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the exceptions for the remainder are, that the Heads of Departments, the Members of the Legislature, the Judges of the Court of Appeals and of the Supreme Court, and the Trustees of the Library may draw two books at a time for a limited period. The Trustees agreeably to the provisions of the statutes, have declared that the books which are always to be retained in the Library are, all the books in the Law Library, all Dictionaries, Encyclopædias, Maps, Engravings, and books valuable for their rarity or antiquity. Books taken for use in the Courts must be returned on the same day that they are taken out.

The Library is open through the year from nine o'clock in the morning until five in the evening, except on holidays, and from the fifth to the twentieth day of August, when it is closed for cleaning. When the Legislature is in session the Library is open until six in the evening. All persons visiting the General Department can obtain books to read in the Library; but the Librarians are required to use discrimination regarding the delivery of such books as they may judge liable to be injured. Persons not under fifteen are allowed to make researches, but in view of the aims of the Library for reference by the Legislature, the officers of Government, and by advanced and professional students, and on account of the small staff of officers employed, the Trustees require the Librarians not to deliver to visitors, for general and continuous reading, works of fic tion, light literature and publications of like character. The Law Library has particularly been declared by the Legislature to have been established for the use of the Government, the Courts and the Bar, and is to be used not for text-books of study, but for reference only.

[The Joint Rules of the Legislature require a Joint Committee, consisting of three Senators and five members of Assembly, to be appointed annually, to be called "The Joint Committee on the State Library and Cabinet of Natural History."]

ORGANIZATION (1884).'

The Library is in charge of a Standing Committee of the TrusThe organization of the Library at the present date is as follows: Standing Committee on the State Library: Rev. Dr. Upson,

tees.

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In the autumn of 1883, the Library was removed into the new Capitol, and temporarily arranged — the General Library in a court-room, and the Law Library in a corridor. Permanent rooms will be assigned upon the west side of the building when completed. The Library building of 1854 was demolished in 1883.

Chairman, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Governor, Regents Brevoort, Curtis, Fitch, Reid and McKelway. Secretary of the Trustees: David Murray. Library Staff: Henry A. Homes, Librarian of the General Library; Stephen B. Griswold, Librarian of the Law Library. Assistants: George R. Howell, D. V. R. Johnston, Harry E. Griswold.

Table showing the annual accessions to the New York State Library and the annual appropriations from 1844 to 1883, inclusive.

YEARS.

Number

Regular

Special

Object of

of volumes. appropriation. appropriation. special appropriation.

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[Of the above number of volumes in the State Library 86,644 are in the General Depart ment, and 37,536 in the Law Library. ]

STATE LAW LIBRARIES OTHER THAN THAT LOCATED IN ALBANY. Under the former Constitution a "Chancellor's Library" was formed for the use of the Court of Chancery. For many years this Library was kept at Saratoga Springs, the place of residence of Chancellor Walworth.

Upon the discontinuance of that court, under the Constitution of 1846, it become the "Library of the Court of Appeals," and was divided, one brauch being located at Syracuse, and the other at Rochester, under authority granted to the Judges of the Court of Ap peals. They were placed in some measure under the charge of the Board of Regents, by whom their Librarians were appointed, and their salaries were fixed. Reports are also required to be made to the Regents, but these are not published. Provision was made for placing in the Law Library in Albany, any books that it might want, and for placing in the branch libraries any duplicates the State Law Library might possess.

Three Law Libraries had been formed for Judges of the former Supreme Court, and one for the Vice-Chancellor of the Second Cir cuit. These four libraries were by the act of 1849, declared to be for the Judges of the Court of Appeals, and their successors in office. Provision has been made for a Law Library in each of the eight judicial districts of the State, as follows:

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ment of the Justices of the Supreme Court
in First District, who are its Trustees.
"Law Library of Second District," under the
Trustees of the Law Library of the city of
Brooklyn, subject to orders of Justices of
Supreme Court, Second District.

The State Library at Albany is in the Third
District.

"Law Library of Fourth District," Justices of
Supreme Court, Fourth District, its Trustees.
The Court of Appeals Library at Syracuse is
also in this District.

Under the care of Justices of Supreme Court,
Sixth District, and the supervisors of Broome
county, to whom reports are made.
For use of Supreme Court.
The Court of Appeals Library is in the Seventh
District. Under the care of the Trustees of
the Grosvenor Library, but subject to orders
of the Justices of Supreme Court of Eighth
District.

