12 



STl'DY COLLKcriOXS 



1 rating niitui'c stii(l\' which arc scut free to the schools of (Ircatcr New 

 York, 'i'hc extent to whicli these collections are vised is shown })y 

 the following statistics for the last five years: 



Ximil)cr()f Collections in use. . 

 Xuinhcr of Schools of ( Jrctitcr 



New ^'ork Su|)i)lic(l 



Numl)(>r of Pupils studyinfz; 



the Collections j 



1908 



4S4 

 070,801 



1903 



1910 



4:io 

 419 



390 

 334 



922,ol2 839,089 



191 



1912 



ol2 o37 



480 491 



1,253,43.-) l,27o,890 



Study 

 Collections 



The scientific side of the work of the Museum is based upon its 

 explorations and study collections. 



The Study Collections, as the name implies, are not only for the 

 benefit of students but preserve a record of our vanish- 

 ing animal life and of the life and customs of our own and 

 other primitive peoples. 



In the case of Natural History the vast majority of the specimens are 

 in the study series, not only because they would ultimately be ruined 

 by exposure to light ])ut because the display of all material would only 

 confuse the visitor. Moreover, no museum has room to show everji:hing, 

 and a careful selection is made of objects of the greatest educational 

 value and these are so displayed as to enhance their interest and 

 attractiveness. 



The Study collections are, briefly, as follow^s; 



Anthropology. — Ethnology. — On the attic floor of the west wing and 

 the northwest pavilion there are thirty-three fire-proof store rooms 

 containing the ethnological study collections of more than 100,000 

 catalogue numbers, comprising extensive series for the Philippine 

 Islands, Siberia, China, South Sea Islands, Africa. South Africa and 

 the various culture areas in North America. 



Archaeology. — In archaeology there is a large type series of stone ob- 

 jects from the various States of the I'nion. Full collections from ex- 

 cavated sites in British Columbia, Washington State, New York 

 State, Kentucky, Arizona and New Mexico are here, together with a 

 special scries from the Trenton \\\lley. There is much material from 

 Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. 



The human skeleton material is chiefly from western States and 

 South America. About two thousand crania have been classified and 

 made available for study. 



