20 REPORT. 



December 17, 1892, Prof. F. W. Putnam was invited to 

 address the Institute with a view of awakening an interest 

 in the Exposition. His subject was "The Scientific Side 

 of the Columbian Exposition," and he gave a full account 

 of the Ethnological and Archaeological exhibits to be under 

 his charge. 



Owing to various causes no active steps were taken in 

 relation to the Institute's exhibit until January 9, 1893, 

 when, at a meeting of the Committee, it was voted to issue 

 the following circular : 



ROOMS OF THE ESSEX INSTITUTE, 

 JAN. 20, 1893. 



"The Essex Institute has been offered the privilege of furnishing 

 one of the Reception Rooms in the Massachusetts State Building at 

 the Columbian Exposition at Chicago, and the undersigned have 

 been appointed a committee to procure such articles as are needed, 

 and to make all arrangements for the Institute exhibit. 



The size of the room allotted for this exhibition precludes the 

 possibility of having a very large collection, but the articles selected 

 should be of the highest historic and artistic interest. The committee 

 therefore appeal to all who may be interested in this matter, and ask 

 for the loan of furniture, old china, historic relics and documents, 

 and for contributions of money, to aid in properly carrying out their 

 plans. 



The furniture offered should be choice examples of the genuine 

 colonial style, and the articles loaned should, first of all, be of in- 

 terest from their connection with Massachusetts history. 



Any person desiring to aid the committee, by the loan of articles, 

 is invited to send a description of them to the rooms of the Insti- 

 tute, when some member of the committee will examine them at 

 an early day and report on their fitness for the exhibit. 



All articles accepted will be insured, and every effort will be 

 made to protect them from injury. They will be returned, in due 

 time, without charge to the contributors. As it is necessary to have 

 the entire exhibit arranged before the end of March it is desirable 

 that contributors should notify the committee of proposed loans 

 without delay. 



