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II 



The Provincial Museum 



WHAT may fitly be called the provincial museum question 

 has of late rapidly assumed considerable importance. 

 The need for these institutions or the enthusiasm of their staff 

 is not called in question ; as a matter of fact, it is in a great measure 

 to the energy of provincial curators, as manifested at meetings of 

 the Museums' Association, that much of the present awakening is 

 due. The evils from which these museums suffer are acknowledged 

 to be a general lack of means, undermanning, and a partially or 

 wholly untrained staff. The widespread attention which the subject 

 receives even from the lay mind is evidence of a knowledge that 

 better things are possible, and that a satisfactory settlement will 

 tend to the public good and educational progress. The museum 

 question has hitherto been attacked in two ways. The late Dr 

 Goode in America, and Sir W. H. Flower in this country, have 

 laboured alike to educate the public mind to the value and necessity 

 of these institutions as factors in education, and to direct and 

 stimulate museum workers. The second form of attack has been 

 made by Professor Petrie (Brit. Assoc, Liverpool), and more recently 

 by the editorial comments of Natural Science (Vol. xi., No. 66, Aug. 

 1897). It may be defined as the suggestion of remedial measures. 

 The addresses and papers of Sir W. H. Flower and Dr Goode have 

 undoubtedly done much to pave the way for better progress, but 

 before the remedial measures which are now advocated can be 

 made effective or adequate to the needs of provincial museums, it will 

 be necessary to consider fully their present position as a whole. 



Even a brief consideration of the provincial museum reveals 

 much that is anomalous and unsatisfactory. Hardly any two can 

 be said to work upon a common plan, whilst most develop and 

 exist rather as the sport of circumstances than as the outcome of 

 definite purpose and design. We much doubt if one can be pointed 

 out which has an income at all equal to its needs, or which is able 

 to develop and maintain its various sections according to their true 

 value and proportion. 



We find also that Government recognition is accorded to pro- 

 vincial museums in a vague and half-hearted manner. The Libraries 

 and Museums Act can be put into operation if the people of a 



