234 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



Children's Lectures 



The Friday afternoon lectures for school children began on October 27, 

 1916, and ended on March 30, 1917. Twenty-two lectures were given, by 

 twenty-one lecturers, to a total of 2,655 children. On six occasions the 

 lecture was repeated in order to accommodate those who could not be 

 seated the first time. 



The varietjr of subjects and the high standing of the lecturers who 

 kindly gave their services in this beneficent cause are worthy of special 

 attention and comment. 



A report by Mr. Cleaves with complete statistical schedule is appended. 



In order that the interest of the children in the museum might be sus- 

 tained until the lecture season opens again in the autumn, Mr. Cleaves has 

 provided a registration book for all children who visit the museum during 

 the months of April to September inclusive. At the end of each month 

 the children whose names appear oftenest on the register are photographed 

 and their photographs posted on the bulletin board provided for the 

 purpose. 



Museum and Library Accessions 



About ninety individuals and institutions contributed 1,068 specimens to 

 the museum collections and over one hundred books, pamphlets, maps, etc.. 

 to the library. A few of the specimens were collected by the members of 

 the museum staff and four accessions represent library material purchased 

 by authority of the Board of Trustees. A full list of all the donors is 

 appended. 



The above-mentioned accessions to the library do not include 684 pub- 

 lications received in exchange for the publications of the Association, 

 from about eighty societies and institutions, a list of which is appended. 



Museum Administration 



The elimination of one of our museum guards has seriously affected 

 the welfare of the museum and hampered its activities. The one guard 

 is assigned to duty at such hours as his services are most needed, and 

 during part of the day guard duty has to be performed by the curators 

 or the director, thus wasting valuable time which ought to be devoted to 

 curatorial, administrative, or executive work, and by the janitor, thus in- 

 terfering with his regular duties. 



On lecture days we were compelled to call upon the Bo}^ Scout authori- 

 ties for assistance and they responded promptlj^ by selecting and detailing 

 certain boys for guard duty and for running the lantern when occasion 

 required. In emergencies, such as sickness or enforced absence from duty 

 for any reason, several of which occasions have arisen, the problem of 

 how to care for or keep the museum open to the public has been a serious 

 one to consider and solve. 



