DETAILED REPORTS ON THE COLLECTIONS 



REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OE ANTHROPOLOGY 

 By Walter Hough, Head Curator 



The department of anthropology in its proven field of usefulness 

 accomplished much during the year in increasing the collections and 

 caring for them by the best methods of museum science. 



It is a gratifying sign of enlightenment when the people of a na- 

 tion begin to preserve the material examples of their progress and 

 achievement. In general this work begins late and in consequence 

 much is lost. Especially is this true in regard to the material which 

 forms the basis of anthropology. Much sinks into the ground and 

 decays, and much is dispersed by contacts of higher civilization and 

 introduction of other needs. The necessity is great, if anthropology 

 is to become a comprehensive science, to gather into the care of 

 museums the objects of material culture of races who have had least 

 contact with civilized man. Upon it scientific generalizations affect- 

 ing the future are to be built. The possessors of the present are in 

 duty bound to conserve indispensable objects of the arts for the use 

 of scientific study in the future. 



COMPARISON OF INCREMENT OF SPECIMENS WITH 1922-23 



The collection of ethnology is growing normally under the condi- 

 tions of accession by gift, bequest, exchange, and a few purchases. 

 Under the stimulus of field work and rational purchase the collection 

 could be improved in many instances where it is now lacking and 

 made to take on a healthy scientific growth. While the ethnological 

 collection is important, covering a wide range and with much unique 

 material, additions to it are yearly growing less and distributions of 

 educational duplicate material to institutions almost balance the 

 accessions. 



A slight increase in the number of specimens in the division of 

 American archeology is noted and the material added is desirable to 

 the collection. 



The division of Old World archeology registers a gain in speci- 

 mens, which filled up some gaps in the French and Belgian sections 

 of prehistoric archeology. 



The receipt of specimens in the division of physical anthropology 

 compared favorably with the increment last year. 



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