New Britain herald., 1918-05-13
INSTITUTE MUSEUM
 IS TWO YEARS OLD
Attendance During Past Year Has
 Been 75,OOO, Records Show


 it's doors to the public, and from the beginning it has proven huge sue cess Undoubtedly, there is no other museum in New England which has had such rapid and splendid growth as the Institute Museum, and furthermore, the local museum has an attendance second to none in the country, taking the city's population into consideration. During the past year moro than 750O0 adults and children have visited the institution
 The remarkable success of the h. stitute Museum is due to a. large de- gree to it's curator, F. Birmingham Schurr, the naturalist. From the very beginning MT. Schurr has had entire charge of the arrangement of the exhibits, and has worked early and late to secure continuous addi- tions to the displays Among the gifts donated during the past 12 months, and from whom received, are as follows:
 F. A. Parsons, mounted albino red squirrel.
 H. C. Wilson, mounted land d-locked salmon.
 Robert F. Weeden, Tarantula's nest.
 pr. Robert M. Clark, collection of Confederate States of America money.
 Miss c. D. Copley, collection of Indian arrowheads
 Mrs Christa Gregory, mounted American bittern.
 Cyril F. Cullen, collection of coins.
 pr. George Clary, estate Slaves iron collar, ivory handled dagger cane, old-fashioned spectacles sec ton of branch of original Charter oak and other curios.
 Truman H. Bristol, four diamond back rattlesnakes.
 William R. Foley, pistols of 1S41, 1862 and 1875, powder horns and shot pouches, collection of coins and other objects.
 Mortimer A, Warren, hand bill of school celebration in New Britain, July 4, 1854.
 James Shepard, Mexican sombrero.
 Mrs. ". B. Stone, hand trunk of 1840. foot stove and other objects.
 Olin Oldershaw, map of Connecti- cut 1912.
 William J. Rice, New York Herald April 15, 1865, having account of President Lincolns assa sassination and death, collection of coins and other objects.
 Clara H. Rockwell, Flax wheel, hetchel, flax and other objects.
 Henry C. Bigelov, collection of preserved local ferns, collection of coins.
 Marshall Cook, collection of coins.
 Mrs. l.. J. Mooney, hair-work Gin easel made 1865.
 Mrs A. Tyson Hancock, water car rier from West Indies.
 Ida J. Fen, vegetable ivory. fos- sil wood, sea fan and other objects,
 Frederick Wagner, old-fashioned handmade nails, live alligators. large star fish.
 Mrs. Franklin C. Thompson, sword of sword fish.
 Numerous other objects in natural science and of an historical nature have been given, as well as many living creatures such as snakes, turtles, young alligators, lizards etc. which have been used in nature study work.
 The most important donation to the museum since it's opening was received from F. H. Davison, presi- dent of the American Hosiery Co.,, and president of the Savings bank of New Britain and a director of the New Britain Institute. It is a large floor case which displays the nesting habits of many local birds. The case itself measures more than feet long and 5 feet and four inches wide and stands feet and a half high. The arrangement of the case is the work manship of Curator schurr who is an expert taxidermist. A cever1y made artificial pond containing f111t 1oc oil cause close inspection to detect it is not real water and that the objects in it are not alive. Artificial rocks stumps, trees, grasses and flowers are so arranged that the entire case has the appearance of being a bit Of wild woodland somewhere in Connecticut
 Birds in bright and sober plumage are mounted in a most lifelike man. ner, and their nests are most clever 1v hidden in the tall grass, in bushes. hollow stumps and other places where they are wont to build their homes.
 The Davison case fills a big want in the museum and will inspire many to love and study birds and nature as they never have before
 Among numerous other things add ed to the exhibits within the past few months, are several large oak frames containing butterflies moths and insects; and also a collection of wild flowers and plants which were collected and presented by Raymond R. Willoughhy.
 The collections of insects and plants are frequently consulted by teachers and children to ascertain the proper names of specimens which they have seen or found
 In the chronological exhibits are