ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  DIRECTOR. 
1896-1897. 
To  the  Trustees  of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum  : 
I  have  the  honor  to  present  a  report  of  the  operations  of  the 
Museum  for  the  year  closing  September  30,  1897.  It  is  difficult  to 
summarize  in  a  paragraph  an  adequate  idea  of  the  result  of  the  work. 
It  has  been  uniform,  stead}-  and  progressive.  The  physical  condi- 
tions of  the  institution,  although  very  much  altered,  rearranged  and 
improved,  show  but  a  small  part  of  the  actual  labor  performed. 
Much  of  the  scientific  work  has  been  of  a  nature  that  is  not 
apparent  to  the  casual  observer  and  is  concealed,  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  from  even  the  more  critical  visitors.  The  work  in  the  lab- 
oratories and  the  constant  application  of  time  and  study  in  the 
task  of  identification,  inventorying,  cataloguing  and  labeling  have 
pushed  these  essential  features  of  Museum  work  distinctly  forward 
and  brought  the  detail  records  of  material  within  useful  distance. 
The  vast  amount  of  this  important  labor  suddenly  devolving  upon 
the  Museum  staff,  as  it  did  at  the  opening  of  the  Museum,  would 
have  dismayed  those  less  earnest  and  confident.  The  work  is  unin- 
teresting, plodding  and  tiresome,  with  nothing  that  appeals  to  the 
student  and  expert  or  stimulates  him  to  effort.  The  general  appear- 
ance of  the  Museum  has  been  improved  and  the  outward  form  of  its 
installation  has  assumed  a  more  symmetrical  and  effective  appearance; 
better  harmony  of  arrangement  prevails  ;  a  closer  observance  of  the 
classification  is  apparent ;  weak  points  have  been  strengthened  and 
strong  points  emphasized.  The  steadiness  and  uniformity  of  progress 
in  all  directions  presents  the  most  gratifying  retrospect. 
Several  changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  staff  have  occurred  during 
the  year,  The  Departments  of  Geology  and  Economic  Geology 
have  been  united  and  Mr.  Nichols,  heretofore  Curator  of  the  latter 
Department,  has  been  made  Assistant  Curator  of  the  Department 
of  Geology,  of  which  Mr.  Farrington  remains  the  head.  The 
Departments  of  Industrial  Arts  and  of  Monographic  Collections  have 
been  abolished  and  most  of  the  material  is  transferred  to  Anthropology. 
Mr.  W.  H.  Holmes,  Curator  of  Anthropology,  resigned  to  accept  a 
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