112 DIRECTORY OE AMERICAN MUSEUMS 



galleries in which each object is shown to the best possible advantage; 

 by stimulating public interest through alternative exhibitions drawn 

 from collections held in reserve; and by promoting public understand- 

 ing of the objects shown through their oral as well as printed interpre- 

 tation. The methods of oral interpretation employed include gallery 

 conferences by officers of the museum and other competent persons on 

 objects shown at the time; the assignment of these and other speakers 

 under the title of Docent to the duty of meeting visitors singly or in 

 groups in the galleries to give information about the exhibits. Printed 

 aids to understanding the collections include, beside the publications 

 of the museum and photographs sold at the door, lists of objects 

 relating to historical periods, and loan collections of photographs and 

 lantern slides, both offered to teachers, and half-tones and postal 

 cards illustrating museum objects offered to school children and the 

 public. 



The museum seeks to attain the second purpose by providing 

 reserve galleries in which each object can be studied to the best advan- 

 tage; by offering special students opportunities for work in the depart- 

 ment offices; by publishing catalogs of permanent value; by arranging 

 courses of lectures entitling to college credit on subjects germane to 

 the collections; by maintaining a public inventory of works of art 

 outside the museum interesting and accessible to the Boston public, 

 under the title of a Register of Local Art ; and by giving the best instruc- 

 tion possible in the arts of drawing, painting, modeling, and deigning 

 in the school of the museum. The school, now occupying a separate 

 building on the museum property, succeeds independent classes per- 

 mitted in 1876 the use of unoccupied rooms in the first building. 

 It offers a number of scholarships and prizes. The pupils number 

 about 250 annually. 



Library. 13,074 volumes, 958 pamphlets, and 30,824 photo- 

 graphs; all chosen with special reference to the museum collections 

 and intended for the use of both staff and public. 



Publications, (i) Bulletin, published bi-monthly. (2) Annual 

 Report, published in March. (3) A handbook and other volumes 

 illustrating the collections, including catalogs of Greek and Roman 

 casts, Italian renaissance sculpture, Greek coins, early American en- 

 graving, American silver, Japanese sword guards, Japanese pottery, 

 and Chinese pottery. 



Attendance. Open daily, except Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, 

 and Christmas ; on week-days from 9 to 5 (November to Ma rch, 9 to 

 4), Sundays from 1 to 5. Admission is free on Saturdays, Sundays 



