Report of the President 33 



appropriation it has been possible to provide a number of stor- 

 age and exhibition cases which were essential not only for the 

 preservation of valuable collections but to make them acces- 

 sible to the public. A further release of this fund, amounting 

 to $32,450.55, has been granted, which will permit the con- 

 tinuation of equipment work during 1917. 



It is now almost 40 years since the first section of the Mu- 

 seum was erected, while the newest wing is nearly 10 years 

 old. It is not surprising, therefore, that the roof, 



Special s team and water pipes and other parts of the physical 

 Repairs . , , . r -, • • 



equipment show marked signs of deterioration and 



must be replaced. As the City's usual appropriation for main- 

 tenance is insufficient for current needs, a special appropriation 

 of $25,000 was requested in 1916 to provide for these extraor- 

 dinary repairs. The City finally granted an appropriation of 

 $15,657 for this purpose. 



The repairs completed during the year, as given in the Di- 

 rector's report, give evidence of the wisdom of this appropria- 

 tion. For 191 7 the City has provided a special appropriation 

 of $12,700 for the continuation of these necessary repairs. 



MEMBERSHIP AND STAFF 



It is with a deep sense of personal loss that we record the 

 death of our fellow Trustee, the Honorable Seth Low, which 

 occurred on September 17, 1916. Mr. Low had been a member 

 of the Board since May 5, 1905, and had rendered many and 

 important services to the Museum. The following resolution 



was adopted by the Trustees at a meeting held on November 

 20, 1916: 



In the death of Seth Low, the American Museum has 

 lost one of the most distinguished of the many public 

 spirited and large minded citizens who have served the 

 interests of the institution during the past half century. 

 Mr. Low's name followed that of Abram S. Hewitt as a 

 former Mayor of the City who gave of his valuable time 

 and experience to the upbuilding of our great institution. 



As President of Columbia University in 1901, he was 



f 



