REPORT OP NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1924 39 



suits of antique armor of 1510 and 1565, lent by Mrs. Luisa Dahl- 

 gren, were cleaned, mounted, and exhibited. 



The clearing of two sections of the exhibit hall of the division 

 of American archeology for the erection of a room for the National 

 Portrait Gallery necessitated serious changes in the installation, and 

 a number of cases were removed and considerable reinstallation ef- 

 fected. The collection as a whole is in better condition than ever 

 before. The card catalogue is nearing completion, and when this 

 has been accomplished unnumbered or mislabeled specimens may be 

 correctly identified and properly distributed. 



With some additions the Jewish, Mohammedan, and Belgian ex- 

 hibits were rearranged in the division of Old World archeology. 



The time appeared to be ripe to place some of the series of speci- 

 mens in the division of physical anthropology on public exhibit. 

 This was effected by setting aside a limited space on the exhibit 

 floor and installing therein eight cases of the more important ma- 

 terial. Several cases of exhibits were placed on view on the occa- 

 sion of the opening of the new building of the National Academy of 

 Sciences. 



It was hardly realized what an excellent collection of musical 

 instruments was in the possession of the National Museum until a 

 connected study of it was made by Miss Frances Densmore in pre- 

 paring a guide to the collection. The vision and knowledge dis- 

 played during the more than 40 years consumed in gathering this 

 collection is truly remarkable. The idea always kept in mind was 

 not that of art expression in construction and embellishment of musi- 

 cal instruments, but the science of sound production, and on this plan 

 the collection is displayed. Moreover, keeping pace with the acqui- 

 sition of instruments, a vast amount of orderly data concerning the 

 nature, origin, and properties of the instruments of the world was 

 gathered which would form the basis of a comprehensive encyclo- 

 pedia of the subject. At present it remains for reference until taken 

 up by a student who can devote a lifetime to the task. The arrange- 

 ment of the collection on the severe lines of science does not preclude 

 the display of series of specimens illustrating the type and history 

 of certain important instruments, as the Worch collection of pianos, 

 which is unsurpassed in beauty and completeness. 



The ceramic collection is gradually growing more valuable because 

 the material collected years ago is assuming a historical importance. 

 The additions in recent years are almost negligible and in this sense 

 the collection is not keeping up with current great advances in art 

 ceramics. Specimens collected now will in the course of time become 

 extremely valuable. From this point of view current ceramics care- 

 fully collected would represent a profitable investment. 



