196 Staten Island Association of Arts And Sciences 



pective donors that no such condition exists in connection with us 

 or with any of the public museums of the city. On more than, 

 one occasion, even when discussing the matter with certain of 

 our members who ought to be well informed on the subject, Ihave 

 had to refer them to contracts between the city and other public 

 museums in which the ownership of the museum material is 

 specifically defined and emphasized.- 



Such a contractual provision is, apparently, deemed advisable 

 as a legal precaution ; but it would hardly occur to the average 

 person that any such provision should be necessary. The city 

 could not have any claim to the property of the Association unless 

 the Association or its board of trustees should, by resolution, 

 determine so to dispose of it ; and our museum material, if ten- 

 dered to the city, would almost certainly be declined, for the 

 reason that the city would have no means of utilizing it except 

 through the medium of the Association or some other similar or- 

 ganization. 



In brief, the city has always provided the money to construct 

 and equip the buildings for museum purposes. The buildings and 

 equipment belong to the city. The museum corporations own the 

 specimens and books installed in the buildings. The city provides 

 money to maintain, or to help maintain, the museums, i. e., pay 

 for salaries, furniture, equipment, supplies, heating and lighting. 

 The museum corporations provide the money to develop the 

 museums. 



City money cannot be used for the purchase of specimens or 

 books or for any expenses incurred in collecting or in otherwise 

 securing them, nor can it properly be used to defray or to help 



2 See contract between the city (party of the first part) and the Amer- 

 ican Museum of Natural History (party of the second part), viz.: "That 

 the* Museum, Library and collections, and all other property of the said 

 party of the second part, which shall or may be placed in said building, 

 shall continue to and remain absolutely the property of said party of the 

 second part, and neither the said party of the first part, nor the said the 

 Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, shall by reason of said property 

 being placed in said building, or continuing therein, have any right, title, 

 property or interest therein; nor shall the said party of the second part, 

 by reason of its occupancy and use of said building, under this agreement, 

 acquire, or be deemed to have any right, title, property or interest in 

 said building, except so far as expressly granted by this agreement." 



