BUFFALO SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 309 



use of all citizens of said city" of the collections of the Wisconsin 

 Natural History Society. The formation of these collections was 

 begun in or about 1S57 by the Naturhistorischer Verein von Wis- 

 consin, which was the earlier name of the natural history society. 

 At the time of the transfer of these collections to the city they con- 

 sisted of approximately 19,120 specimens and 270 books, maps, 

 and charts. In 18S3 purchase was made by subscription of a col- 

 lection of about equal importance from Ward's Natural Science 

 Establishment. These two collections were united and in May, 

 1S84, the museum was thrown open to the public in rented quarters 

 in the exposition building. In 1S90 the site of the present building 

 was purchased by the city and in 1S96 the erection of the building 

 for the accommodation of the museum and the public library was 

 begun. The museum was moved to this building in July, 1898. 

 In September, 1906, the Common Council resolved on the establish- 

 ment of a historical museum as a department of the public museum. 

 To accommodate this an addition, covering approximately 19,000 

 square feet of ground and consisting of 4 stories and basement, was 

 built in 1909. 



Financial Support. The museum receives a special tax of -f of a 

 mill on each dollar of the assessed valuation of all taxable property 

 in Milwaukee. The historical department receives a separate tax 

 of \ of a mill. Milwaukee has a population of 370,000, and an as- 

 sessed value of $232,227,790. The income from this source for 1909 

 amounted to $79,620.95. The city school board contributes $2500 a 

 year for lectures to the school children. The only other source of 

 income is occasional gifts for specific purposes. 



Building. Erected in 1898 by the city at a cost of $150,000 

 for the site and $628,301 for building and furnishings. It accommo- 

 dates both the public museum and the public library; the museum 

 occupying 55 per cent of the building, with 39,600 square feet of floor 

 space for exhibition, and 7600 for offices, workrooms, etc. The 

 addition of 1909 cost $300,000 and affords 51,120 square feet of 

 exhibition room, 19,231 for offices, workrooms and storage, and 

 11,322 for lecture hall and smaller meeting rooms. 



Administration. By a board of trustees of which the director 

 is the executive officer and ex-officio secretary. The board consists 

 of nine members, viz: four citizens and three aldermen, appointed 

 by the mayor, and the president of the board of school directors 

 and the superintendent of schools ex-officio. All appointments to 

 the staff are made by the board of trustees on recommendation of 

 the director. 



