b REPORT ON NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1885. 



the general denomination of museums. This arises from their growing 

 importance as aids to scientific investigation and instruction." 



In the report for 1873* allusion is made to the enormous increase 

 in the national collections, " requiring the utmost, exertions of the 

 limited force connected with the National Museum for its proper treat- 

 ment." And although the appropriations for the Museum have of late 

 years been more liberal, it is certain that, on account of the immense 

 annual increase in the quantity of material received, quite as much care 

 and caution is still needed in order to carry out fully the aim of the 

 Museum, which-consists not only in securing collections, but in arrang- 

 ing for exhibition a complete set of specimens, preparing a duplicate set 

 for purposes of study, and distributing far and wide such duplicates 

 as it may be found practicable to spare. 



4. SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION^ 



There has been no change in the plan of arrangement of the collec- 

 tions or in the system of classification since the waiting of the report 

 for 1884, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to recapitulate what 

 has there been said. For the benefit of those who may not be ac- 

 quainted with the principles which are considered in the arrangement 

 of the collections, the following general rules, printed in the last report, 

 are here repeated : 



1. No object will be placed on exhibition which is not of evident ed- 

 ucational value, and likely to interest and instruct a considerable per- 

 centage 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 display, and the light, color of the background, &c, will be so 

 adjusted as to show it to the 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 contributing it to the Museum. 

 The character of the Museum is such that any labels which might sug- 

 gest 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 witri a general descriptive label. In the case of 

 collective exhibits, the general label may also give the name of the con- 

 tributor. 



* Page 48. 



