BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 253 



There are the following special collections: The Carey collec- 

 tion consists of examples of the earlier British school of painters, with 

 a number of works by American artists. The Temple collection has 

 been accumulated with the income from a fund established in 1880 by 

 Joseph E. Temple for the purchase of works of American artists shown 

 in the exhibitions of the academy; it now includes 36 paintings. The 

 Gibson collection was received in 1896 by bequest of Henry C. Gibson, 

 and consists of 5 pieces of sculpture and 98 paintings, principally 

 masterpieces of contemporary French and German art. The Field 

 collection of paintings, chiefly works painted before the igth century, 

 was received in 1887 as the gift of John W. Field and his wife. The 

 print collection includes the John S. Phillips collection of about 40,000 

 engravings and etchings bequeathed by him to the academy. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH. This is said to be the oldest art institution in 

 the United States, having been organized in 1805 in Independence Hall. 

 Its first building, supposed to have been designed by Benjamin 

 Latrobe, was erected on the north side of Chestnut Street. By 1870 

 the requirements of the academy had outgrown this building and in 

 1876 the present building was completed and dedicated. 



FINANCIAL SUPPORT. The endowment of the institution was under- 

 taken in 1886, when $100,000 was subscribed for this purpose. This 

 has since been increased to $202,000. The Temple fund consists of 

 $60,000, the income of which is expended one-half for the acquirement 

 of pictures and the award of the Temple medal, and one-half for the 

 current expenses of the academy. The Gibson collection is maintained 

 by the income of a special fund of $io,coo. The Phillips collection 

 has an endowment of $12,000 for its care and increase. 



BUILDING. Erected in 1876 at a cost of $543,000 from designs 

 prepared by Furness and Hewitt, the building has a frontage of 100 

 feet and a depth of 265 feet, and contains in addition to the galleries, 

 print room, and library, the executive offices, schools, and lecture 

 room. 



SCOPE. In addition to the permanent collections, annual exhibi- 

 tions are held which bring together some of the best examples of Ameri- 

 can painting and sculpture. The academy also maintains the oldest 

 school in America devoted exclusively to the cultivation of the fine 

 arts. 



LIBRARY. An excellent art library. 



ATTENDANCE. Open free to the public on week-days from 9 to 5 

 and on Sundays from i to 5. The attendance in 1909 was 182,228. 



