448 CORRESPONDING SOCIETIES. 



The Conference recommended the appointment of Prof. Abercrombie, Mr. T. 

 Sheppard, Prof. W. M. Tattersall, and Dr. C. Tierney (representing the Corresponding 

 Societies), and that Section C (Geology), D (Zoology), E (Geography), H (Anthro- 

 pology) and K (Botany) be asked to nominate a representative to serve on the 

 Committee proposed in Resolution 2. 



The Conference then considered the subject of Folk Museums and their need of 

 establishment in this coimtry. 



Miss G. V. Babnaed, representing the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, 

 gave an interesting account, illustrated by lantern slides, of the Strangers' HaU at 

 Norwich, an attractive fifteenth-century domestic building now a folk museum, and 

 of the successful endeavour to exhibit therein objects relating to the rapidly dis- 

 appearing popular arts and crafts of the British people in what corresponds to their 

 original setting. 



A communication was received from Dr. Cyeil Fox, of the National Museum of 

 Wales, describing a visit to Scandinavia for the study of the character, extent and 

 mode of exhibition of collections in the north illustrating national ethnography. 

 These collections not only contain material exhibiting the pre-history and early 

 history, but also material illustrating the finer craftsmanship of the country in 

 historical sequence. In addition, buildings, domestic dwellings, barns, stables, 

 churches, mills, workshops, &c., aU appropriately furnished, are spaciously and 

 fittingly set out illustrating the mode of life and the immediate environment of the 

 people from the earliest times for which such collections are available down to the 

 nineteenth century. 



The interest aroused in Scandinavia among aU classes of the population by these 

 folk museums is remarkable. They form regional and national centres for folk 

 dancing, folk music and the maintenance or revival of craftsmanship, and are visited 

 by architects, craftsmen and others for ideas. In one case instruction is given in no 

 fewer than forty separate crafts, covering the whole range of normal human needs, 

 resulting in the well recognised development of the arts and crafts on traditional 

 lines. There are no parallels to these field museums in this country, and Dr. Fox 

 urged the establishment of these in Britain. 



A discussion followed, in which Miss Marion Frost, Prof. J. L. Myres, Mr. W. E. 

 Swinton and others took part, and the following resolution received from Section H 

 (Anthropology) was approved and adopted without expressing any opinion as to the 

 best site : — 



' In view of the increasingly rapid disappearance of material relating to the 

 popular arts and crafts of the British people, the Committee of Section H requests 

 the Council to ask His Majesty's Government to put into efiect the recommenda- 

 tion of the Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries for the 

 establishment of a National Open-air Folk Museum in London. 



' The Committee further suggests that the Government might consider the 

 possibility of utilising the Royal Botanic Garden in Regent's Park for the 

 pittpose, in view of its admirable situation and the proximity of a building 

 (St. John's Lodge) suitable for exhibition purposes and offices, providing this 

 can be done without interfering with the scientific work already in progress on 

 the site.' 



Session of September 9. 



At the resumed session of the Conference held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 

 Mr. T. Sheppaed, Vice-President, in the chair. Dr. J. R. Ashwoeth, representing the 

 Rochdale Literary and Scientific Society, directed the attention of delegates to the 

 importance of the registration of ultra-violet intensity of sunlight in towns and country. 

 He exhibited charts showing the seasonal variations registered in various districts 

 and urged the desirability of obtaining regular and adequate records throughout the 

 British Isles, especially in industrial areas, and invited those members of the 

 Corresponding Societies willing to assist herein to communicate with hitn at 55 King 

 Street South, Rochdale. 



The Conference then discussed the subject of co-operation between scientific 

 societies. The chairman, in opening the discussion, gave an account of the history 

 and development of the first union of naturaUsts, now known as the Yorkshire 

 Naturalists' Union, which was founded at Heckmondwike in 1862. This union 

 consists of some forty affiliated societies, covering the whole of the five Watsonian 

 vice-counties into which Yorkshire is divided, and has an aggregate membership of 



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