Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 51.djvu/103

Rh the Proceedings alive was foremost in mind. Mrs. Putnam exercised every energy to secure the funds. The curatorship had passed from Prof. Pratt to Prof. Barris, whose important papers on local geology are a valuable part of the Proceedings. Leaving to him all the curator's duties and more, she devoted herself to this. In 1895 she saw her desires gained: a bequest of ten thousand dollars was left in that year by Mrs. Mary P. Bull as a permanent publication fund, a memorial to Charles E. and J. Duncan Putnam.

With this substantial encouragement the academy now looks forward with increasing hope. Much needed improvements have just been made in building and cases; books have been rearranged in the library; much needed binding of pamphlets and magazines has been done. The membership is increasing, and when the faithful few long toilers are gone new recruits will be ready. Definite plans of growth and development are shaping themselves. An effort is making to raise the permanent endowment fund to fifty thousand dollars. When that is done a paid secretaryship can be established to direct and organize the work. Then, with permanent publication secured and direction and activity insured, an effort will be made to complete the building. The edifice already constructed is only the rear part of a far more extensive one. On the lot before it is ample space for a large and imposing structure. The present building is of brick, and is in two stories. The dimensions are shown on the accompanying ground plans. The front door opens on a central hallway, on either side of which is a small, square room. One of these is the office and workroom of the curator; the other contains the Putnam entomological collection and library, and is used for the regular monthly meetings of the academy. Behind these rooms is the main museum hall. It consists of a ground floor, with a second story gallery running around its four sides. On the main floor are the collections in natural history, representing all departments, and particularly rich in local zoölogy and geology. Here are the results of the field work of Sheldon, Pratt, Barris, and