5 per cent have the nameof the farm or some other specific information in addition 
to the county and state noted on the specimen. 
The following is a completed inventory 
of the Museum’s archaeological collec- some material donated by persons 
tions by category. The figures include other than Laura Whelpley. 
Pott - 
panne Ceremonial objects-143 
: Small pottery (figurines, fragments, 
eens etc.)-280 
Atlatl weights and other polished 
stone-466 Plummets-457 
Discoidals-187 Ornaments-444 
Notched hoes-379 Lanceolate points-465 
Unnotched hoes-1110 All other categories of points-6216 
Grooved axes-1120 Drills-712 
Hand tools-1395 Miscellaneous artifacts and artifacts of 
doubtful authenticity-100 
Celts-811 
The question might properly be asked: why does a museum need a collection of 
this size? There are, of course, many reasons. The Whelpley collection, as well 
as other collections owned by the Museum, form a large and varied source of 
material for not only the Museum’s permanent exhibits, but also for the tem- 
porary and traveling exhibits. The education department at this Museum draws 
constantly on the Whelpley collection for material for their suitcase exhibits (small 
exhibits delivered on request to schools throughout the metropolitan area) and for 
demonstrations to school groups visiting the museum. The Exhibits Exodus 
program, panel exhibits and modular exhibits that are set up in bank lobbies, 
theatres, schools, libraries and other public places also use specimens from the 
collection. And collections serve purposes other than public exhibit. They are a 
store house of source material for scholars, educators, students and amateur collec- 
tors. Over the last 15 years the Whelpley collection has been used at least once by 
every major university within a radius of 150 miles of St. Louis. Finally, there 
is the obligation to preserve these articles of the past for generations of the future. 
Of all public and private institutions, museums are best suited to do this. 
