PUBLIC EDUCATION 
time officially created, and ten lectures on physiology, zoology, and 
botany prepared for the first course in the autumn of 1884. 
The law as reenacted in 1886, with an appropriation of $18,000 
annually for two years, authorized Professor Bickmore to deliver at '^^^ 
least one lecture a year at each of the normal schools, normal colleges, 
and training schools in the State, and further provided that the lec- 
tures at the Museum should be repeated to "artisans, mechanics, and 
other citizens." The latter part of the contract, however, was not 
complied with until 1890, when the new lecture hall was in use. 
Professor Bickmore traveled abroad extensively to gather the il- 
lustrations and data for the series of lectures on travel, the first of 
which was given in 1887. They were appreciated to such an extent 
that the Trustees had to hire Chickering Hall for the autumn course, 
and here Professor Bickmore delivered his lectures before audiences 
averaging more than 1,300. 
By the law reenacted in 1888, $15,000 annually was appropriated Law of i888. 
for the next two years, and the privileges accorded the other institu- 
tions were extended to the Teachers' Institutes of the State. 
A new lecture hall, seating 1,002, was opened in the latter part of 
1889, and in the following year Professor Bickmore delivered the 
first series of the lectures Imown as the "Members' Course," and also 
those to the general public, which were given on holidays. 
The law providing for the support of the Department failed to be 
reenacted in October, 1890, but the work was continued by the 
Trustees until January, 1891, when the State made an appropriation Lawof i89i. 
of $15,000 annually for the next four years, and at the same time 
entered into an agreement with the Museum by which the Museum 
received an extra allowance of $700 per month. In 1893 this was 
increased to $750 per month, and the State appropriation for the next 
four years was increased to $18,000. The following year, 1894, an 
extra $18,000 was appropriated to supply deficiencies of former years. 
The system was broadened in 1895 by an act to provide the "Visual Uw of ms 
Instruction Method" to the free common schools of the State, thus 
permitting the school superintendents in all towns and villages to use 
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