MaTTKKS (JONCKHNlNii .Musi:UMS IN Soi TM Afiuca. 2H1 



Avhifh Jit lenst in iiiitural liistory l)i-;mclies is diiotly (Mitnislcd to iis, is 

 hut scantily fostered. 



One of tlie most valuable aids to tins systeniatie work is the keep- 

 ing of uniform and systematic eatalo;jues, wliich ought to he exhaustive 

 and complete. It is far preferable to show infinitely less results to the 

 casual museum visitors than to neglect the catalogues. Our museums 

 are in the majority of cases yet young, anfl we directors and starts 

 liave as 3'et too much personal comiection with the institutions under 

 <Air charge. It is not necessary to enter into details about this museum 

 or that, but it is likely that in our ten museums we may find ten 

 <lifferent s\^stems of cataloguing, if at least we include the institutions 

 in which no systematic catalogues are kept at all. This is not fair or 

 just to science, and extremely unfair to those who will have one day to 

 succeed us in our otiices. I cannot emphasise strongly enough that it 

 is preferable to neglect much of the other and general work, if only 

 absolutely reliable and correct catalogues are kept of the material we 

 .store away. 



It would be invidious to declare off-hand that tlie system in use in 

 one museum or other is the correct one, and the most suitable system 

 with regard to the circumstances in which we are placed in South 

 Africa would be one of the most important points of discussion and 

 agreement for the proposed Museum Association. 



But 1 would go mucli further. I would strongly advocate the 

 formation of one central bureau— not necessarily connected, or even 

 preferably not, with any special museum — but a central bureau main- 

 tained b)^ the different South African Governments or by the Federated 

 or United Government, wliere one central catalogue would be kept as 

 the combination and compilation of all the catalogues of our South 

 African museums ; s(i that it is apparent and clear at a glance to any 

 worker where he can find material for his special studies. I would 

 extend this to the catalogues of the libraries of our museums. We 

 know too little of each other, and work too independently of each 

 other, and, as I said in the begiiujing, "infinitely better and greater 

 Yesults could be obtainerl for the amount of money granted for museum 

 purposes by the various Governments." I have brought with me a 

 few samples of the various catalogues in use in the Transvaal museum, 

 not to hold them forth as ideals of cataloguing, but simply to sliow 

 how easy it would be to ctmibine all catalogues of the different 

 museums in one system, and how comprehensive all available )naterial 

 and literature would be to all earnest workers. 



No elaboi'ate staff would be required for that purpose. One head 

 with three or four clerks would be sufficient. One ov two of these 

 trciined cataloguers could go round the various institutions in rotation 

 and assist in the different branches. The principal of this central 

 bureau should be paid, and be appointed by the Governments, the 

 appointments to be recommended by the Museum Association. This 

 central bureau should have no powers whatever over, or interfere in 

 a,ny way with, the absolute independence of any museum in the 

 management of its own internal affairs. Tt would onlv ))ring the 



