MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



3 



the directors appointed the following building committee : James A. 

 Rumrill, John Olmsted, Kathan D. Bill, James W. Kirkham, and Dr. 

 Luke Corcoran. On January 17, this committee was given full authority 

 to erect the building, in accordance with the plans submitted by Gardner, 

 Pyne and Gardner. Ground for the new museum of science was broken 

 Monday, May 2, 1898. 



At each of the stages by which these results have been attained, the 

 City Library Association, and through that body the community, have prof- 

 ited by the enthusiasm and business sagacity of Vice-President John Olm- 

 sted. He has personally conducted, with great skill, the canvass for funds; 

 as chairman of the building committee, he has secured plans for a struc- 

 ture admirably adapted for museum purposes ; and has brought to bear on 

 the details of contract and construction his thorough knowledge of men 

 and affairs. 



The thanks of the association are due the members of its several com- 

 mittees, who have given much careful thought to the problem. The gen- 

 erous response of the citizens of Springfield to the appeal for funds has 

 also been most gratifying. It now remains to rightly administer the facil- 

 ities thus offered for the intellectual advancement of the community. 



Accessions. 



In view of the crowded condition of the cases and floor space, not much 

 effort has been made during the past year to secure additions to the collec- 

 tions. Yet, the kindness of friends of the institution has resulted in the 

 increase of the material in all departments and this growth has further 

 attested that the time is ripe for the new science building. The statistics 

 given in the appendix to this report show that the number of specimens 

 now catalogued is 10,360, an increase of 3,028 over the totals given in the 

 report a year ago. In certain cases, material which has been offered the 

 museum is now held by the owners until adequate room for storage and 

 exhibition shall be provided. The list of donors shows that interest in the 

 museum is extending beyond the limits of the city. A most valuable 

 accession is that of the private collection in mineralogy, geology, and 

 Indian relics given by Luman Andrews, of Southington, Connecticut. It 

 contains 1,034 fossils from different localities in this country and abroad, 

 1,188 carefully selected minerals, and .503 Indian relics, most of which are 

 from the Connecticut valley. No attempt has been made to place any of 

 this material on the shelves but the specimens will be of great value in 

 completing and enriching the collections in the new building. J. D. Col- 

 ton, of Longmeadow, has presented a series of interesting specimens which 



