REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 57 



Specimens m a museum are like the types in a i)riiitiugofBce. They 

 may be sorted in tlie eases in conventional order so as to be accessible 

 when needed, or ibey may be used to make intelligible almost any train 

 of thought or series of ideas, each being available in hundreds of dif- 

 ferent relationships. 



Single or unrelated specimens, though v;iluable or interesting, are iu 

 themselves of little moment in comparison with series of much less 

 precious objects which unite to teach some lesson to student or visitor. 



Cumbersome and superfluous materials in collections. — One of the great- 

 est perils to a museum is the possession of vast collections. 



Collections which are encumbered with conditions as to manner of 

 disposition and installation are usually causes of serious embarrass- 

 ment. 



Not the least important duty of the curator is to prevent the acces- 

 sion of undesirable material. 



Material not germane to the plan of a nmseuni should be exchanged 

 or given to other museums which have use for it. What is expensive 

 and unprofitable to one may be of the greatest use to another. 



Advances in any museum are effected not only by accession and 

 enlargement, but by the constant substitution of better specimens, by 

 advance in methods of display, labeling, and handbooks. 



The principal uses of specimens. — A museum is rarely justified in 

 exhibiting all its materials. An exhibition series, when properly 

 installed, is more effective when limited than when extensive. 



Specimens not needed in the exhibition series are much more useful 

 when placed in a reserve or study series, either to be used by students; 

 to be exchanged or given to other nuiseums, or to be employed when 

 occasion may offer in forming new exhibition series. 



The exhibition series.— The effectiveness of a museum for popular cul 

 ture depends chiefly upon : 



(1) A careful selection and effective arrangement of the specimens 

 exhibited (which implies the exclusion of many objects in themselves 

 attractive and interesting). 



(2) A thorough system of labels in simple language, supplemented 

 by pictures, diagrams, maps, and books of reference. 



(3) Si)e('imens for exhibition should be selected solely with reference 

 to the lesson they can teach, singly or in combination. 



(4) To complete a series, any specimen is better than none. 



(5) A copy, model, or ]>icture of a good thing is often more useful 

 than an actual specimen of a poor one. 



(6) A picture or model may often be shown to advantage in place of 

 a minute or unintelligible object. 



(7) Books, manuscripts, pictures, maps, etc., become specimens when 

 treated in the museum method. 



The study series: 



(1) Specimens in the study series should be acipiired in series sufli- 



