JO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



New York archeology, the cases are well constructed and afford a 

 correct means of exhibition, and the arrangement of the artifacts, 

 though yet in a preliminary stage, is in accord with the latest and 

 most approved methods. 



Condition of collections. To care properly for the 150,000 speci- 

 mens in the archeological collections is no easy task. About 90,000 

 cataloged specimens are in the storage drawers, though this number 

 must be expanded 50 per cent to include duplicates, or specimens 

 with identical numbers. Approximately 10,000 specimens are on 

 exhibition. 



To record and describe properly these specimens is a task that 

 requires patient application. The preliminary catalog made out by 

 Mr Howard Lansing provides the means for recognizing the speci- 

 mens. Mr Lansing had just completed the type catalog when he 

 died. His patient application and attention to detail had made him 

 a valued helper. 



There is ordinarily no deterioration of the objects in the archeology 

 collection, but proper labels are of the greatest importance, and a 

 specimen loses value if without data and label. It has been the 

 aim during the year to provide permanent labels and case signs, 

 but this work is necessarily slow. The cases completely provided 

 include the western New York type specimen cases, A to F, and 

 cases 23 and 63. All other cases have general guide labels and all 

 important exhibits detailed specimen labels either hand printed or 

 typewritten. 



It has occurred to us that the backs and sides of the cases may 

 be utilized for exhibition space for certain types of specimens. A 

 plan is, therefore, being devised to take advantage of this oppor- 

 tunity. Specimens are already being mounted on mount-boards 

 for installation. Our great care is not to fill cases to the point of 

 congestion, for to avoid fatigue and to keep interest stimulated it 

 has been found best to exhibit a few well-arranged objects in each 

 case rather than a large number crowded together. We have previ- 

 ously explained the individual mount system employed. 



Public interest and cooperation. It is a matter of much grati- 

 fication to note the steady growth of interest in New York arche- 

 ology and ethnology. These subjects have a wide appeal and a 

 wide application to human affairs today, a fact constantly verified 

 by the visits of students and collectors to our offices and by the 

 numerous letters and requests for information. There are hundreds 

 of students of these subjects, many of them prominent business 

 and professional men. 



