The Conference Committee was invited to retain its organization and to take the name of "Advisory Committee," to co-operate with and assist the director, the members of the committee to serve without compensation, but necessary expenses while in discharge of their duties to be paid from the appropriation for the exhibit.
It would be hard to overestimate the services performed by this committee. Each member took a hearty interest in the work in hand and freely gave of his time and advice in carrying the work forward to a successful conclusion. Any lack of interest or enthusiasm on the part of the members of a given association was quickly dispelled by a personal appeal to its members from its representative upon the committee. In this way the interest was most genuine and general throughout the State, and in no way could the sentiment of educational interests be more clearly crystallized than in a meeting of this committee, and to them is due the thanks of the Commission, as well as the thanks of the educational forces of the State of New York for their unselfish efforts and wise counsel, which in so large a way was responsible for the success of the educational exhibit.
PLANS PRESENTED BEFORE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
The director was invited to present the plans for the exhibit at the following educational meetings during the year 1903: University Convocation, at Albany, in June; State Teachers' Association, at Cliff Haven, in July; School Commissioners and Superintendents, at Watkins, in September; Association of Superintendents, which met in conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents, at Boston, in October, and Associated Academic Principals, at Syracuse in December. The subject was cordially received, and a general effort was made throughout the field of education in the Empire State to prepare an exhibit which would surpass any that had ever been gathered before. By means of circulars, several of which were sent broadcast throughout the State, full instructions were given to local authorities as to the preparation of the work, amount of material desired and the proposed plan of arrangement. Throughout the fall and winter the director visited many cities of the State, consulted with exhibitors as to the most attractive way of preparing material, and held himself in readiness to assist all who experienced any difficulty in the preparation of their exhibits. The exhibit material was collected, systematically arranged and mounted at the offices in Rochester, the entire expense of its preparation and transportation being borne by the State, with the exception of the binding of written work and small incidental expenses, which were borne by the local school authorities.
LOCATION OF THE EXHIBIT
The space assigned to the State of New York contained approximately 2,300 square feet and was most advantageously located. It was directly within and facing the main north entrance of the Palace of Education, and at the intersection of the main north and south aisle and transverse aisle "B." For its neighbors were the city of St. Louis and the State of Missouri, both of which prepared most meritorious exhibits; and the State of Massachusetts, which is always looked upon as standing in the front rank in educational progress.
The Exposition authorities announced that no unit smaller than the State in public school exhibits would be recognized, except in the case of four or five cities which had powerful, strongly centralized school systems, making them worthy of independent space and proper subjects for individual study.
EXHIBIT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
The city of New York was numbered among these exceptions, and approximately 1,500 square feet of space was assigned it adjoining the space assigned to the State of New York. The city government appropriated $10,000 for its exhibit and bore the entire expense of the same. Associate Superintendent Andrew W. Edson was named as committee in charge of the exhibit by Superintendent William H. Maxwell. The city authorities early expressed a willingness and desire to co-operate with the State authorities in the preparation of an exhibit and agreed to follow the same general style of installation and arrangement. Due acknowledgment is hereby made to Superintendent Maxwell, Associate Superintendent Edson and to committees in charge of minor details for the adoption of plans already inaugurated in the preparation of the State exhibit, and to C. B. J. Snyder, superintendent of school buildings in the city of New York, who prepared the plans for the booth for both the State and city exhibits at no expense to the State.