Report of the President. 1 9 



The installation of the collections in the West Hall on the 

 first floor was completed so as to open it to the public on 

 November 1. This hall is to be devoted to the American Indian 

 and Eskimo. 



As all the halls assigned to the ethnological exhibits will be 

 crowded to their utmost capacity during the coming year, there 

 will not be sufficient room for the exhibition of the collections 

 now on hand, and which are rapidly increasing through the 

 Museum expeditions. 



The large collection from various countries received from the 

 Ecumenical Conference,- and known as the Missionary Collection, 

 has been temporarily arranged and exhibited in the eastern hall of 

 the East Wing, which is assigned to the Zoological Department. It 

 makes an interesting and instructive exhibit from several countries, 

 and forms nuclei about which will grow important exhibits from 

 distant lands. 



Mr. Saville has had special charge of the archaeological collec- 

 tions from Mexico and Central America. During the winter of 

 1899-1900 he was engaged in an exploration about the ruins of 

 Mitla, working under the special concession of the Mexican Gov- 

 ernment to this Museum. 



The Mexican Hall was closed for a time while being re-arranged, 

 but was re-opened to the public on November 1, when a brief 

 sketch of the contents of the hall was printed for distribution to 

 visitors. The important Stahl collection from Puerto Rico — a 

 personal gift from the President of the Museum — is placed tem- 

 porarily in this hall. 



The Western Gallery on the third floor, containing the collec- 

 tions from South America, was opened to the public on Novem- 

 ber 1. 



The delay in the completion of the cases in the West Hall on 

 the second floor, which will contain the archaeological exhibits 

 from the cliff houses and pueblos, and also the ethnological 

 material from, the present pueblos of the Southwest, as well as 

 certain other North American archaeological collections, has pre- 

 vented the installation of the large and important collection 

 received from the Messrs. Hyde. 



