PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



By HERBERT R. RATHBONE, J.P., C.C. 

 Chairman of the Museums Committee of the City of Liverpool. 



(Delivered October 14th, 1922) 



[Abstract] 



The President, in his Inaugural Address, dealt witli the 

 functions of a Public Museum, especially in relation to the 

 education of the community served by the museum. Starting 

 with quotations showing the views of Dr. J. E. Gray and 

 Sir AVilliam Flower, of the British Museum, he traced the 

 evolution of the " new museum idea," laying stress upon 

 " the diffusion of instruction among the mass of the people," 

 and expressing the hope that means might be found by which 

 " this and other scientific societies in Liverpool could co-operate 

 in developing the work of the Museums, and the Museums 

 Committee could make the museums of greater use to the 

 members of the societies." He quoted, with special approval, 

 Sir William Flower's statement that it is the duty of the 

 Curator in a local museum " to develop the side of the museum 

 which is educational and attractive to the general visitor, 

 and to all who wish to obtain that knowledge which is the 

 ambition of many cultivated persons to acquire without 

 becoming specialists or experts." 



After referring to the wide range of subject-matter covered 

 by the collections in the Liverpool Municipal Museums and the 

 inadequacy in number of the assistant staff provided, he said : 

 " We must consider if there is not some way in which the work 

 done by the staff can be supplemented and assisted by others 

 not directly connected with the museum, who have the 

 necessary knowledge, enthusiasm and belief in the educa- 

 tional function of the museum." 



The President referred to the help in special sections of 

 the museum that had been given by some of the Professors 

 at the University in the past. " All this valuable help has 

 been gratefully accepted by the Curator and the Committee." 



He then proceeded to give an interesting account, illus- 

 trated bv a series of beautiful lantern slides, of some of the 



