6 



CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. 



ness men, whose interest and enthusiasm had been first aroused by 

 Mr. Ley and stimulated by the coming of Mr. Perret to Springfield. 

 Mr. Ferret's work has for a considerable time been made possible by 

 the generous support of these men. Later the members proposed to 

 gain greater importance for their organization by enlisting the inter- 

 est of experts everywhere, and making Springfield the international 

 center for knowledge of volcanoes, earthquakes, and allied phenomena. 

 Toward this end the society secured affiliation with the Museum of 

 Natural History and began immediately to establish in this depart- 

 m.ent a volcanic collection. Already Mr. Perret has provided for this 

 a choice series of specimens of bombs, lava, and various minerals 

 from the volcanic region visited, and added to these are maps and 

 some of Mr. Perret's striking photographs and various publications. 

 The museum had a choice lot of volcanic material from Iceland given 

 by Mr. Waterman S. C. Russell; also photographs, relief maps, and 

 specimens from Martinique by Mr. Nathan D. Bill. All put together 

 make a very creditable showing, and much knowledge could already 

 be gained from what is now on exhibition in our city. There is strong 

 interest and enthusiasm back of the project which should do much 

 to insure its success. 



Another organization that has come to the museum this year is the 

 Springfield Amateur Horticultural Society. Beginning v/ith their 

 annual meeting, which took the form of a pleasant social gathering 

 in January, meetings have since been held once a month. It is hoped 

 in the new home there may be renewed activity and that such fine 

 exhibits as are a feature of work of kindred organizations in other 

 cities may be seen in Springfield. The museum would lend itself 

 admirably to such display, the basement being particularly adapted 

 to undertakings of this character. 



The Springfield Fish and Game Association have had several 

 evening meetings in the building, and thus have been brought in 

 many citizens who have not before seen the museum collections. The 

 birds and the Wesson collection of fishes have proved particularly 

 interesting on these occasions. 



The other societies continue their activities, and altogether there 

 is a great increase in the results accomplished and the museum is 

 the center of many fine interests. 



Catharine L. Howard Library. 



A total of 92 meetings in the Catharine L. Howard Library was 

 a result of activity of the geology class and other societies, and 



