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CITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 



up to the present time. We are looking forward to continuing the course 

 another season. 



Since we instituted the custom of giving passes to children, over 

 three thousand have been given out. With these they may visit the 

 Museum at any of the opening hours, and they are especially encouraged 

 to ask questions. 



On Sunday, June 13th, the museum was opened in all departments 

 for the Convention of the New England Federation of Business and 

 Professional Women's Clubs. February 17th, the Museum was opened 

 in the forenoon, especially for the members of the Cosmopolitan Club. 

 In addition to these we have received the art section of the Westfield 

 Woman's Club, the Ellington Woman's Club, the art section of the 

 Amherst Woman's Club, and the Forest Park Literary Club. Special 

 classes in design have been received from the Central High School, the 

 Technical High School, and the High School of Commerce. The schools 

 have also used the collections to assist in their study of history and 

 civics. Schools from Chicopee and Blandford have also visited us. 



During April and May on Tuesday afternoons a series of informal 

 talks has been given, taking up one subject at a time, the first one being 

 upon Arms and Armor, then furniture, cloisonne enamels. Oriental rugs, 

 lacquer, lace, jade, and textiles. These have been largely attended by 

 the drawing teachers of the city, and upon request we plan to continue 

 these talks in the fall. 



A plan is now in motion to receive classes from the Continuation 

 School following those which have been held in the Museum of Natural 

 History, showing the various products such as silk, linen, etc., brought 

 to their highest use in lace, brocades, embroideries, etc. 



The ideal Art Museum of the present day is not only a store house for 

 the wonderful works of man in the fine and so-called industrial arts, but 

 its true mission is a vital and uplifting force to the community in which 

 each individual has a personal interest. Art has a vast influence in the 

 development of the higher life and the master works of the past and 

 present should stimulate to greater endeavor. 



A high authority says that ''the greatest asset of a museum is its 

 collections." When we compare the collections in this museum with 

 the very best in the country we are bound to acknowledge our great 

 debt to the artistic discrimination and generosity which has provided 

 it as a free gift to each individual citizen. 



Mr. Smith, not ever quite content, has added during the past year 

 the following: 



Four beautifully mounted guns. 



Two artistic panels by Wedgwood. 



A beautiful carved dish of jade and the following paintings by modern 



artists : 



The Heathery Slope of the Hills; by Nora Bowkett, an English 

 painter of Scotch highlands and heather. 



Venice; by N. Briganti, a pupil of the Florence Academy, who has 



exhibited at Rome, Milan, and Florence. 



Landscape; by Frederic Ede, a Canadian artist of repute. 



