OP B(>TAW«^A.iL 



THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM 



Vol. 6 CHARLESTON, S. C, NOVEMBER, 1910 No. 7 



THE COMMUNITY AND THE MUSEUH 



The first issue of the Bulletin, pubhshed in April, 1905, con- 

 tained a discussion of the work of natural history museums. At 

 that time the Museum was known as The College of Charleston 

 Museum: it has since become The Charleston Museum, and its 

 scope has broadened to include all the functions of a municipal 

 museum. The possibilities of such an institution as an express- 

 ion point of community action are just beginning to be realized 

 in Charleston, and the time seems opportune for their discussion. 



The scope of museums depends upon whether they are private, 

 college or university, society, or municipal museums. This 

 discussion is applicable primarily to municipal museums. These 

 institutions have received increasing appropriations from tax 

 moneys in proportion as they have made themselves useful and 

 profitable to the general public. Their functions as depositories 

 of valuable scientific material have not been discontinued, but, 

 since technical scientists form but a small proportion of any com- 

 munity, study collections have been established where students 

 may have facilities for intimate examination of material which 

 is chiefly of technical interest. 



For the exhibition collections material is carefully selected 

 which will be useful for pubUc instruction and recreation. It 



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