TJic Principles of Miiscuni Adiuinistratio)i. 229 



5. When a museum has a system of departmental catalogues, there 

 should be a general catalogue, or accession book, in which "accessions" 

 are entered in the order of their reception. The term " accession " is 

 used to describe the material received at one time, from one source, 

 whether it be a single specimen or a shipload. 



In connection with the accession book should be filed, under the ' ' acces- 

 sion numbers," all invoices and correspondence relating to the special 

 accession. 



In each departmental catalogue a separate column should be provided 

 in which the accession number should be recorded. A large number of 

 specimens in man}^ departments maj^ fall under one accession number. 



6. There is much advantage in printing the catalogues of a museum. 

 When a collection is sufficiently rich in material to afford the opportunity 

 for a scientific revision and classification of the science wdiich it illustrates, 

 the advantage is very great indeed, as is demonstrated by what the Brit- 

 ish Museum has accomplished. 



7. When great general catalogues are not practicable, much advantage 

 is gained by printing catalogues of special collections, however small they 

 may be, provided that each is complete in its own field. A report or 

 memoir upon a special collection may be made to serve the purpose of a 

 sJDecial catalogue. 



When printed catalogues can be well illustrated, their usefulness is 

 increased many fold, since by this means the treasures of one museum 

 are made available for study and comparison in everj^ other museum, as 

 well as by the multitudes who have not the opportunity to see the museums 

 in person. 



8. Catalogues are the keys to the treasure vaults of a museum. 



C. — SPKCIMKN IvABEIvS OR TICKETS. 



1. The inscription which is inseparably affixed to each individual speci- 

 men is the most essential part of the museum record ; for this not only 

 establishes the identity of the specimen, but serves to show to what 

 museum it belongs. Registers and other records may burn, but the indi- 

 vidual label will remain as long as the specimen itself, to give to it authen- 

 ticity and significance. 



2. The inscription should not only refer definitely to the register by 

 means of the catalogue number, but should, if possible, contain a state- 

 ment of locality, and the name of the collector or maker. 



IX.— EXHIBITION LABELS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS. 



A. — THE PURPOSE OF THE EXHIBITION LABEL. 



I . The exhibition label is the principal means by wdiich the treasures 

 in a nmseum are made intelligible to the public, the guide, the lecturer, 

 and the published handbook, though each in a Hmited field more effec- 



