THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB. 99
The next subject dealt with by the Conference was that of Folk
Museums, especially in relation to Local Societies. It should be remem-
bered that two rather different conceptions are often included under the
term Folk Museum, namely, (1) a collection of objects illustrating the
bygone life of the ordinary people—the "folk"—exhibited in a suitable
building, a notable example of which is the Nordiska Museum in Stockholm,
and (2) a collection of buildings, huts, cottages, farmhouses, etc., also
illustrative of the life of the "folk," re-erected in the open air. This it
is convenient to refer to simply as the "Open-air" Museum, the typical
example of which is the famous "Skansen" in Stockholm.
A very interesting account of the "Strangers' Hall," Norwich, which
may be looked upon as a good example of a local Folk Museum, was given
by Miss G. V. Barnard, and other delegates referred to somewhat similar
collections in their districts and the way they dealt with them. Prof.
Miers, and others, urged upon local Societies the necessity for getting
hold of "bygones" while there was still a possibility of doing so, and to
do all they could to encourage the formation of local Folk Museums. As
regards the establishment of a national open-air museum in London,
which has been definitely recommended in the report of the Royal Com-
mission on National Museums and Galleries, some divergence of opinion
was expressed as to the suitability of the suggested site in the Botanic
Gardens, Regents Park, chiefly because it was not considered large enough
for the purpose and was incapable of expansion. Without, therefore, ex-
pressing any opinion as to the best site, the following resolution from
Section H. Anthropology was supported by the Conference:—
In view of the increasingly rapid disappearance of material relating
to the popular arts and crafts of the British people, the Committee of
Section H requests the Council to ask His Majesty's Government to
put into effect the recommendation of the Royal Commission on National
Museums and Galleries for the establishment of a National Open Air
Folk Museum in London.
The Committee further suggests that the Government might consider
the possibility of utilising the Royal Botanic Gardens in Regents Park
for this purpose, in view of their admirable situation and the proximity
of a building (St. John's Lodge) suitable for exhibition purposes and
offices, providing this can be done without interfering with the scientific
work already in progress on the site.
A resolution in almost identical terms has since been forwarded by
the Council of the British Association for the consideration of the
Government.
The third subject discussed by the Conference, namely, the co-operation
between Scientific Societies, brought out the very considerable amount
of co-operation which already exists in the way of Unions of Societies
in different districts, such as the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, the
Northern Naturalists' Union, the South Western Union of Natural History
Societies, the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies, and the quite
recently-formed North Western Union of Natural History Societies.
Several delegates confessed to a rather pessimistic attitude as regards
the future of local Societies, alleging that they had observed in recent
years a falling off in numbers and in communications, many Societies