rrh'rosKs of museums 11 



Tlu' interest of tlie I'liidowiiuMit Fund, wliicli includes the nui^Miifieent 

 bequest of Mrs. Jesup, may 'oe used for additions to the collections, research, 

 and for j)ul)lieation. It can not he used for the care or repair of the huilding, 

 construction of cases or other maintenance work, that is properly the j)rov- 

 ince of the city to provide for. 



The Memhership Fund, derived from the subscriptions of Members, 

 may be devoted to any purpose and is of particular importance in the 

 educational work of the Museum. 



Vohmtary contributions may be used for general purposes or for such 

 special object as the donor may designate; some of tlie most valuable and 

 important collections have been obtained by such gifts. 



There are at present about 3,700 Members. Annual Members con- 

 tribute SIO a year for the support of the Museum; Life 

 Members make a single contribution of $100. Membership 

 fees are of great service in promoting the growth of the institution. 



In the last edition of the Century Dictionary a museum is defined as: 



"A collection of natural objects, or of those made or used by man, 



placed where they may be seen, preserved and studied. 



,, Neither the objects themselves, nor the place where they 



a Museum *•, . 



are shown constitutes a museum; this results from the com- 

 bination of objects, place and purpose, display being an essential feature. 

 The objects, or specimens, may be shown for general purposes only, or for 

 the illustration of some subject or idea, the tendency of modern museums, 

 being by the display of objects and the manner in which they are arranged 

 and labeled to illustrate some fact in nature or in the history of mankind." 



And E. Ray Lankester has very clearly stated that : 



"The purposes of a great national museum of natural history are (1) 

 ^ , To procure by its own explorers or bv the voluntarv assist- 



PurpOSeS of p - ■, i ^^ ^ " ^ • " 



Museums ^"^^ mdependent naturalists the actual specimens upon 



which accurate knowledge of the animals, plants, and min- 

 erals of the earth's surface, and more especially of the national territory, 

 is based; to preserve and arrange these collections for study by all expert 

 naturalists, and to facilitate, directly or indirectly, the publication (in the 

 form of catalogues or monographs) of the knowledge so obtained — with a 

 view^ to its utilization, not only in the progress of science, but in the service 

 of the State. (2) To exhibit in the best possible way for the edification 

 of the public, at whose charges these collections are made and maintained, 

 such specimens as are fitted for exposure in public galleries, with a view to 

 the intelligent and willing participation of the people in the maintenance 

 of the Museum." 



