Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-07
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Its Condition. and Progress Described
by the Assistant Director.

by the Assistant Director.
PERIODS IN ITS HIsToRY-THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE MUSEUM IDEA-AN EDUCATIONAL IN
sTITUTION THE NEED OF AN ADDITIONAL
BUILDING.
The annual report of the United States Ma
uonal Museum for the year 1884, which has just
been issued. the printing having been delayed
contains the report OF the assistant director Mr..
G.Brown Goode upon the condition and progress
OF the museum during the year, reports OF cura'
tors and acting curators OF the several depart
ments OF the museum, papers based upon the
collections In the mu >eum, the bfblograpny OF
the museum for the year, and u list Of acces-
sions TO the collections. The reports for 1885
and 1886 are in forward state, and will soon
be issued. As the report for 1884, just pub
iished. Is the first extended report Of the muse
un work the assistant director has devoted con-
siderable space to explaining the founoauon,
scope. function, aud aims Of the museum the
development OF the museum idea, principles Oh
arrangement of collections for public exhibi-
ton and systems of classification.
THE ORIGIN OF THE MUSEUM.
The National Museum, Mr.. Goode states, was
organized in 1916 by the act Of Congress trans
ferring to the Smithsonian Institution the Gus
tody Of the national cabinet OF curislties, At
that time deposited in the Patent office build.
In the Smithsonian building, the regents OF the
institution having accepted the trust on cOndi-
ton that the necessary appropriations for their
main tenance should be continued by Congress-.
The National Museum is the authorized place
of deposit for all objects of natural history.
mineralogy, geology, archaeology. ethnoiosy,
&C., belonging TO the United States or c.,liec ed
by the coast and interior survey, the geological
survey, or by any Others for the government
OF the United States, when no longer needed
Tor investigations in progress. Tue manage
ment OF the National Museum is intrusted to
the secretary OF the Smithsonian Institution,
who is, e1 oDtcio its director. He is aided by u
stall OF assistants, VINO are chosen ny him, and
Tor whose action he is responsible to the regents.
PERIODS OF ITS HISTORY.
The history of the national museum, Mr..
Goode says, may be divided into three periods:
First, that from the foundation OF the Smiths,A
nian Institution to 1857 during which time
specimens were collected purely and solely to
serve AS materials Tor research no special efforts
being made 10 exhibit them TO the public Or to
utilize them excepta rs iOundatio Tor scientific
description and theory. SecOnu, the period
from 1857 when the institution assumed the Gus
tody oI the "NatiOnai Cabinet 81 Curiosities, to
1876. During tuis period the museum became u
place OF deposit tor scientific material which
had already been studied this material, SO far
as convenient, being exhibited to the public,
ana, SO far rs practicable, made To serve an ed
EDUCATIONAL purpose. Third, tue present period,
beginning in the year 1876, In which Interval
the museum mas entered more FULLY into the
additional TASK of gathering collections and
milling them on account OF their value from
an educational standpoint. In the first period,
the Ma in object of the museum scientific
research; lD the second, the establishment be-
CdlHe hustufu Oh TcCoiu rs well iS Vi r6Sedrcu
while In the tnird period Is growing up the idea
OF public education.
The educational museum is OF comparatively
recent origin, and MAY tie said to be one of tue
outgrOwihs OF The InOdern industrial exposi-
ton. The World Is fair of London in 1851, the
nfst OF long series Of International exhibl-
lions, was utiilzed by the government oi Great
Britain as u starting point tor nuiuber oi n;s-
tlonal educational museums, tile most perfect
which have as yet been organized, and many
subsequent worlds fairs have been taken ad-
vantage OF in u similar manner, SO that nearly
every civilized country now has a system OF
pubic museums One OF the results Oh
TIE PHILADELPHIA EXHIBITION
OF 1876 was that il made plain to the people OF
the United States the educational Importance
OF great museums. 1t suggested the thought
that If SO much that is inspiring and instruc-
tive can be impaired by the exhibition Of
natural and manufactured objects gathered to-
gether, chiefly with commercial enus in view
Oh the part vi the exhibitors, necessarily s.n,e-
what unsystematicaliy arranged and with little
ner, an minense field is open for educating the
pubic by gathering together y selected series of
similar objects, which may De SO classified and
explained by means OF labels and guide books
that they shall iinpart consistent aud syste-
matte idea oi the resources vi The world and of
human &C ,ievemenL The United states has
rs yet no system OF educational museums al
though there several museums oil limited
scope, which have successfully Carried out the !
