The State put in $100,000; the Buffalo Historical Society $45,000; and the city $30,000, making $175,000 in all.*

It was planned to accommodate not only the needs of the exposition, but the ultimate needs of the Historical Society. It was opened to the public 12 months from the time the contract was made, and required 140 different drawings to properly guide the execution of the finish. It is provided with a heating and ventilating plant, and is lighted by a thousand electric lights, the fixtures being of an especially high grade.

*This does not include the cost of alterations, redecorating, etc., incurred since the society took possession.

APPENDIX.

JULIUS E. FRANCIS AND THE LINCOLN
BIRTHDAY ASSOCIATION.

In the marble-pillared central hall of the Buffalo Historical Society's new building is a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln. The figure, somewhat more than life size, is seated, one leg across the other in characteristic attitude; a document is in the hands. The countenance, looking straight ahead, is full of the ruggedness and the sadness of the great original. From an artistic viewpoint it is a most satisfactory statue; the work of the sculptor Niehaus, and a replica (but for a few minor details) of the Lincoln statue by that artist at Muskegon, Mich. Effectively placed on its black marble pedestal, it is the most notable object in the possession of the Historical Society. For this much-valued work of art the society, and the community which it represents, are indebted to the patriotism and the liberality of Julius E. Francis.

Mr. Francis was born at Wethersfield, Conn., Jan. 11, 1822. He came to Buffalo in 1835 and went to work for his brother, Daniel Francis, a maker of Britannia ware. In 1839, with Charles Coleman, he engaged in the drug business at what is now No. 348 Main Street, and here he continued for over 40 years, Mr. Coleman's interest having been bought in 1856. In 1880 he removed to South Division Street, and on Aug. 1, 1881, he died. He never married; but he took all the school children of Buffalo to his heart, and delighted in planning for them, and carrying out with them, entertainments of a patriotic character.

He was a hero worshipper, and Abraham Lincoln was his hero. During many years, and with much travel and outlay of money, he collected the articles which are embraced in the Lincoln Memorial Collection, now the property of the Buffalo Historical Society. It

comprises three cases of relics of the Civil War, in which are contained battlefield relics from Gettysburg, Antietam, Bull Run, etc., with autographs of 10,322 soldiers and sailors who fought in the war; with their rank, regiment, date of enlistment, and discharge, including the battles in which they were engaged; also 1500 autographs of members of the Forty-third Congress, etc., U. S. Supreme Court Judges and other prominent Government officials; also two volumes, containing a complete collection (1400) of the illustrated envelopes used during the war, with complete bound copies of the New York Times, Harper's Weekly, and other papers; scrap-books and histories of the war, Adjutant-General's reports, etc. In the collection of these relics Mr. Francis visited the battlefields and attended various meetings of veterans. He began the collection of relics in 1861 and was engaged five years in completing the "Autograph Memorial" volume.

"The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Case" (No. 1) contains 76 battlefield trophies, numbered from 1 to 76, and handsomely mounted; also 127 volumes. This case was dedicated May 3, 1872, at the Grosvenor Library, Millard Fillmore presiding.

Case No. 2 contains the autograph memorials already mentioned, and-with much other interesting war material-a copy of the original memorial to the Forty-third Congress to make Lincoln's birthday a legal holiday. This case is in itself a curiosity, and is a work of art. It was built at a cost of $1,500, and made from historical woods, the following being a description of the woods inlaid in the case: Left pilaster, 13 stars, oak and pine, Faneuil Hall. Right pilaster, 34 stars, oak, Independence Hall. Upper flag, 50 stars, original California tree. Two Memorials, Charter Oak, Independence Hall and Frigate "Constitution." Four small shields, ornamenting the Memorial of 50 citizens of Buffalo to the Forty-third Congress to make Abraham Lincoln's birthday a national holiday, oak, Independence Hall and "Old Ironsides." Top shield, oak, Independence Hall, pine, Faneuil Hall and California wood. Six stars on sides of case, hemlock, Old South Church, Boston, built 1669. This case was dedicated April 9 and 10, 1876, exercises being held at the Unitarian Church, Hon. James Sheldon presiding. Letters expressing sympathetic interest were read from Henry W. Longfellow, John G. Whittier, George William Curtis, William Cullen Bryant, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Wendell Phillips; and many of Buffalo's citizens shared in the exercises. A third case, the Lincoln Memorial Museum, contains relics numbered from 77 to 103 inclusive.

In addition to the work of collecting the relics to form this