THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. 



To the Trustees and Members of the American Museum of Natural 

 History : 



I have the honor to submit herewith a brief statement of the 

 proceedings of the Museum for the year 1900 : 



Finances. — Your attention is directed to the Treasurer's Re- 

 port on pages 30, 31, 32 and ^Zi presenting separately the receipts 

 and disbursements for Maintenance and Endowment. 



At the annual meeting of the Board, held at the beginning of 

 the year, expenditures for maintenance amounting to $137,489 

 were authorized, an amount $17,489 in excess of that appropriated 

 by the city. This estimated deficit has been reduced, and the 

 Trustees have contributed $12,000, so that we might begin the 

 present year without debt. The total sum subscribed by the 

 Trustees since the opening of the Museum, to meet the yearly 

 recurring deficits in this account, now amounts to $250,393. 



Board of Trustees. — Mr. Percy R. Pyne was elected a Trus- 

 tee at the Annual Meeting held in February, and was also made 

 a member of the Executive Committee. 



At a meeting of the Trustees held May 14 it was my sad duty 

 to announce the decease of our valued associate, Vice-President 

 James M. Constable. His death was a great personal loss, inas- 

 much as he was intimately and actively associated with me in 

 the administration of the affairs of the Museum. Almost from 

 the time of his election to the Board he served as Chairman of the 

 Executive Committee, and since 1890 he has been our First Vice- 

 President. 



