i8 



In 1905 a new geological survey was organized under excellent pro- 

 visions and leadership. Already it has produced valuable results. The 

 only formal i-elation between it and the museum is the clause* which 

 reads as follows : 



"All materials collected, after having served the purposes oJ the bureau, 

 shall be distributed by the director to the educational institutions of the State 

 in such manner as the commissioners may determine to be of the greatest 

 advantage to the educational interests of the State, or, if deemed advisable 

 the whole or part of such material may be placed on permanent exhibition in 

 the State Museum of Natural History at Springfield, or in the museums of the 

 University of Illinois. * * * "The whole or part of such material may be 

 placed on permanent exhibition in the- State Museum of Natural History at 

 Springfield * * '■' ."' 



The present curator was appointed Sept. 15, 1906. 



Miss Fanny Fisher, who has been connected with the museum since 

 1 881, with the exception of three years (1893- 1896), has been ac- 

 quainted with all the curators except Dr. Norwood. Concerning them 

 and their work she writes : 



"My first acquaintance with Prof. A. H. Worthen, that able scientist and 

 grand old man, began upon my entering the Museum as assistant. Briefly, I 

 will touch upon his personal characteristics. He was a man of the strictest 

 integrity, one who had risen through dauntless energy, conquering by his in- 

 dominitable will and personal exertions all those difficulties, so numerous in 

 the early pioneer days. His one great precept towards mankind was to 'do 

 unto others as you would have others do unto yon.' And this precept he fol- 

 lowed strictly, as far as my own observations went. 

 - "As a scientist he had won for himself an enviable reputation as a geo- 

 logist and palaeontologist. The State of Illinois has a collection in its Museum 

 which will stand for generations a dumb proof of his zeal and interest in his 

 work. The disinterested or thoughtless would scarcely appreciate the many 

 years of labor, the difficulties conquered and left far behind, this collection 

 stands for. 



Of his eight volumes of the Geological Survey of Illinois, the last one, 

 Volume VIII, was ready for the printer when his death occurred. It was 

 printed under the direction of his successor. Dr. Josua LindaW. 



Dr. Lindahl was and is a man of many scientific attainments and a linguist 

 of considerable ability. He had many ambitions for the Museum and the 

 work connected with his office kere which he was unable to carry out because 

 of lack of funds, and also lack of scientific interest from those in power. 

 However Dr. Lindahl prepared from the Museum collections a magnificent 

 display for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. At this exposition 

 this display won a medal and a diploma. Meantime the State administration 

 became Democratic, and Dr. Lindahl was removed from office in June of that 

 j'ear and Wm. F. E. Gurley was appointed in his place. I, too, lost my 

 position early in the fall of that same year, and hence know nothing concern- 

 ing the Museum during the ensuing three years in which the Democrats were 

 in power. 



At the end of this time, the Republicans again won a victory at the polls, 

 and just after the inauguration of John R. Tanner, I was re-appointed to my 

 old position as assistant curator of this museum. 



Dr. C. H. Crantz was appointed curator. From this time no scientific work 

 was done here. The same old story of lack of funds necessitated giving up all 

 efforts towards progress scientifically. In lieu of this, the policy of the 

 Museum has been purely a practical one. Keeping everything in good order,t 

 the specimens clean and plainly labeled and attending to a numerous cor- 

 respondence such as a department of this kind would have, required consid- 

 erable time to accomplish. From a practical standpoint Mr. Crantz has made 

 an ideal curator, and attended strictly to his duties at all times. I would add 



* Laws of Ulinois, 1905, p. ni, section 8. 



t B. P. Sheplor has been helper and Janitor since 1901 — Ea 



