REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1922. 23 



The National Museum in bringing together collections to illustrate 

 the novel and artistic advance made in the various industries is 

 assembling material invaluable for record and research. The eco- 

 nomic value of the natural history collections has long been appreci- 

 ated, and a similar condition is now being recognized in many 

 branches of the industrial arts. As an accepted authority on many 

 varied subjects the Museum is called upon more and more frequently 

 to supply needed data from its vast storehouse for the purpose of 

 assisting the commercial and industrial interests of the country. In- 

 dustrial workers are helped along many lines, not only by the exhibi- 

 tion collections, the study series, and the publications, but by advice 

 on the particular problem under consideration. The Museum's value 

 to the industrial world as a place of record was well demonstrated 

 during the year, when extensive litigation involving millions of 

 dollars was forestalled, owing to the fact that the Museum was able 

 to show that certain manufactured products had been on exhibition 

 to the public years before the process was patented. 



The care and preservation of the collections require a large pro- 

 portion of the energies and time of the scientific staff and present 

 many difficulties. The classification of the collections, both by mem- 

 bers of the staff and by the generous assistance of workers elsewhere, 

 calls for much research work, the results of which are published in 

 part by the Museum. 



The reports of the head curators in the natural-history depart- 

 ments and of the curators in the other branches of the Museum, which 

 follow, give in detail the additions to and the work upon the col- 

 lections during the year. 



COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL WORK. 



It has been the aim of the Museum since its organization to as- 

 sist students in every way possible, not only those who devote their 

 time to scientific subjects, but also the average student, school chil- 

 dren, and the general public as well. The exhibits are all designed 

 toward this end, and special efforts have been made in recent 

 years to bring the subjects within the comprehension of every one 

 by simplification of the labels, modifying so far as possible the purely 

 scientific terms, and by the introduction of working models, pictures, 

 diagrams, etc. Supplementing the exhibits are study series of 

 objects, which are always at the service of properly accredited 

 students, and the publications of the Museum, which are supplied 

 without charge to institutions and individuals known to be interested 

 in the subjects treated. 



It has been customary, when the collections justified such action, 

 to furnish free of charge to schools and colleges throughout the 

 country materials needed to illustrate their natural history courses. 



