20 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Se». 



But the collectors of those days were rarely imbued with the 

 scientific, or even educational spirit ; their motives were largely 

 selfish, or would be so regarded in our day. They were usually 

 wealthy and cultivated amateurs who assembled and main- 

 tained collections for their own pleasure and glorification. It 

 was not until 1753 — just 100 years before the founding of 

 the California Academy of Sciences — when the British Mu- 

 seum was established at Bloomsbury and the collections of 

 Sir Hans Sloane acquired, that the idea of a public museum 

 emerged. It was then realized, apparently for the first time, 

 that a museum, to advance art and scientific knowledge, must 

 be liberally endowed, or else fostered by the State. And it 

 was not long ago that museums first began to realize that they 

 have a double duty to perform. 



The Museum of this Academy, speaking broadly, has two 

 primary functions. In the first place, it must furnish ma- 

 terials and facilities for research, and men to carry on the 

 research work. While its legitimate field is not limited by 

 geographic boundaries or to particular subjects in the realm 

 of science, it is particularly appropriate that it should concern 

 itself with problems concerning the natural history, geology, 

 and anthropology of the Pacific coast of the Americas and of 

 the Pacific islands. The problems within these fields are many 

 and tremendously important. Their study will result in many 

 valuable contributions to human knowledge. The collections 

 which would be made in connection with these investigations 

 will add greatly to the Museum's treasures. Those that would 

 be obtained from the islands of the Pacific would make it 

 possible to build up here in San Francisco a great Polynesian 

 Museum. San Francisco is the logical place for such a 

 museum. It should be the ambition of the California Academy 

 of Sciences and the people of California to build up such a 

 museum. Such an undertaking should receive substantfial 

 encouragement. 



And the research collections of the animals and plants, of 

 the geology, paleontology, and the native races of western 

 America and of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, should be 

 comprehensive and ample for the investigator's use. 



Then there is the educational obligation which the Academy 

 owes to the public and the state. This obligation can be met 



