3. The 

 mineral collections are considered among the most important in the 

 museum, and include the Alger, Prescott, and Haldeman collections. 



PALEONTOLOGY. Invertebrates, on exhibition, 500, in storage, 

 500, types and figured specimens, 2; Vertebrates, on exhibition, 50; 

 Plants, on exhibition, 50, in storage, 2oo. The collection includes 

 a set of Ward casts mounted, and a collection of local fossils soon to be 

 exhibited. It is expected that this material will be found to include 

 some new species. This department is developing both local and sys- 

 tematic collections. 



ZOOLOGY. Shells, 6000; Insects, 50; Other invertebrates, 675; 

 Fishes, 25; Batrachians, 15; Reptiles, 15; Birds, 200; Mammals, 20. 

 Other collections include a set of embryological models and mounts 

 to show protective coloration. All of this material is on exhibition 

 except about 3000 shells. Both fresh and salt-water aquaria are 

 maintained. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. The museum was established about 1820 

 by Rev. Timothy Alden, first president of the college. It was largely 

 increased by a gift of about $30,000 from Hon. C. V. Culver in 1865. 

 At that time the main collections of minerals, fossils, and shells, were 

 purchased and housed in Ruter Hall, one of the college buildings in 

 which they still are. Many other specimens have been added since 

 this time through gift and purchase. The present curator has been 

 developing the departments of paleontology, zoology, and botany, 

 chiefly through collections made by himself with the assistance of his 

 students. 



FINANCIAL SUPPORT. The museum is dependent for financial 

 support upon gifts and irregular appropriations made by Allegheny 

 College, seldom amounting to more than $100 annually. 



BUILDING. Erected in 1855 at a cost of $10,000. Number of 

 square feet of floor space available for exhibition, 4000; for offices, 

 workrooms, etc., 200. 



ADMINISTRATION. By a curator, responsible to the trustees of 

 Allegheny College. 



SCOPE. The museum is intended primarily for college teaching, 

 and secondarily for the accumulation of local collections and instruc- 



