MORRIS KETCHUM JESUP 



which has now developed (as the history of the various departments 

 shows in subsequent pages of this report) into the sending of expedi- 

 tions to all regions of the world. 



In 1888 the economic importance of insect life was emphasized in 

 the appointment of Mr. Beutenmi'iller as Curator of Entomology and 

 in the beginning of a collection of economic entomology showing the 

 relations of insect life to forestry. The naturalistic methods introduced 

 in the bird and mammal department were followed here with equal 

 success. 



In 1891 Professor Henry F. Osborn was called from Princeton as Vertebrate 

 Curator of Mammalian Palaeontology, and the Museum entered on a 

 new line of scientific development in the long history of the vertebrate 

 life of the earth, in which it has now attained first rank. Mr. Jesup 

 contributed liberally to the purchase of three great collections and to 

 the despatching of an expedition to Africa. 



In the meantime the spirit of hospitality to various scientific insti- scientific 

 tutions of the city and country, and of cooperation with other institu- Societ,es - 

 tions, led to the opening of courses of lectures both by Columbia 

 University and by the Board of Education, in addition to the multi- 

 plying courses given in the Museum's Department of Public Instruction. 



The year 1895 was noteworthy as marking the first effort to bring Peary. 

 Robert E. Peary home from the Arctic regions. In response to an 

 appeal from Mrs. Peary, Mr. Jesup fitted out a relief expedition, and 

 thus began his interest in the work of the explorer, which was con- 

 tinued in successive contributions to Peary's expeditions, finally result- 

 ing in the discovery of the Pole. Indirectly the Museum has benefited 

 by becoming the depository of all of Peary's remarkable collections, 

 including several animals new to science. 



The most noteworthy scientific feature of Mr. Jesup's administra- Anthropology, 

 tion was the establishment of the Department of Anthropology on a 

 commanding basis, under the inspiring direction of Professor Frederick 

 W. Putnam of Cambridge. The beginning of the Department dates 

 back to the inception of the Museum and includes the acquisition of 

 many valuable collections which were now rounded into more complete 



[35] 



