CONTRACT 



WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PARKS 



FOR THE OCCUPATION OF THE NEW BUILDING. 



This Agreement, made and concluded on the twenty-second 

 day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and 

 seventy-seven, between the Department of Public Parks of the 

 City of New York, the party of the first part, and the American 

 Museum of Natural History, party of the second part, Wit- 

 nesseth : 



Whereas, by an Act of the Legislature of the State of New 

 York, passed April 2 2d, 1876, entitled "An Act in relation to the 

 powers and duties of the Board of Commissioners of the Depart- 

 ment of Public Parks, in connection with the American Museum 

 of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art," the 

 said party of the first part is authorized and directed to enter into 

 a contract with the said party of the second part, for the occupa- 

 tion by it of the buildings erected or to be erected on that portion 

 of the Central Park in the City of New York, known as Manhat- 

 tan Square, and for transferring thereto and establishing and main- 

 taining therein its museum, library and collections, and carrying 

 out the objects and purposes of said party of the second part ; 

 and 



Whereas, a building contemplated by said act has now been 

 erected and nearly completed and equipped in a manner suitable 

 for the purposes of said Museum, as provided in the first section of 

 the Act of May 15, 1875, known as Chapter 351, of the Laws of 

 1875, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining therein the 

 said museum, as provided by the said last-named act, and by the 

 Act of April 5, 1871, known as Chapter 290, of the Laws of 1871 ; 

 and, 



