10 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1918. 



knowledge, for the direction of research, for cooperation with depart- 

 ments of the Government and with universities and scientific societies 

 in America, and likewise aiford a definite correspondent to all scien- 

 tific institutions- and men abroad who seek interchange of views or 

 knowledge with men of science in the United States. 



Since that early day the only material change in the scope of the 

 Government Museum has been the addition of a department of 

 American history, intended to illustrate by an appropriate assemblage 

 of objects the lives of distinguished personages, important events, 

 and the domestic life of the country from the colonial period to the 

 present time. 



The development of the Museum has been greatest in those subjects 

 which the conditions of the past three-quarters of a century have 

 made most fruitful — the natural history, geology, ethnology, and 

 archeology of the United States, supplemented by many collections 

 from other countries. The opportunities for acquisition in these 

 directions have been mainly brought about through the activities of 

 the scientific and economic surveys of the Government, many of 

 which are the direct outgrowths of earlier explorations, stimulated or 

 directed by the Smithsonian Institution. The Centennial Exhibition 

 of 1876 afforded the first opportunity for establishing a department 

 of the industrial arts, of which the fullest advantage has been taken, 

 but the department or gallery of the fine arts made little progress, 

 though not from lack of desire or appreciation, until some 10 years 

 ago, when circumstances led to its definite recognition. 



While it is the primary duty of a museum to preserve the objects 

 confided to its care, as it is that of a library to preserve its books 

 and manuscripts, yet the importance of public collections rests not 

 upon the mere basis of custodianship nor upon the number of speci- 

 mens assembled and their money value, but upon the use to which 

 they are put. Judged by this standard, the National Museum may 

 claim to have reached a high state of efficiency. From an educa- 

 tional point of view it is of great value to those persons who are so 

 fortunate as to reside in Washington or who are able to visit the 

 Nation's Capital. In its well-designed cases, in which every detail 

 of structure, appointment, and color is considered, a selection of 

 representative objects is placed on view to the public, all being 

 carefully labeled individually and in groups. The child as well as 

 the adult has been provided for and the kindergarten pupil and the 

 high-school scholar can be seen here supplementing their class-room 

 games or studies. Under authority from Congress the small colleges 

 and higher grades of schools and academies throughout the land, 

 especially in places where museums do not exist, are also being aided 

 in their educational work by sets of duplicate specimens, selected 

 and labeled to meet the needs of both teachers and pupils. 



