J2 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



were found inadequate for our purposes and had to be changed. 

 The material eventually to be installed in them, however, was en- 

 tirely selected before the close of the year and will be ready for 

 installation shortly after January I, 191 5. 



In the examination of collections containing so great a quantity 

 of material there is afforded a splendid opportunity for obtaining 

 important information regarding the occurrence of the various types 

 and their distribution. 



The work of cataloging the many objects has been intrusted to 

 Mr Howard A. Lansing. This tedious and painstaking work he 

 has carried on with great patience. All the new acquisitions are 

 now numbered and recorded on cards and each specimen bears a 

 number referring to its index card. This card gives the name of 

 the object, the locality in which it was found, the finder, the col- 

 lection in which it was found and a brief description. Further 

 reference is made to the original catalogue or notebook of the col- 

 lector. To complete our catalogue satisfactorily will require much 

 additional time, as these cards will contain accurate descriptions of 

 all the objects, and drawings or photographs of the more valuable 

 ones. 



None of the specimens have the index or reference number applied 

 by means of a paper label, which has proved unsatisfactory for 

 archeologic cataloging. All numbers are applied by pen or brush 

 directly upon the specimen with waterproof ink. The number is 

 placed in as inconspicuous a place as possible so as not to detract 

 from the exhibition value of the object or unduly mar its appear- 

 ance. 



Archeological exhibit cases. During the middle of the year it 

 was found that the archeology division was gaining such import- 

 ance that a hall separate from the ethnological exhibits was required. 

 The hall assigned to botany seemed not likely to be used for some 

 time to come. Room 415, the eastern mezzanine, was therefore 

 set aside as the archeology hall. The cases designed for archeol- 

 ogy and previously installed in the hall of ethnology, room 420 

 (the west mezzanine hall), were removed and installed in room 415. 

 The cases designed for the botanist were rearranged and the hall 

 fitted for the archeological exhibits. 



Public interest. During the year just past there has been a 

 healthy increase in the interest in the archeological division of the 

 Museum. This is not only attested by the many inquiries and re- 

 quests, but also by the personal visits of archeologists and ethnolo- 

 gists from this country, Canada, South America and Europe. There 



