Report of the President 45 



Work for the Blind. — Through the Jonathan Thorne 

 Memorial Fund we have been able again to extend special 

 privileges to the blind. Special lectures have been arranged 

 for children and adults, and collections adapted for their use 

 have been placed at their disposal. Particular attention has 

 been given to systematizing the work for the blind. These 

 people have shown great timidity about coming to the Museum, 

 which in a measure explains the small attendance; but pro- 

 gress has been made in overcoming this difficulty. Spring and 

 fall courses of talks on zoology and anthropology were given 

 by Mrs. Roesler and Miss Wilds to the blind pupils of the 

 public schools and similar courses for adults from the institu- 

 tions for the blind. These were fully illustrated with speci- 

 mens which could be handled. The attendance of pupils was 

 154; of adults 70. The work with the blind has been very 

 interesting and has seemed to be a real source of pleasure to 

 the people reached. They have been very attentive to the talks, 

 eager for information and reluctant to have the story hour over. 



A part of the income of the Jonathan Thorne Memorial 

 Fund has been expended in paying the transportation of the 

 blind to the Museum and for the preparation of small models 

 to be sent to the blind pupils in the public schools, and we 

 have 10 giraffes, 10 camels and 10 hippopotamuses ready for 

 use; 12 relief maps of the world are nearly finished. 



Collections of Indian, Eskimo and Japanese material have 

 been sent to the classes for the blind in the public schools of 

 Newark and Jersey City. 



Photography and Cataloging. — The more successful 

 the Museum expeditions, the greater is the burden placed on 

 the division of photography. Especially during the past year 

 when the scope and success of the expeditions have been 

 great, the tax on this department has been unusually severe. 

 Remarkable progress has been made in the routine photo- 

 graphic work, which has been carried on by one man unas- 

 sisted. The photographer has displayed great ingenuity and 

 efficiency in mastering the many difficulties involved in the 

 special photographic work necessary in connection with the 

 preparation of backgrounds for groups. 



