The Principles of Muscnni Adniiiiisiralion. 207 



than the care of collections, and nowhere are enthusiasm and al:)undant 

 vitalit}' more essential. Every museum must constantly obtain new 

 material throuj^h exploration, and it is better that this exploration should 

 be done by the men who are to study the collections and arrange them 

 than that this should be placed in the hands of others. The necessity 

 of exploration from another point of view has already been spoken of.' 



10. In a large nuiseum staff it is almo.st essential that certain persons 

 should give their attention chiefly to administrative and financial matters, 

 thus leaving their associates free from occupation of this description. 

 The business affairs of a museum can not be conducted with too great 

 promptness and precision. It is desirable, however, that the administra- 

 tive officers of a museum .should be men who comprehend the meaning of 

 mu.seuni work and are in sympathy with its highest aims, and that its 

 business affairs and scientific work should be controlled by the same 

 executive head. 



E. — MUSKUM BUII^DINGS. 



1. The museum building should be absolutely fireproof and .substan- 

 tially con.structed ; the architecture simple, dignified, and appropriate — 

 a .structure worthy of the treasures to be placed within. 



2. Above all things the interior should be well lighted and ventilated, 

 dry, and protected from dust. The halls should be well proportioned ; 

 the decoration simple and restful to the eye. No decorative features 

 should be permitted which tend to draw attention from the collections or 

 reduce the floor or wall spaces. 



3. While the museum building should be planned with reference to 

 the character of the collections it is to contain, the fact that unexpected 

 development or rapid growth in some one direction may necessitate the 

 rearrangement and reassignment of halls to different departments should 

 always be borne in mind. 



4. Since no two museums can be alike, there can be no general uni- 

 formity in their buildings. It is manifestly undesirable then that a board 

 of trustees should erect a building for a museum before its character is 

 decided upon or its staff appointed ; or that the opinion of the architect 

 of a museum building should be allowed to overweigh the judgment of 

 the experts who are responsible for its utilization after completion. 

 Museum architecture affords no exception to the principle that an edifice 

 should be perfectly adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. No 

 architectural effect which lessens the usefulness of the building can be 

 pleasing to an intelligent public. 



F. — ACCESSORIES TO MUSEUM WORK, 



I. A well-equipped museum requires as accessories to its work — 

 {a) A reference library, for the use of staff, students, and visitors. 



•See Chapter III C, I, d.,p. 204. 



