4 REPOKT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1886. 



The Exhibition of 187G in Philadelphia was an event of great educa- 

 tional importance to the people of the United States ; and not the least 

 of its benefits were the lessons it taught as to the possibilities for good 

 in public museums. The objects which were given to the United States 

 for its National Museum, at the close of the Centennial, were of much 

 intrinsic value, but were still more important, in that they led to the 

 erection of a large building for the expansion of the museum itself. 



From 187G to 1881 was a period of incubation. The museum embryo 

 was developing, but it was within a shell of store-houses. From 1881 to 

 188G, another period of five years, its growth has been rapid, though 

 the organism is still in its infancy. These five years have been years 

 of experiment, but it is hoped that it is now evident to the people and 

 to Congress that the young museum is now ready to begin a promising 

 progress toward maturity. 



Among the most important features of the work, up to the present 

 time, certain definite stages of progress have been attained, among the 

 most important of which may be mentioned : 



(1) An organization of the Museum staff has been effected — efficient 

 for present purposes and capable of expansion and extension as occa- 

 sion may require. 



(2) Through the agency of this staff, the materials in the Museum, 

 the accumulations of nearly half a century, have been examined, classi- 

 fied, and brought under control. 



(3) The collections have been more than doubled in extent. 



(4) A beginning has been made toward the development of a thor- 

 oughly labelled exhibition series, available for the instruction of the 

 public. 



(5) A thorough study of the organizations and systems of classifica- 

 tion in other museums throughout the world has been made, the results 

 of which are beginning to appear in the work of the Museum staff. A 

 report upon the great museums of the world is in preparation and will 

 soon be published. 



(6) Many new methods of installation have been developed by experi- 

 ments in the Museum, and in the expositions in which the Museum has 

 participated. These are finding favor, and are being adopted in many 

 similar establishments at home and abroad, and will certainly add to 

 the economy and success of our own administration. 



(7) Science has been forwarded by the publication of many hundreds 

 of papers describing the materials in the Museum, while the work of 

 specialists in the production of these papers has greatly improved the 

 significance and value of the collections. 



It is, I think, possible to show that Washington may readily be made 

 the seat of one of the greatest museums in the world. It will perhaps 

 be neither practicable nor desirable to gather together in Washington 

 collections of ancient and mediaeval art, such as those which adorn the 

 capitals of Europe ; but a representative series of such objects will un- 



