4 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



Lectures. 



The museum in co-operation with the Springfield Volcanic 

 Research Society arranged for two lectures by Prof. F. A. Perret, 

 who was present at Vesuvius during the great eruption of 1906. 

 Prof. Perret spoke May 20, 1908, to an audience which filled the 

 Assembly Hall of the Central High School. His recital of the 

 stirring events which he witnessed was followed with the greatest 

 interest. His lantern slides taken from points of greatest vantage 

 were of great clearness and beauty. Professor Perret gave another 

 lecture on November nth on Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius, and 

 presented the results of his latest investigations. This lecture was 

 in the Science Hall of the Central High School and was attended 

 by an audience of nearly 200. 



On April i8th, Mr. Ralph Ploffmann of Stockbridge spoke in 

 the Art Building on the Protection of Birds. Much interest was 

 aroused in the work of the Audubon Society. 



A lecture on "Worthless Weeds" was given by George S. Lewis, 

 Jr., to members of the International College and the Young Men's 

 Christian Association Training School on November 22, 1908. The 

 subject was illustrated by material from the collection of fibers in 

 the museum. 



The Botanical Society has maintained meetings regularly 

 throughout the year. Talks on subjects connected with plant life 

 are given at these meetings. The calendar for the society is given 

 as an appendix to this report. 



Attendance. 



A gratifying attendance is to be noted particularly on Sundays, 

 and the total for the year is estimated at 30,000. 



Classes. 



From city schools 



From schools outside cit) 



Total 88 



Total number of pupils in classes 1,034 



The museum authorities earnestly invite teachers in the public 

 schools to make the fullest and freest use of the collections. 



Accessions. 



13 



Mr. Clarence B. Moore of Philadelphia, who gave the museum 

 some two years ago a valuable collection of aboriginal shell and coral 



