University of Virginia Library

LIBRARY, LABORATORIES, MUSEUMS AND OBSERVATORY.

LIBRARY.

F. W. Page, Librarian.

The Library of the University, originally selected and arranged by Mr.
Jefferson, and since much enlarged by purchases and donations, now
contains about 40,000 volumes.

LABORATORY OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY.

The Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry is large and well-fitted, and
capable of accommodating from fifty to seventy-five working students.
See page 38, under School of Analytical and Agricultural Chemistry.

PHYSICAL LABORATORY.

A suitable room has been assigned to this object by the Board of
Visitors. The needful fittings have been partly provided, and its
thorough equipment will be pushed forward as rapidly as funds for the
purpose can be obtained.

THE LEWIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

The Lewis Brooks Museum contains collections illustrating the subjects
of Geology, Mineralogy, Zoology and Botany. Each of the collections
is selected so as to exemplify the principles of these sciences, and,
at the same time, to exhibit a large variety of objects for study. Its
primary object is to serve as an aid in teaching Natural History.

In Geology the collections are large and well selected. The specimens
of rocks show all the different kinds classified according to mineral
character, and the formations in which they occur. The collection
of fossils, plaster casts, maps, etc., etc., is exceptionally fine, and fully
illustrates Historical Geology. In Mineralogy the principles of the
science are made plain by well-chosen suites of specimens, models of
crystals, etc., etc. The general collection of minerals contains all the
important minerals, and many of the rarer ones, in good specimens.
The science of Zoology is well illustrated by a fine and large collection

of objects, such as mounted skeletons, stuffed animals, dried specimens,
plaster casts, etc., etc. In Botany the collections contain charts, papier-maché
models of flowers, fruits, sections of wood, etc., etc. The bulk
of the collection is in the form of an herbarium selected from the most
important and interesting botanical regions of the world.

In addition to the above, a beginning has been made in the formation
of a collection to illustrate the geology and mineralogy of the State, and
this will be increased as rapidly as possible.

MUSEUM OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY.

This Museum contains a very large number of specimens illustrating
the products and processes of Chemistry applied to the arts and manufactures,
and so arranged as to be a most valuable aid to the student of
Industrial Chemistry. (See School of General and Applied Chemistry,
p. 36.)

LEANDER McCORMICK ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY.

This Observatory, which is now in the process of building on the
University grounds, the institution owes to the munificence of Leander
J. McCormick, Esq., of Chicago. It will contain the great refracting
telescope of 26½ inches aperture, constructed for Mr. McCormick by
Alvan Clark & Sons, and given by him to the University. When completed,
the Observatory will be fitted with the working apparatus of the
best modern observatories. The directorship has been endowed with the
sum of $50,000 by friends of the University; and an additional sum of
$25,000 given to the institution by Wm. H. Vanderbilt, Esq., of New
York, has been invested, that the income may form a working fund for
the Observatory. (See School of Practical Astronomy, page 41.)