EEPORT OP ASSISTANT SECEETARY. 5 



pleasure was afforded to visitors. The ai)propriatioiis, however, were 

 meagre, the space limited, and the staff was so inadequate that little 

 could be done except to keep the collections in good preservation. 



The Exhibition of 1876 in Philadelphia was an event of great educa- 

 tional importance to the people of the United States 5 aud not the least 

 of its benefits were the lessons it taught as to the possibilities for good 

 in public museums. The objects which at the close of the Centennial 

 were given to the United States for its National Museum were of much 

 intrinsic value, but were still more important in that they led to the 

 erection of a large building for the expansion of the Museum itself. 



From 1876 to 1881 was a period of quiet preparation for future effort. 

 From 1881 to 1888, another period of seven years, its growth has been 

 rapid, though the organism is still in its infancy. These seven years 

 have been years of experiment, but it is hoped tliat it is now evident to 

 the people and to Congress that the young museum is now ready to 

 begin a promising x)rogress toward maturity. 



PROG-EESS IN THE WORK OE THE MUSEUM. 



Among the more important features of the work, up to the present 

 time, certain definite steps of progress have been taken, among the 

 most important of which may be mentioned : 



(1) An organization of the Museum staff has been effected — efficient 

 for present purposes aud capable of expansiou and extension as occa- 

 sion may require. 



(2) Through the agency of this staff, the materials in the Museum, 

 the accumulations of nearly half a century, have been examined, classi- 

 fied, and brought under control. 



(3) The collections have been almost quadrupled in extent. 



(4) A beginning has been made toward the development of a 

 thoroughly labeled exhibition series, available for the instruction of 

 the public. 



(5) A thorough study of the organizations and systems of classifica- 

 tion in other museums throughout the world has been made, the results 

 of which are beginning to appear in the work of the Museum staff'. A 

 report upon the great museums of the world is in preparation and will 

 soon be published. 



(6) Many new methods of installation have been developed by experi- 

 ments in the Museum, and in the expositions in which the Museum has 

 participated. These are finding ftivor, and are being adopted in many 

 similar establishments at home and abroad, aud will certainly add to 

 the economy and success of our own administration. 



(7) Science has been forwarded by the publication of many hundreds 

 of papers describing the materials in the Museum, while the work of 

 specialists in the production of these papers has greatly improved the 

 significance and value of the collections. 



