DETAILED KEPORTS ON THE COLLECTIONS 



REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY 



By Walter Hough, Bead Curator 



On a monetary basis the collections of anthropology in the United 

 States National Museum are estimated to be worth several million 

 dollars, but in practical value their worth is more in that they con- 

 tribute definitely to knowledge by increasing the scientific outlook 

 of the world, by performing an educational duty, by preserving evi- 

 dences of the progress of man in the arts, and through practical 

 applications in the material welfare of society. Additional mate- 

 rial in these collections is accumulating slowly through various gov- 

 ernmental and other agencies. Opportunity of increase in anthro- 

 pological material is greater now than it will ever be again, as grow- 

 ing interest in this subject narrows and exhausts the sources. It is 

 a matter for congratulation that the science is becoming stronger 

 and of more proved usefulness. 



Anthropology is particularly adapted to museum science on 

 account of the general interest of its exhibits to the public. In some 

 European countries this aspect of anthropology has been appreciated 

 to an extent that has led to the founding of great individual museums 

 showing the material of the science. As anthropology includes in its 

 field the primitive data bearing upon the historical development of 

 most of the other sciences, it is a contributor to and conserver of 

 information important to other branches. 



COMPARISON OF INCREMENT OF SPECIMENS WITH 19 23-24 



Growth in the collection of ethnology has been mainly in well- 

 collected material derived from Central and South America, the 

 majority of the remainder coming from North America. The divi- 

 sion of American archeology has been affected by a decrease in 

 accessions that has continued for several years, due in great part to 

 the widespread formation of individual collections by outside work- 

 ers in this field. 



The division of Old World archeology reports an increase of speci- 

 mens beyond that for several years past, and it is interesting to 

 note that the new material is of high grade in value and usefulness. 



Receipts in material in physical anthropology indicate a year 

 above normal, and include much desirable American material. 



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