HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM 



000; owing to the wise expenditure of this fund, a total floor space 

 of 438,859 square feet had been secured, and a total exhibition space 

 of 262,236 square feet. 



The natural satisfaction which the President felt in the growth of 

 the Museum is simply expressed at the close of his Report for the 

 year 1905: 



"In concluding this my quarter of a century of service 

 as President of the American Museum of Natural History, I 

 cannot refrain from referring to the Report of twenty-five 

 years ago, when the Trustees stated that 'they most respect- 

 fully appeal to the generous citizens of New York, to aid in 

 the effort to make our Metropolitan City the center of the 

 highest scientific culture in our land, and to join in adding 

 new collections and new departments to the admirable 

 nucleus which has been already secured.' As j^our President 

 it has been my constant effort to fulfill the desires, as expressed 

 by the Trustees, which were so clearly formulated at the time 

 of my appointment, and when we view the stately building in 

 Manhattan Square, when we wander through the exhibition 

 halls and study the priceless collections therein displayed, 

 when we realize that thousands of the people of our City are 

 assembling here to listen to prominent educators, that school 

 children are here receiving their first love for nature and their 

 first taste of science, and that the influence of this institution 

 is being felt throughout the civilized world, truly we can say 

 that the appeal of 1881 to the generous citizens of New York 

 has not remained unanswered." 



Bequest. Mr. Jesup's death occurred January 22, 1908. The terms of his 



bequest set forth his views as to the relations of the public funds and 

 of the private funds in the support of the work of the Museum: 



I give and bequeath to The American Museum of Natural 

 History in the City of New York one million dollars ($1,000,- 

 000), to constitute a permanent fund, the principal to be in- 

 vested and kept invested, and the income to be applied and 

 appropriated to the general purposes of the Museum, other 

 than alterations, additions, repairs or erection of buildings, 



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