170
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
THE MUSEUMS OF BRITAIN.
An exhaustive "Report on the Public Museums of the British Isles
(other than the National Museums)"—a "Blue Book" extending to
over 200 pages—has recently been issued by the Carnegie United Kingdom
Trustees. (Edinburgh: T. and A. Constable Ltd., 1928).
This Report—the first comprehensive one on the subject—embodies
the careful investigations of Sir Henry Miers, F.R.S., D.Sc., and is the
outcome of visits made either by himself, or by his secretary, to the
greater number of the museums throughout the country. In the case of
the Club's two museums, at Stratford and at Chingford, Sir Henry himself
inspected these and expressed appreciation.
Beginning with a brief survey of the history of museums in Britain,
from Elias Ashmole's donation of specimens to Oxford University in
1682, which was the origin of the Ashmolean Museum, down to the present,
and an account of the various Acts of Parliament which have from time to
time governed the establishment of museums, the author goes on to show
that at the present time 428 museums, large and small, exist in England,
62 in Scotland, 26 in Wales, 8 in Northern Ireland, and 3 each in the Isle
of Man and the Channel Isles ; and he describes the various ways in which
they are financed, whether wholly or partially by local rates, by grants
from learned societies, by universities or schools, by business firms, by
subscriptions, or by private endowment. Of the museums supported by
scientific societies Sir Henry Miers has a good word to say of our Club's
museums : —
(p. 18). "Those learned societies which maintain museums
" rarely have sufficient funds for the upkeep of their buildings
" and collections in their present condition, and most of them
" have sought, or are prepared to seek, assistance from the rates .
" . . . The museums at York, Newcastle, Lewes, Taunton,
" Chingford, and West Ham are examples in which the societies
" are able to conduct them efficiently (though often with inade-
" quate staff salaries) under present conditions."
The remuneration given to Curators in most museums calls forth some
strong remarks from the author.
(p. 21). " In some cases the curator is paid less than the
" caretaker under him."
It is gratifying to find that one important branch of work carried on at our
Stratford Museum meets with the whole-hearted approval of the writer
of the report, that is, the Pictorial Survey. Sir Henry remarks in this.
Connection : —
(p. 36). " One of the most obvious fields of research which
" can be conducted by a local museum is that which is commonly
" known as a regional survey. Those museums which have
" wisely determined to specialise in the collection of objects of
" local interest, whether scientific or historical, are in fact
" bringing together a large amount of material which should be
" valuable for this purpose. At present only a few, such as Hud-
" dersfield. West Ham and Wimbledon, are actually conducting
" such a survey."