materials.
AN EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM.
An efficient educational museum, Mr. Goode
observes, from one point Of view may be de-
scribed collection Of Instructive labels,
each illustrated by u weii-selected specimen
There are MANY Obstacles TO the effort to build
up museum upon this uasis. Museums which
exhibit only such objects as are in themselves
beautiful or marvellous cannot fall 10 be attrac-
tive, no matter low poorly the objects are ar
ranged and labeled. When, however. the OBJ
jeets depend tor their interest upon the eApIa-
nations on the labels and upon the manner in
which they are placed relatively to each OF her,
II responsibility IA hundred-fulu gr alter is Ell.
tailed upon the curators. The materials of such
a III useum MAY be compared Ia piles OF brick
stone, LUMBER and architectural ornaments
which by themselves possess lite apparent in
terest Tut which may by thought and labor be
combined into an IMPOSING and useful euifice. |
INDUSTRIAL MUSEUMS,
as rule. exhibit only those articles which are
designed and constructed In the most sumptu.
GUS manner-the a NOR OF kings and knights |
the furniture OF palaces, the most artistic of
metal work, stone work and wood work. The |
chronological museums on the other hand |
admit only the implements and Costumes of
savage and partially civilized races. Between |
the two there Is Il great cnasfn TO be filed. 1t |
Is as important to- preserve In museums the |
more humble and simple objects which illus |
trate the domestic economy and customs of
the masses Oh the people of civilized natous AS
to search for similar objects in distant Ia ads or
TO treasure up only the objects which, on ac- |
the most wealthy aud luxurious classes in the |
civilized community. Collections of this |
character ara are, PERHAPS as we'll entitled TO be
usually included under this name, which are |
Intentionally more limited In their scope
PICTURES IN MUSEUMS.
To supply the place Of objects too large to be |
placed in a museum, too evanescent to have
been preserved, or whicg on account of their |
rarity or neglect In preserving them at the time |
when they could have been obtained. are neces-
sarily lacking In the collections IL liz tial
that museums should assume the administra
ton oil great quantities Of material such as ia |
usually consigned to the library or to the pic |
lure gallery. Otherwise, deficiencies In groups |
Of objects, which should illustrate by their COL
!ective meaning general idea, will much
Impair their value. Pictures and diaCrams
should be freely used as temporary or perma-
nent substitutes tor specimens which NAV ha
lacking, aud also TO supplement and exniain
the descriptive labels. In many sections IL NAV
be impossible to exhibit any thing but pictnres.
Much OF the material usually shown in art Qnl.
leries ana ART museums, such as is ordinarily |
served on account OF its artistic suppestis,ns
may be displayed In much moro instrucfIve
in museum without In the least las.
SEEMING its value to the artist or designer
ARRANGEMENT OF THE CoLLECrIoNe
The collections In the museum are Arranged
In accordance with q theological rather than
plan OF classification objects Of a |
similar nature being placed side by side. musi-
cal instruments together. weapons together, |
the progress OF each idea from the most nrimi. |
i've type. In discardinH the ethnocraphic
method Of arrangement, however special BARE
has been taken not to sacrifice the possibilitv
OF bringing together the objects belonging TO |
any time be required for purposes OF study.
NEED OF NEW BUILDING
The estimated number nj aOoo,c,.n. - ~.