276 REPORTS ON The state of science. — 1920. 



by Public Schools. In one year lectures were delivered to nearly 12,000 people 

 by ' Uocents ' of Academic aistinction. The Mviseums of most ot the American 

 Universities possess a strong classical section, and all are used for instruction 

 purposes by the professors. 



The Archaeological Institute of America is steadily encouraging the extension 

 of classical teaching, and specially promotes a knowledge of ancient cultures. 

 It also gives support to, and derives material from, the Archseological Schools of 

 Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, and Santa Fe (Mew Mexico), and publishes journals 

 which have a large circulation. Forty-tive local branches, arranged in four 

 geographical sections, are in operation, and from 200 to 250 lectures are arranged 

 tor yearly. The study of classical history will probably increase dn the near 

 future by reason of the renaissance which Eastern countries will experience as 

 the result of the recent war, and collections which illustrate, even fragmentarily, 

 some features of their ancient history, will be of great service, but any extensive 

 development of such collections will necessarily be restricted to the large cities 

 and University towns. 



Principles of Museum Administration, Maintenance, and Staffing. 



The determination of any general principles of government and administra- 

 tion does not appear to have been formulated or applied to British Museums. 

 Neither are British Museums, or their governing bodies, referable to a common 

 standard, even when they exist mainly for the benefit of the general public. 

 The Libraries Act, .1919, may eventually secure uniformity of government for 

 county and town Museums, although it is optional for a county or town to 

 place its Museum under the control of the Library Committee, or under a 

 distinct Museum Committee. The many public, or semi-public, Museums, 

 owned by societies and private bodies, are not recognised by the Act, and no 

 inducement or provision is made for their transference to the constituted public 

 authority. These will, therefore, remain under their present diverse methods 

 of administration, and be governed more in the interests of the societies than 

 in that of the general public. 



This is to be deplored, as many of these Museums contain the nucleus of a 

 good public Museum, and many national treasures, yet cannot develop suffici- 

 ently for want of funds, whilst they are large and important enough locally 

 to hinder the formation of a wholly free public Museum. No fixed rate per ±! 

 can be devised applicable to all Museums, as the differential rateable values, 

 population, and requirements of towns cannot be brought to a common stan- 

 dard. It is possible, however, to fix a minimum income based upon the cost 

 of maintaining a trained curator at an adequate salary, one attendant, and 

 cleaners. (No curator of average ability ought to receive less than 300/. per 

 annum, and this amount, added to the wages of attendant and cleaners, will, 

 with the fixed charges, and at least 150/. for purchases, printing, &c., entail a 

 minimum cost of 800/. per annum.) 



It is essential that each department of a Museum should have a definite 

 siun allocated for purchases, mounting, labelling, &c., otherwise the balance of 

 sections is likely to be destroyed by the enthusiasts of one or more sections. 

 This is a prime fault in provincial Museums. 



The principles and cost of maintenance of a Museum are questions not 

 always capable of settlement by the local governing body, and these would 

 profit considerably if it were possible to seek the advice of some recognised 

 national or central authority fully conversant with the cost, maintenance, and 

 development of the various departments suitable for a Museum in a given town 

 or district. The help of such a body of experts would aiso assist local Museum 

 Committees in securing a suitable balance of departments and an economic 

 expenditure. 



In order that the Museums may fulfil their proper mission in the community, 

 it is obvious that the question of staff is of the first importance. The old 

 practice of uniting the functions of librarian and Museum curator is vigorously 

 and unanimously condemned by, the Committee. Progress of Museum work 

 depends upon the formation of an adequately paid corps of specialist workers. 

 At present all Museums are understaffed. Even in small Museums, a single 

 rnrator cannot be sufficiently well informed to arrange and label all his material. 