Act of April 9, 1849. Chap. 300, Laws of 1849.

Reports are required to be made to the Regents, from the Libraries of the Second, Fourth and Eighth Districts.

The Regents were required to frame rules for the use of books in the Libraries mentioned in the act of 1849, and might add to and amend the same as might be necessary.1

CHAPTER XXIX.

STATE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

By JAMES HALL, LL. D., Director.

The New York State Museum of Natural History is the legitimate result of the Geological Survey of the State, which comprehended in its scope and purpose every department of Natural History. This survey and its influence upon the progress of natural science in the country, and especially upon geology and geological nomenclature over the civilized world, deserves a special chapter 2 devoted to its history. The advocates and promoters of the survey long before its inauguration, in all their memorials and petitions, gave clear expression to their expectation that a museum of the natural productions of the State would be the outcome of the survey. It may be said that the Geological Survey was the result of a desire on the part of the people to have some definite and positive knowledge of the mineral resources and the vegetable and animal products of the State.

A memorial from the Albany Institute to the Legislature of the State in 1834,3 in regard to a proposed geological survey, expressed

1See Regents' Manual, 1882, p. 98.

See the history of the New York State Geological Survey, and a sketch with portrait of the State Geologist, Professor James Hall, in the first volume of the Public Service of the State of New York "

2 Senate document No. 15, 1834. This memorial had reference to the formation of a great public museum at Albany, and asked from the Legislature an appropriation for the continuation of what had been already well begun by the Albany Institute, through the active co-operation of its members.

The first act or the Legislature of New York tending to promote a general knowledge of its resources, through the agency of a society, was passed March 12, 1793 (Chap. 59, Laws of 1793), and incorporated "The Society for the PromoIt was a tion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures,” and was limited to 1804. State Society, and included in its long list of members and corporators, the most

the public sentiment or desire "to form a grand and comprehensive collection of the natural productions of the State of New York; to exhibit at one view and under one roof, its animal, vegetable and mineral wealth." This memorial further remarked on the subject: "In every civilized country of the Old World, such collections are an object of national pride. For their increase the naturalists of every kingdom have explored unknown regions. The British Museum, the Garden of Plants, at Paris, the collections of every eminent and influential class of men throughout the State. Members of the Legislature were deemed honorary members of the society, and were entitled to attend its meetings, but not to vote at its elections. Its transactions were printed at the State expense, and bear evidence of great activity and zeal in the develop. ment of the agricultural and industrial interests of the State.

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Upon the expiration of its charter another society named The Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts," was incorporated April 2, 1804 (Chap. 41, Laws of 1804), without limitation as to time, and the property of the former society became vested in the new corporation. Its general objects were in the main similar; but as circumstances brought various interests into importance, especially as the war of 1812 was approaching, in the encouragement of domestic manufactures, this society was charged with the duty of distributing premiums, and the like. It also encouraged researches, and published transactions that have permanent value in our literature. It made collections of various kinds, and until the forma tion of a "Board of Agriculture" in 1819 (Chap. 107, Laws of 1819), it was the only State society that existed for the development of the resources of New York.

A scientific society named "The Albany Lyceum of Natural History," was formed some years later, and both continued separately until 1829 (Chap. 43, Laws of 1829), when they were merged in "The Albany Institute," which became the owner of the library and collections that had been accumulated by its predecessors. Under the comprehensive charter received at that time, the Albany Institute was to consist of three departments.

First. The Department of Physical Sciences and the Arts, including the "Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts," as then constituted.

Second. The Department of Natural History, or the Lyceum of Natural History, and

Third. The Department of History and General Literature.

In the early years of the Albany Institute much attention was paid to Natural History in its various branches, and in its Petition of 1834, above referred to, it is stated that their catalogues comprised at least 10,000 articles upon that subject.

At a somewhat later period, the physical sciences, and especially meteorology, electricity and magnetism, became subjects of investigation, and some of the most brilliant of the early discoveries in electro-magnetism by Prof. Joseph Henry, were first announced to the world at the meetings of the Albany Institute.

This society has continued in active existence to the present day Its library cabinet and room for meeting are in the Albany Academy, and its Transactions now extending to volumes, are recognized as valuable contributions to knowledge. F. B. II.

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