REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
11 
The World’s Fair in 1893 and the Pan-American Exposition in 1902 
made necessary additional collections and added some of the most 
valuable material to the Museum, notably, the large relief model of 
the State, the smaller models of typical localities, and the trans¬ 
parencies which adorn the Museum windows. 
Following is an excerpt from the report of the State Superintendent 
of Public Schools, 1876, recommending a state museum where the 
centennial exhibits could be placed on exhibition: 
“A room is being prepared in the State House for the reception of the exhibit, 
where the work can be seen and examined by parents, school officers and 
teachers at any time. My desire is that here it may serve as a growing museum 
of school work. If it is made known throughout the State that meritorious 
work from the schools will be received at any time, and added to the present 
exhibit, a constant stimulus to excel will be afforded to both teachers and 
pupils.” 
The report of Superintendent Apgar of 1877 said: 
‘‘It is with pleasure that I am able to report that a room has been secured 
in the State House for the display of our Centennial Educational Exhibit. 
The cases, frames, books and other articles are arranged nearly as they were 
in Philadelphia, and the whole display presents the same attractive appearance 
it did at the exhibition. Parents, teachers and pupils of the State have thus 
an opportunity now of examining this collection of school work with more 
care and satisfaction than was possible, because of the crowds and want of 
time, at the Centennial. The number who daily visit this new display of the 
exhibit is evidence of the permanent interest which it is likely to secure. This 
interest will undoubtedly increase. This collection contains the work of about 
14,000 pupils. Those who grow to be men and women will rejoice to have an 
opportunity to examine the work they did as boys and girls for the Centennial 
anniversary of their country’s history. They will examine it then with far 
more interest than now. 
“It is hoped that this exhibit will serve as a nucleus for a growing museum, 
where may be gathered and suitably displayed all work of acknowledged merit 
which the schools may desire to contribute. Thus, at all times, an opportunity 
would be afforded every teacher to contribute such specimens as shall serve as 
evidence of the character of work he is doing, and the nature of the result he 
is securing. No better plan, in my judgment, can be devised for stimulating 
and encouraging pupils and teachers in their work. A child is always de¬ 
lighted when he is able to do something that can be seen, and particularly so 
when the work done possesses merit, and is not only examined, but receives 
commendation. A teacher cannot offer a greater inducement to his pupils to 
excel, than to let it be known that the very best specimen of work done in each 
of the branches, pursued during the year, will be forwarded to Trenton, to be 
exhibited along with the Centennial work.” 
Chapter 77 (P. L. 1879), Laws of 1879, provided: 
That the governor of this state be and he is hereby authorized to procure in 
the name of the state, by gift or loan, a collection of objects of suitable 
designs in pottery, porcelain and glass, to serve as models and objects for the 
aid and instruction of potters, glass makers, designers, decorators and students; 
and the governor is hereby authorized to cause to be prepared a suitable room in 
the state house for the care and preservation of the said collection ; and the 
said room shall be kept open at reasonable hours so that the said collection 
shall be at all proper times subject to examination by artists, designers, manu¬ 
facturers and the public at large. 
