Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-17
TOWN MUSEUMS.
Useful Suggestions for Their Forma-
ton and Maintenance.

Edward S. Morse in Atlantic Month
ly: First and foremost, the tOwnmu-
scum should illustrate the natural
products of the immediate region. By
natural products is meant, of course,
the animals, plants, rocks and miner
ais found in the county, or possibly in
the state; for county collection would
require but a few eXtra-lmital forms
to compass the state. Second, a gen
eral collection of similar material from
elsewhere, to show the relation of the
county to the rest of the world Ana
tomical, physiological and morphologi-
cal series should next find place in
such a museum. The minor factors
of, natural selection, such as protect
i've, alluring, and warning coloration,
mimicry, etc, should be illustrated, as
far as possible, from collections made
il: the immediate neighborhood And
finally, a series Of forms to show the
phylogenetic development of the ami
NAL kingdom should in some way be
given. Such series would require
large floor space, and the solution of
many perpleNing problems as to form
of cases and methods of display. Yet
a scheme of this sort must ultimately
be devised.
This, then, is the general idea of
what public museum should be. It
has been attained in part by the Pea
body academy of science in Salem.
The collections comprise, first, a re-
markable series of the animals and
plants, rocks, minerals, and archeOlOgi-
cal specimens collected in the county
of Essex. These collections are cOntin-
ually increasing as new forms are
added. They occupy upright cases to
an extent Of over 300 running feet, or
a superficial area for their display of
nearly 5000 square feet. Besides
this, there is an epitome collection of
the animal kingdom, brought from all
parts of the world, requiring an area
of 1850 square feet for it's proper dis
play; and finally, an chronological col
lection, arranged by countries, filling
a hall 60 by 4S feet with broad gal
leries and spacious cases.
These collections are all fully and
clearly labeled. At close intervals
throughout the entire collection special
colored labels are displayed, calling
attention, by title and shelf number,
to books in the public library refer
ring to the immediate group; so that
a student or pupil from the public
schools need only transcribe on a bit
of paper a set of numbers, and pre-
sent it at the delivery window of the
public library, to be provided at once
with the books on the special subject
desired. Great credit is due to Mr..
Robinson, in charge of the museum,
for the good taste shown in the ar
rangement Of the collection, and to
Mr. Jones. the librarian Of the public
library, for cooperating so heartily
in the work Of the academy.
Courses of lectures are given in the
academy hall every year, which are
practically free to the public. The city
librarian usually supernitends these
lectures by printed lists Of books treat
ing Of the subject matter Of the lee
ture, and these lists are distributed to
the auditors. A like service is often
done for the free courses of lectures
given by the Essex institute. In this
manner, these three institutions CO.
operate with one another in utilizing
the collections in their possession III an
, educational way, for the good OF the
general public.