with geology, biology, ecology, physiology, space travel, chemistry, 
communications, light, and electricity. Some of the exhibits, such as the 
Hall of Ecology and the Morton Hall of Lighting, featured items from 
the collections. Others, including the Hall of Man and the Hall of Com- 
munications, relied more on the model-making and artistic skills of the 
exhibit staff. 
The education programs either in progress or being developed when 
the Museum’s first exhibit opened in 1959 included a school visit pro- 
gram, a science career program, and Saturday ‘‘enrichment’’ classes 
in natural history, biology, earth science, and chemistry. In addition 
the Museum produced its own television show, ‘‘Operation Explore,” 
which aired on the public television station. The program’s ‘‘star’’ was 
Donn Brazier, Education Supervisor. 
From 1959 to 1964, over 111,700 children took part in the school 
visit program. The other programs enjoyed similar popularity. One very 
successful program, ‘‘Outdoorland,”’ started in 1964. Outdoorland in- 
troduced urban youngsters to Missouri natural history and helped them 
learn about conservation. The Education Department performed another 
laudable education service during the first five years: teachers and 
docents frequently visited hospitals to give lectures and to demonstrate 
artifacts to sick and handicapped children. 
The Academy’s collections grew in their new home. Major acquisi- 
tions included the Hall collection of 379 sets of eggs, the Schwartz col- 
lection of nocturnal moths, a collection of waterfowl decoys, a collec- 
tion consisting of 340 prehistoric artifacts from Arabia, the Prokes col- 
lection of gems, a large collection of famous diamond replicas, the Kin- 
ner collection of Kachina dolls, a collection of exquisite miniatures 
donated by J. Lionberger Davis, the Roland Grimm collection of carved 
elephants, and the Morton collection of lamps and lighting apparatus. 
In 1961 James G. Houser joined the staff, replacing Sally Orchard 
as Curator. Houser continued the task of cataloging collections, 
upgrading storage space, and developing exhibits. 
Other staff changes took place as well. Director Murl Deusing 
resigned in 1961 to pursue a career in educational film production.’ 
Don Brazier took over as Acting Director and was soon made Direc- 
tor. Museum Teacher William Groth subsequently became the head of 
the Education Department. 
Although its constituents were not members of the staff, one group 
of individuals played a vital role in the life of the museum. The Women’s 
Division was reorganized in 1959 to coordinate volunteer and fund- 
raising work. The Women’s Division ran the Museum gift shop and 
organized such activities as ‘‘Coffee Break for Science’ and film 
premieres to raise funds. Furthermore, the Women’s Division planned 
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