THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 13 



gion's animal and plant life and the reasons for its conservation; of the 

 sources of their food and clothing and the processes of production. By 

 means of lantern slides they were taken to the sea, and wonders of 

 marine life revealed to them, and again by pictures they crossed the 

 ocean to countries from which many parents came. 



For these stories, children assembled early at the Museum and while 

 waiting, were shown objects related to the talk to be given. Surely the 

 young people derived much benefit from the course and such work may 

 well be continued and amphfied. 



Contribution from Children 



These privileges tend to develop with the children a personal interest 

 in the Museum and eagerness to serve it, and their endeavors have re- 

 sulted in some noteworthy additions to the collections. 



Designs have been made for posters announcing lectures or special 

 exhibits. Sketches have illustrated points to be brought out in story or 

 lecture or, as in the case of the cotton exhibit, by representation of the 

 flowering plant, an important part of a series has been supplied. 



Recently a merchant asked for pictures to show the life history of 

 the common clothes moth. The exact thing desired was not in our 

 picture collections but was made by one of our boys and used in a Main 

 Street window display of furs. 



From a text book illustration Frank Korkosz has made and given to 

 the Museum a plastacine model of the extinct monsters that left foot- 

 prints in Connecticut Valley sandstone. The lion done by this boy of 

 sixteen is a choice production and compared with the work of expert 

 modellers Frank's work stands high. 



There are other children who are proud to be contributors to the 

 seasonal exhibits and assist at lectures, and all of these young people 

 appreciate that a return is made for such service by personal interest 

 in their various endeavors. Occasionally there is a special treat for them 

 such as an evening at the Central High School with the use of the big 

 telescope by courtesy of Mr. Clarence Hall. 



In thus modelling, sketching and collecting these children are learning 

 valuable lessons, and by serving the institution they are establishing 

 interests and relationships likely to promote good citizenship. 



Americanization Meeting 



To the Americanization movement the Museum has offered itself 

 and opened the building for an evening gathering of foreign born parents. 

 Free to all the Museum served as a good example of the city's educational 

 advantages. Its collections were eagerly scanned for what pertained 

 to the mother country and the Maude Brewer Lang collection of dolls 

 from many lands was a particular attraction. 



Special Exhibits 



The Museum felt it a privilege to exhibit this famous collection which 

 attracted hundreds of visitors, and to arrange for the lecture on dolls 



