THE PRESENT MUSEUM 
The present building, located at 4642 Lindell Blvd., housing the 
museum and offices of the Academy, was acquired in 1944 as a gift 
from Joseph Desloge. The museum was opened on March 21, 1945 
with a temporary loan exhibit of a collection of model water craft 
belonging to Harold C. Stiers. A new museum committee was ap- 
pointed by the Council to plan and develop the museum along the 
lines of natural history and applied science. The following were ap- 
pointed Curators to develop their respective departments: Dr. H. A. 
Bulger, anthropology and archaeology; Dr. E. P. Meiners, inverte- 
brates; Carl Miller, geology and palaeontology; John J. OTallon, 
aeronautics; and Max Schwarz, birds and mammals. 
^ 
Specimens were now brought out of storage and natural history 
exhibits were prepared to replace the temporary exhibit of boats. 
Several valuable collections have been acquired either by gift or 
purchase. In 1947 Mrs. Henry M. Whelpley donated the Whelpley 
collection of Indian artifacts, variously estimated to be worth about 
$75,000. A valuable collection of marine shells was presented by 
William 
the 
C( 
J 
yj 
a famous elephant of the St. Louis Zoo, died and the skull was 
the 
sive collection of gems and gem stones formed by Father Prokes of 
St. John Nepomuk parish. Three collections of butterflies and moths 
fonned by entomologists of a generation ago have been added to the 
Academy's collection. These are the Hermann Schwarz, Fred Schwarz 
and George Hosenfelt collections. 
In 1946 the Academy appointed Dr. Donald C. Lowrie as full time 
director T\y T ' 1 -I r t 1 ^_ •_ it,^ ^iiooiim nf 
the 
been 
R- 1 ^^ ^t-aaemy ot bcience. Ur. Lowrie resigneu ^ *^^' — 
Richard C. Froeschner was appointed to take his place. Mr. Froeschner 
esigned in 1948. Since then the museum has been without a director 
Museum 
Some of the more important exhibits in the museum at the present 
ij are: a collection of mounted birds collected in this area by 
juiius Hurter more than fifty years ago; the Drosten and Prokes 
Wk ^^"^^«on; some of the choice items from the Whelpley col- 
^^'on arranged by Mr. Froeschner to illustrate the life of the 
^ nencan Indian; a collection of Indian textiles loaned by Dr. H. A. 
S^r; a collection illustrating the story of insect life arranged by 
Bui 
17 
