The Chicago Academy of Sciences. 25 



with the dust, will long- live in scientific history. May 

 our past be an earnest of our future.' 



As the record books of the museum were entirely 

 consumed, a full statement of the losses cannot be 

 made. No history of the Academy would be complete, 

 however, without an enumeration of the more im- 

 portant collections that had been placed in its care. 

 Fortunately Dr. Stimpson was so familiar with the col- 

 lections that he was able to spread on the minutes a 

 very complete report of its past possessions. Some of 

 these collections were of co much importance in the 

 scientific world that even now inquiries are received 

 asking as to their whereabouts. They had formed 

 the basis of publications, for many of the specimens 

 were types. Even though the time had been so 

 short since the organization of the Academy, there 

 was far more in the museum and library than was gen- 

 erally understood or even suspected, for the building 

 was filled from basement to attic with exhibits and 

 specimens. The lack of room for the new accessions, 

 which were constantly arriving, was so marked that 

 the trustees had considered the necessity of acquiring 

 a new location and the erection of a larger and more 

 commodious building which should have a larger area 

 for the ever increasing additions. Dr. Stimpson stated 

 that, "The actual cost of the specimens, reckoning the 

 cost of purchase or the expense of collection, was not 

 less than $200, 000." 



The following are among the valuable special col- 

 lections lost in this catastrophe: 



1. The state collection of insects, which contained 

 a large number of types. 



2. The William Cooper collection of marine mol- 

 lusca, which was one of the most complete in this 

 country. 



3. The Florida collection, which very fully illus- 

 trated the zoology of the Florida coast in all its depart- 

 ments. 



