The Pri/icipics of Museum Adniitiistration. 205 



unimportant collection with the pledge that it shall be kept intact and 

 installed as a unit. The acceptance of any collection, no matter how 

 important, incumbered by conditions, is a serious matter, since no one 

 can foresee how much these conditions may interfere with the future 

 development of the museum. 



3. Gifts, deposits, and cooperation of all kinds may be greatly encour- 

 aged by liberal acknowledgment upon labels and in public reports. This 

 is but simple justice to the generosity of the benefactor. It is also a legit- 

 imate way to gratify a natural and praiseworthy sentiment ; for a collec- 

 tion, to the accumulation of which a man has devoted a lifetime, becomes 

 so connected with his personality that it is but natural that he should 

 wish his name to be permanentl)' associated with it. If acknowledgment 

 of this kind is made upon the individual label of each specimen, this will 

 usually fully satisfy the desire of the donor that the individuality of his 

 gift should be preserved — an arrangement much more satisfactory than 

 one requiring that the objects shall be kept together and treated as a unit 

 for installation. 



Gifts and deposits may also be encouraged by the fact that the build- 

 ings are fireproof, the cases so built as to afford perfect protection, and 

 the scheme of installation dignified and attractive. Collections of great 

 value may to advantage be afforded accommodations of a specially sump- 

 tuous character, and such protection, in case of priceless objects, as is 

 afforded by special electric attachments. 



4. Notwithstanding what has been said about the importance of special- 

 ization, it is often necessary for a nuiseum to accept collections of objects 

 not at all germane to its plan. This if particularly so in provincial 

 museums, when valuable private cabinets are offered as gifts. It may be 

 impolitic for an institution to refuse such an offer, and it is much less dis- 

 astrous to receive a special collection to be installed as a unit than to 

 accept numerous promiscuous gifts. In time, in all probability, a collec- 

 tion of this kind can be transferred to the custody of some other institu- 

 tion in the same town, and the museum which has housed it in the mean- 

 time has deserved well of the community by preserving for it a valuable 

 possession. 



5. Since the plan and character of a museum is largely determined for 

 all time by the nature of the collections which fall first into its possession, 

 at the time of its organization, the authorities temporarily in charge of 

 such an institution at the time of organization should be exceedingly 

 careful in accepting materials which are to serve as a nucleus for its future 

 growth. 



Comment. — It is not unusual for boards of trustees, having erected a building, to 

 proceed at once to partially fill it with showy material before the staff has been 

 appointed or a plan considered. This can only be characterized as ' ' pernicious 

 activity," which is certain to result in more harm than good. A plan having been 

 determined upon and a director selected, the collections may be developed at much 

 less expenditure and with any degree of rapidity which may be desired. 



