206 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. II. No. 34. 



E. Museum Buildings. 



1. The museum building should be abso- 

 lutely fire-proof and substantially con- 

 structed; the architecture simple, dignified 

 and appropriate — a structure worthy of the 

 treasures to be placed within. 



2. Above all things the interior should 

 be well lighted and ventilated, dry and pro- 

 tected from dust. The halls should be well 

 proportioned, the decoration simple and 

 restful to the eye. No decorative features 

 should be permitted which might di'aw at- 

 tention from the collections or reduce the 

 floor or wall space. 



3. While the museum building should be 

 planned with reference to the character of 

 the collections it is to contain, the fact that 

 unexpected development of rapid growth in 

 some one direction may necessitate the 

 rearrangement and reassignment of halls to 

 different departments should always be 

 kept in mind. 



4. Since no two museums can be alike, 

 there can be no general uniformity in their 

 buildings. It is manifestly undesirable 

 then that a board of trustees should erect a 

 building for a museum before its character 

 is decided upon or its staff appointed; or 

 that the opinion of the architect of a mu- 

 seum building should be allowed to out- 

 weigh the judgment of the experts who are 

 responsible for its utilization after comple- 

 tion. Museum architecture aSbrds no ex- 

 ception to the principle that an edifice 

 should be perfectly adapted to the purpose 

 for which it is designed. Ko architectural 

 effect which lessens the usefulness of the 

 building can be pleasing to an intelligent 

 public. 



F. Accessories to Museum Worlc. 



1. A well-equipped museum requires as 

 accessories to its work : 



a. A reference librarj^ for the use of 

 staff, students and visitors. 



b. Laboratories for the classification of 



material, for the storage of the study-se- 

 ries, and for the use of students and inves- 

 tigators. 



c. Workshops, for preparation, mounting 

 and repair of specimens, and the mak- 

 ing and adjustment of mounts and cases, 

 and stoi'age rooms for material not yet 

 available. A printing press is a most es- 

 sential feature. 



d. An assembly hall, for public lectures, 

 society meetings and special exhibitions. 



e. A bulletin, or other official publication, 

 to preserve the history of its activities, to 

 maintain its standing among similar insti- 

 tutions, to serve as a means of communica- 

 tion with correspondents, and to exchange 

 for specimens and books for the library. 



2. In addition to local accessories, the 

 opportunity for exploration and field work 

 are equally essential, not only because of 

 considerations connected with the efficiency 

 of the staff, but for the general welfare of 

 the institution. Other things being equal, 

 exploration can be carried on more ef- 

 fectively by the museum than by any other 

 institution of learning, and there is no 

 other field of research which it can pursue 

 to better advantage. 



THE FtJTUEE OF MUSEUM WOEK. 



A. The Gi'owth of the Museum Idea. 



1. There can be no doubt that the im- 

 portance of the museum as an agency for 

 the increase and diffusion of knowledge will 

 be recognized so long as interest in science 

 and education continues to exist. The pre- 

 diction of Professor Jevons in 18S1, that the 

 increase in the number of museums of some 

 sort or other must be almost coextensive 

 with the progress of real pojjular education, 

 is alreadj^ being realized. Numerous local 

 museums have been organized within the 

 past fifteen years in the midst of new com- 

 munities. Special museums of new kinds 

 are developing in the old centres, and every 

 university, college and school is organizing 



