HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM 



Bulletins. 



were sent to all parts of the United States to gather the woods, and 

 the services of Mrs. Sargent were engaged to add the element of beauty 

 to the collection through her paintings of the leaves, flowers, and fruits. 



stones. At the same time the collection of Building Stones forecast the 



ultimate development of an economic department which should em- 

 brace the ores and industrial products of the earth, and give also 

 sections of mines and the products and systems of metallurgy. After 

 thirty years this project is in the way of being put into execution. 



A rapid review of the chief steps in this administration will, per- 

 haps, give the best idea of Mr. Jesup's originality and of his high ideals 

 for the scientific future of the Museum. The year preceding his ap- 

 pointment, popular lectures in natural history had been instituted 

 by Professor Bickmore. In 1881 came the issue of the first number 

 of the Scientific Bulletins. In 1884 Professor Joel A. Allen, a dis- 

 tinguished zoologist and pupil of Agassiz, was appointed as head of the 

 Department of Zoology. To systematize the free lecture courses the 

 Department of Public Instruction was organized under Professor 

 Bickmore. Mr. Jesup's religious views were constantly broadening; 

 in 1885 he issued an elaborate pamphlet advocating the Sunday opening 

 of the Museum, a step which was regarded by many persons at the time 

 as hostile to religion and which led to the withdrawal of certain financial 

 support of the Museum. The plan, however, was pursued, and, in 

 1887 the Sunday opening was carried through with the result that more 

 visitors — especially among the laboring classes — were attracted than 

 ever before. With the same motive, evening opening was arranged 

 for in 1888. 



Taxidermy. The first step toward the artistic display of the collections of 



zoology was taken in the engagement of Mrs. Mogridge, an English 

 lady, from the British Museum, who introduced the first bird groups 

 and accessories. This opened the way for the perfected series of 

 Habitat groups in which the American Museum now leads the world. 



Exploration. A new policy of exploration in the field was instituted in 1888 by 



an expedition for the fast- vanishing bison, supported by Messrs. Jesup 

 and Constable. This was the first step toward an exploring policy 



[34] 



Sunday 

 Opening. 



