FIFTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 



To the Trustees and Members of The American Museum of 

 Natural History, and to the Municipal Authorities of the 

 City of New York: 



It has become necessary to postpone the celebration of the 

 Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding of the Museum for five 

 years, namely, until 1924. It is desirable to consider various 

 ways and means whereby this celebration may mark the com- 

 pletion of the entire southern half of the Museum as planned 

 between 1870 and 1875, and officially approved for the City by 

 the Department of Parks on September 17, 1875. This will 

 mark the period of half a century since the building was actu- 

 ally begun by the City. 



It is desirable to include in these new plans special facilities 

 for the teachers and pupils of the free public educational insti- 

 tutions of the City, as provided for in the Fourth Clause of the 

 Contract with the Department of Parks, which was drawn in 

 connection with the occupancy of the first building (completed 

 in 1877) and which was signed February 12, 1878. The lan- 

 guage of this clause is as follows : 



Fourthly.— That the exhibition halls of said building shall, on 

 Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each week, and on 

 all legal or public holidays, except Sundays, be kept open and accessible 

 to the public, free of charge, from nine o'clock a.m. until half an hour 

 before sunset, under such rules and regulations as the party of the 

 second part shall from time to time prescribe; but on the remaining 

 days of the week the same shall be only open for exhibition to such 

 persons, upon such terms as the said party of the second part shall 

 from time to time direct. But all professors and teachers of the public 

 schools of the City of New York, or other institutions of learning in 

 said city, in which instruction is given free of charge, shall be admitted 

 to all the advantages afforded by the said party of the second part, 

 through its museum, library, apparatus, and collections, or otherwise, 

 for study, research and investigation, free of any charge therefor, and 

 to the same extent and on the same terms and conditions as any other 

 persons are admitted to such advantages, as aforesaid. 



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