SYNOPSIS OF CHAPTERS. 
CHAPTER I (pp. 1—20). 
Introduction. 
Foundation of the Asiatic Society (1784) : accumulation of curiosities in 
its possession — 1 . Wallich’s proposal that a museum should be founded 
(1814)— 2. Early donors— 2. Curators appointed— 3. Application to 
Government for a grant from public funds (1836)—3. Government grant 
of Rs. 300 a month sanctioned (1839)— 4. Appointment of Edward 
Blyth (1841)— 4, Museum of Economic Geology opened (1840)— 4, 
Capt. Tremenheere’s geological collection (1841)— 4. Mr. Piddington 
appointed curator of geological collection —4. Museum of Economic 
Geology removed from Asiatic Society’s rooms (1856)—5. Society refuses 
to hand over to Government its geological collections: growth of its 
zoological collections under Blyth —5. Memorial submitted to Govern¬ 
ment for the foundation of an Imperial Museum in Calcutta (1856) : 
proposal resubmitted (1858)— 5. Refused on financial grounds: nego¬ 
tiations resumed — 6 . Government of India express the opinion that 
the time has come for the foundation of a public Museum in Cal¬ 
cutta (1862) : further negotiations brought to a successful close (1865): 
passing of the first Indian Museum Act (1867)—'6. Difficulties as 
regards the Museum buildings : the Society receives a grant in com¬ 
pensation for its claim to accommodation therein —7. The Museum 
building ready for occupation (1875): Dr. J. Anderson appointed 
Curator (1866)—7. J. Wood-Mason appointed as his assistant (1869) 
and finally succeeds him as Superintendent (1886)— 8 . Various Acts 
relating to the Museum (1876^ 1887, 1910)— 8. The Act of 1910— 9. 
Development of the Museum since 1875—9. The Calcutta Exhibition 
(1883) and the Bengal Economic Museum : foundation of the Economic 
Section of the Indian Museum (1887)— 9. Construction of a new wing 
of the Museum buildings in Sudder Street (1888) : opening of new galleries 
(1892—1901)— 10. Retirement of Sir George Watt and appointment of 
Mr. I. H. Bur kill (1901)— 10. Reconstitution of the sections of the 
Museum (1904-10)—10. The Government of Bengal builds a new block 
of buildings (1894)— 11. Scheme for further extension (1904): new 
buildings completed (1911)— 11. Zoological collections— 12. Geological 
collections— 13. Archaeological collections— 14, Industrial collections— 
14. Ethnological collections— 15. Art collections— 15. Research in the 
Museum— 15. Zoological work— 16. Educational work— 17. Staff— 19. 
