The Present State Museum. 
The New Jersey State Museum was established by an act of the 
legislature, approved March 20th, 1895. 
Governor Werts recommended such legislation in his annual 
message to the Legislature of that year. It really had its origin in 
the collections made by the State for the World’s Columbian Expo¬ 
sition in Chicago in 1893. These consisted of geological, agri¬ 
cultural, educational, photographic and other exhibits, and prac¬ 
tically included the entire display of the Museum at that time. 
Since then, collections of birds, mammals, fish, insects, speci¬ 
mens of forestry and a few Indian relics have been secured, also 
additions made from the several lines of exhibit shown at the Pan- 
American Exposition, and some new work in manual training. 
Since the issue of the last annual report, the Geological Survey 
Commission has turned over the entire Geological Exhibit to the 
State Museum Commission, and thus what was at first not greatly 
more than a State Museum in name has become one in fact. 
Last winter we applied to the State House Commission for a 
number of cases that were greatly needed, but because of the many 
demands made upon the Commission from other sources it was 
unable to grant our request. With the said cases we should be able 
to economize space and to place on exhibit many geological and 
other specimens which are now stored away in dusty boxes and 
subserving no useful purpose. Other contributions from liberal 
and patriotic citizens, which would add greatly to the interest and 
the educational value of the Museum, await us, as soon as addi¬ 
tional facilities for display shall be provided. We shall therefore 
feel constrained to renew our application for the cases that are so 
much needed. 
Several small cases of insects have been received from our State 
Entomologist, Professor J. B. Smith, of Rutgers College. With 
these we now have a collection of insects of which New Jersey 
may well feel proud. Professor Smith is still preparing addi- 
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