L2 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1901. 



Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition led to the erection of the Museum 

 building, completed in L881. By L885 this structure was also filled, and 

 though numerous efforts have since been made to secure more ample 

 quarters, all have met with failure. In L888, 1890, and 1892, the 

 Senate voted $500,000 for a new building, and in 1896, $250,000, but 

 none of these measures was even considered in the House of Repre- 

 sentatives. 



There has been no abatement in the number of collections received 

 annually, but. in fact, a general increase from year to year, and a 

 severe task has thus devolved upon the Museum authorities in arrang- 

 ing lor their disposition. New specimens have constantly been added 

 to the exhibition halls and storage rooms until both are overcrowded 

 to the extent that in the one the objects, as a rule, can not be properly 

 viewed by visitors, and in the other their classification has become 

 impossible, and they are for the most part practically inaccessible for 

 study. 1 > 1 1 1 so extensive have been the accessions that only a part 

 could lie disposed of in this manner, and it became necessary, several 

 years ago, to resort to outside storage, which is now provided for in 

 an old wooden shed upon the Mall and in several rented buildings. 

 None of these buildings is of fireproof construction, though they con- 

 tain collections of great value and in large part not replaceable. They 

 also lack facilities for the classification and arrangement of the speci- 

 mens, which are packed away in shipping boxes and. for the time, 

 3ei \ e no purpose of any kind. 



The collections made by the Government surveys, of which the 

 Museum is the legal custodian, can continue to be received and housed. 

 as additional storage buildings may be leased, if necessary, though 

 the further provision of the law to make them at all times available 

 for study and examination can no longer be carried out, The same 

 applies to specimens obtained by purchase or exchange and to such 

 donations as are given without condition. The Museum is, in fact, 

 being resolved into a mere storehouse of material which comes to it 

 mainlj without solicitation, and its larger purpose, while never lost 

 sight of, is becoming more and more difficult to maintain. Its reserve 

 '"■ record collections in every branch should be so systematically 

 arranged that any specimens desired for study could immediately be 

 sound; the public exhibition should comprise the entire range of 

 Museum subjects, and he installed effectively and without crowding, 

 an ^ there should be ample and well-appointed working quarters, in 



ulli, ' h :,n ll!,> activities of the establishment could be conveniently 



caiiied on. 



W ith the conditions as they now are, it is not to be wondered at that 

 <he National Museum lacks that character of support which has done 

 so much lor many other museums. Its donations are generally small 



I relatively unimportant. The possessors of large and valuable 



