HISTORY OF THE ILLINOIS STATE MUSEUM OF NATURAL 



HISTORY. 



The existence of the Illinois State Museum of Natural History, may 

 be said to begin with the enactment of a law in February, 1851, es- 

 tablishing a State Geological Survey. The 4th section of the law 

 reads : 



"It shall be the duty of said geologist to procure and preserve a full and 

 entire suit of the different specimens found in the State and cause them to be 

 delivered to the Secretary of State, who shall cause them to be properly ar- 

 ranged in a cabinet, and deposited In some apartment in, or convenient to, the 

 capitol. Said suit shall be sufllciently large to furnish specimens to all in- 

 stitutions of learning within the State, empowered to confer degrees in the 

 arts and sciences." * 



Thus the history of the Museum covers a period of iifty-six years. 

 At first it was conducted as a part of the geological survey, but for the 

 last thirty years as an independent institution, although -by the law of 

 1877, which established the Museum upon a separate basis, it was pro- 

 vided that the curator "perform the Acts which are or may be required 

 by law of the State Geologist."! 



Geology was the science that led to the establishment of the Museum 

 and that caused its vigorous growth. The other sciences such as 

 zoology, botany and archaeology have been secondary, chronologically 

 and materially. But in later years their importance has increased. 



The first man to be chosen as State Geologist, was a doctor of 

 medicine, J. G. Norwood,J a native of Indiana, who was thought by 

 the committee to meet the requirements of the law to the effect that 

 the appointee be a "geologist of known integrity and practical skill." 



Dr. Norwood had been assistant geologist under D. D. Owen, on a 

 geological survey of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and had just 

 written a report which was his most extensive work either before or 

 after that time. It covered 205 quarto pages, was illustrated with 

 drawings and plates, and gave a description of the geology of a portion 



* The clause providing for tlie deliTery of tlie specimens to the Secretary of 

 State, "who shall cause them to be properly arranged In a cabinet," seems never to have 

 been carried out inasmuch as the first two State Geologists toolt charge of the materials 

 and later curators were appointed. 



t I^aws of Illinois, 1877, section 5, p. 15. 



t Dr. Norwood's son, Prof. C. J. Norwood, is at present State Geologist of Kentucky. 



