PURPOSES OF MUSEl Ms 1 1 



The interest of the Endowment Fund, which includes the magnificent 



bequest of Mrs. Jesup, may be used for additions to the collect ions, research, 



and for publication. It can not he used for the care or repair of the building, 

 construction of cases or other maintenance work, that is properly the prov- 

 ince of the city to provide for. 



The Membership Fund, derived from the subscriptions of Members, 



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

 educational work of the Museum. 



Voluntary contributions may be used for general purposes or for such 

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

 important collections have been obtained by such gifts. 



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



., , , . tribute $10 a year for the support of the Museum; Life 

 Membership _ . .. . . __. . . . 



Members make a single contribution ot $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. 

 M Neither the objects themselves, nor the place where they 



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 by the voluntary assist- 

 U ance of independent 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 stud}' 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." 



