THE FIFTH EPOCH 



After Dr. Ashley resigned in 1903, a general re-organization 

 was undertaken. This is familiar to the people of Charleston 

 and to readers of the Bulletin. Its results have been to se- 

 cure a new and commodious building and to make the Museum 

 essentially a municipal institution. Specialists have generously 

 given their services as honorary curators and a salaried staff has 

 been organized. 



Affiliations have been established between the Museum and 

 the colleges and the public schools of the city and the Chamber 

 of Commerce and other commercial bodies, thus securing com- 

 munity of purpose and co-operation in action. These affilia- 

 tions also broaden the support of the Museum and enable one 

 central equipment to be utilized by many allied interests. An 

 increasing body of members has been created, whose contribu- 

 tions are applied to permanent improvements in the collections 

 and equipment, while the City Council assumes the expense of 

 maintenance. At no previous time has the Museum maintained 

 such varied and helpful relations with the community. 



This is not only the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of 

 the founding of the Museum but the tenth anniversary of the 

 beginning of the re-organization which has made it truly The 

 Charleston Museum — created by the people; maintained by the 

 City Council; and administered for the instruction and recrea- 

 tion of the public and for the advancement of science. 



The Museum still has grave problems to solve, but it has good 



courage, which we hope may be increased by this retrospect, and 



the future presents abundant opportunities to achieve results 



worthy of our ideals. Let us be proud of our history only as it 



spurs us to greater efforts. 



P. M. Rea. 



