I 



on museums. 127 



American Museums. 



Academy of Sciences, Chicago. 



This museum is now specialising upon natural history work for 

 schools : 



(1) By the formation of a large series of group cases of examples 

 of the Illinois fauna, each group being set up in life positions, backed 

 by coloured reproductions of the actual Illinois scenery in which the 

 specimens lived. 



(2) The provision of an extensive series of lantern slides, which 

 are lent to the schools for lectures. 



(3) Special series of natural study courses at the museum to 

 teachers and to children delegates from schools. 



(4) Laboratory courses for children are arranged after school hours 

 and on Saturday mornings. 



(5) Aquaria and a reference library are maintained for children. 



(6) School visits are encouraged, and teachers and children are 

 provided with lists of questions to answer from their observations of 

 the museum specimens. 



(7) Public lectures and lectures in schools are delivered by members 

 of the museum staff. 



(8) Future plans include the provision of a children's museum 

 and lecture theatre. 



Lecturing is paid for at a rate of fifteen dollars per lecture, and 

 IS not necessarily a part of the duty of the staff. Qualified lecturers 

 are sometimes engaged from outside the museum. 



Field Museum, Chicago. 



A gift of $250,000 has been received for the formation of a Circula- 

 tion Series of Specimens to Chicago schools. These are estimated to 

 reach a quarter of a million of scholars. The Circulation Series are 

 arranged in compact cases, furnished with pockets, in which are placed 

 detailed descriptions of the specimens. Natural history specimens 

 are mounted amongst natural suiToundings. 



The plans of the new museum include provision for lecture theatres 

 in each of its four great departments, and for an elaborate scheme of 

 supply of material and information to schools. 



Art Institute, Chicago. 



The character of the collections and their display is much similar 

 to that of the Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington. 



A large art school is maintained in connection with the museum, 

 and many students work in the museum. 



Art classes also work under guidance of teachers in the museum. 



A full series of lectures are available for schools and classes which 

 desire them. 



Several lecturers (ladies) are attached to the museum, and frequently 

 i| several lectures are delivered in the museum on the same day. 



