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CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



the various collections in mineralogy, geology, botany, and zoology. A 

 system of skylights will insure a thorough illumination of the room, a 

 most important element in the success of a museum. It is interesting to 

 note that in several of the large museums recently erected in England, the 

 method of lighting from above has been adopted, and that it is growing 

 in favor among scientists. The museum hall is composed of only one 

 story, but the front part of the building contains a second story, which 

 is divided into two apartments. The larger of these is also lighted from 

 overhead, as well as by windows, and will be used for the collections in 

 archaeology, ethnology, and historical relics ; a smaller room will serve for 

 class purposes and for a work room in microscopy. The interior finish 

 will be simple and attractive ; quartered oak wood work will be used, with 

 the exception of the Catherine Howard Memorial Library, which will be 

 done in white enamel. 



An especially valuable feature of the new museum will be the base- 

 ment. Every care has been taken to secure light and freedom from 

 moisture. A large window area has been provided, and, as the basement 

 rises six feet above the grade of the building, this room will serve for the 

 storage of duplicate and study collections, for class exercises, and for the 

 preparation of specimens. 



It is desirable at this point, as a matter of record, to review the various 

 stages which have led up to this extension of the facilities of the natural 

 history department. At the annual meeting for 1896, Dr. AVilliam Rice, 

 the secretary of the association, made reference in his report to the rapid 

 growth of the collections in natural history and show^ed that the limits of 

 space for exhibition would soon be reached. Many generous gifts, includ- 

 ing the Booth collection of minerals and the material purchased from the 

 Ward collection at the time of the meeting of the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science in this city in 1895, had made large de- 

 mands on the room allotted to the museum. At the annual meeting in 



1897, Dr. Rice urged the necessity of action on the part of the associa- 

 tion to provide for the urgent needs of the department of natural history. 



In accordance with these suggestions, at the quarterly meeting of the 

 directors, July 14, 1897, James A. Rumrill, John Olmsted, Samuel 

 Bowles, Luke Corcoran, and Nathan D. Bill were appointed a committee 

 to " consider the need of increased accommodations for the natural history 

 department." This committee reported at the next quarterly meeting, 

 October 13, and a committee, consisting of John Olmsted, vice-president 

 of the association, Nathan D. Bill and Dr. Luke Corcoran, was appointed 

 with power to receive subscriptions for a science building. January 12, 



1898, the committee reported that sufficient funds had been received to 

 warrant the association in calling for plans for a building. Thereupon 



