32 Report of the President 



this is more than compensated for by the greatly enhanced 

 appearance of Memorial Hall and the adjoining rooms. A 

 museum of natural history is not merely a utilitarian institu- 

 tion in which art has no place; the building, the exhibition 

 halls, cases and exhibits, should be one and all educational in 

 themselves, and by their artistic nature appeal to the visitor. 

 The replacement of the old lights in Memorial Hall by modern 

 fixtures, the contract for which has been let, will practically com- 

 plete the improvements of this important portion of the building. 



The most important interior work has been the construc- 

 tion of fireproof storage in the Southwest Pavilion for the 

 anthropological collections, which have been a source of con- 

 tinued anxiety, as they were stored in wooden boxes. The 

 close of the year finds sixteen rooms completed, built of rein- 

 forced concrete, provided with electric light, fitted with metal 

 racks and shelves, so arranged that all material can be seen 

 at a glance, and equipped in such a manner that the contents 

 of any room may be poisoned. 



Eighty-eight metal cases have been provided for the stor- 

 age of the osteological collection, Department of Mammalogy, 

 and for fossil fishes, though many drawers are needed to make 

 these fully available. 



The erection of book stacks provides for a rearrangement 

 of part of the library and for future growth as well; it also 

 makes possible the removal of the collection of maps from 

 their present quarters and the use of these for caring for the 

 steadily increasing collection of skins of mammals. 



Changes in Building. — The excavation for the new South- 

 east Wing and Court Building has been completed, but the 

 demands on the City finances for other purposes have pre- 

 vented the commencement of work on the foundation of either 

 of these structures. While both these extensions are badly 

 needed, the erection of the Court Building is specially pressing, 

 since this is to contain the collection of whales and other 

 marine mammals which cannot be installed until it is erected. 



The new printing room is nearing completion and is badly 

 needed to allow for the additional press and assistants neces- 

 sary to keep up with the regular work of the Museum. 



