12 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



Principles of administration. — Certain cardinal principles may be 

 announced which should be considered in the arrangement of every 

 public museum: (1) every article exhibited should illustrate an idea, 

 aud no two objects should be shown which illustrate the same idea in a 

 similar manner ; (II) the idea which any object is intended to illustrate 

 should be explained upon its label in such a manner that any intelli 

 gent visitor, without previous special knowledge of the subject, may 

 be able to learn (a) why the object is shown, and (b) what lesson it is 

 intended to teach ; (III) the objects should be so carefully classified 

 that their relations to each other may be recognized by the visitor, so 

 that taken together, they shall suggest general conclusions ; in the 

 formation of these conclusions he should be aided by certain general 

 or collective labels which relate to and describe groups of objects 

 in a manner similar to that in which the individual labels describe 

 separate articles ; (IV) the labels, individual and collective, should be 

 supplemented by guide-books and manuals for special departments, 

 which shall contain, arranged systematically, all the information given 

 upon the labels, and which shall be illustrated by engravings of the 

 more important objects.* 



Industrial museums, as a rule, exhibit only those articles which are 

 designed and constructed in the most sumptuous manner — the armor of 



* The following general rules have been formulated : 



1. No object will be placed on exhibition which is not of evident educational value, 

 and likely to interest and instruct a considerable percentage of the persons visiting 

 the Museum. 



2. The exhibition of duplicate material is to be avoided, except in instances where 

 similar objects can be shown to advantage in different divisions of the Museum. 



3. Each object will be placed in a case of the form best suited for its effective dis- 

 play, and the light, color of the background, &c, will be so adjusted as to show 

 it to best possible advantage, and with the least possible fatigue to the eyes of the 

 visitor. 



4. Each object, or group of objects, will be accompanied by a large plainly printed 

 label, which will give a concise description of what is shown, an account of its origin 

 and Uses, a synopsis of its history, and the name of the person or organization con- 

 tributing it to the Museum. The character of the Museum is such that any labels 

 which might suggest advertising for business purposes must be excluded. It will 

 be the policy of the Museum, however, to give prominence on each label to the name 

 of the person or business house from whom it has been received, provided that the 

 object is a gift to the Museum. 



5. The objects will be grouped together in systematic order, and each case will be 

 provided with a general descriptive label. In the case of collective exhibits, the gen- 

 eral label may also give the name of the contributor. 



6. The specimens will be illustrated and supplemented by pictures, diagrams, books, 

 aud maps, in such manner that the Museum may form an encyclopedia, the illustra- 

 tions for which are in the exhibition cases, the text in the labels. 



7. Guide-book manuals of the different departments will be published, which will 

 embody in concise and systematic form i he information given by the Bpeoimen labels, 

 together 1 with such illustrative material as may seem necessary to present in audi 

 tion. 



