Proceedings

Cover

Contents

The Field Of Education In The National Parks

The Educational Program And Its Place In National Parks Administration

Museums In The National Parks

Planning A Park Museum

Museum Technique

Administration Of Park Museums

Nature Trails

Exhibits In Place

Guiding In The National Parks

Lectures In National Parks

Scientific Aspects Of The Park Protection Program

The Research Program In The National Parks

Use Of Recorded Scientific Data

Research Reserves

Publications

Libraries In The National Parks

Photography And Visual Education

General Administrative Problems

Proceedings Of The First Park Naturalists' Training Conference Held At Educational Headquarters, Berkeley, California: November 1-30, 1929

MUSEUMS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS

FUNCTIONS AND SCOPE OF A NATIONAL PARK MUSEUM

By C. P. Russell

National Park museums are extremely young. The first one was brought into existence in 1920. We may feel that we are handicapped in that there is little or no precedent to follow; small experience upon which to rely. On the other hand, we may well welcome an opportunity to pioneer in a field that is uncrowded and but little explored. No misconceptions should exist as to the importance of the niche in the museum world which park museums may occupy. It has been pointed out that our entire educational opportunity is exceptional and our material unique. The attention of leading scientists and educators has been focused upon us and we are challenged with the responsibility of making good with an "opportunity which exceeds that of any great educational institution or group of institutions."

In seeking an understanding of the purpose of park museums one quite naturally gives consideration to the functions of museums in general. I am sure I can do no better in describing museum functions than has Mr. Coleman in his Manual for Small Museums. I should like to read his chapter, "The Purpose of Museums." (Reads pages 10, 11 and 12.)

There are certain high lights in the chapter which I may well repeat and emphasize as being especially pertinent to our consideration of the purposes of a park museum.

"The ultimate purpose of museums is to raise the general level of refinement by giving pleasure and imparting knowledge."

"Research may find but limited opportunity in a small museum, however, in general, a natural balance between scholarship and educational activity is prerequisite to continued growth and vitality."

"Relations with museums are voluntary ones, they are recreational, and therein lies their greatest power."

"Educational work of museums applies the principles of visual instruction. Through the work of a museum people may be led to intelligent understanding. They may learn greater love for the out-of-doors and become protectors of the country's natural resources."

We are safe, probably, in stating that park museum functions differ from general museum functions only as their scope differs from the scope of the usual museums. Our emphasis can, quite logically, be placed upon that aim which makes for intelligent understanding of the out-of-doors.

The park museum is one cog in the wheel and perhaps we can agree that it is the most substantial and important cog in the entire machine of the educational department. I think we may state that the primary function of the park museum is identical with the purpose of the general educational program. In previous discussions of the purposes of our general educational program we have agreed that our great objective has been to interpret park features so as to make for an appreciation of the park and, incidentally, to aid the cause of conservation. May we not say that this is also the ultimate aim of the park museum?

So far as scope is concerned it is obvious that we must limit our field, geographically at least. Mr. Harwell and I have just finished asserting and storing the Yosemite Museum accessions which are not exhibited. They are not all pertinent to Yosemite. Some will find use in Yellowstone, some at Grand Canyon, and some in other parks. These will be preserved until they are needed. Some few others have no American significance and these will be disposed of. Exhibits, of course, are limited to those objects which have some bearing on the Yosemite story.

I am leaving the concise statement regarding the scope of park museum exhibits to Park Naturalists Been and McKee.

The following bibliography may be of interest to those of you who wish to refer again to this subject after you have returned to the parks:

1. Adams, C. C. Relation of Field Excursions to the Activities of Local Museums. Proceedings of American Association of Museums, Vol. IV.

2. What Are Museums For? American Review of Reviews, Jan. 1919.

3. Barrett, S. A. Training for Museum Work. 21st Ann. Meeting American Assn. of Museums, 1926.

4. Bather, F. A. Functions of Museums. Popular Science Monthly, Jan. 1904.

5. Bryan, E. H. The Museum: An Educational and Recreational Medium. Pan Pacific Conference Proceedings, 1927.

6. Bumpus, H. C. Relations of Museums to the Out-of-Doors. Publications of Amer. Assn. of Museums, New Series, No. 1, 1926.

7. Coleman, L. V. Manual for Small Museums, 1927.

8. Connolly, Louise. Docentry. Newark Museum, 1928.

9. Connolly, Louise. The Educational Value of Museums. Newark Museum, 1914.

10. Dana, J. C. The New Museum. Elm Tree Press, 1917.

11. Dana, J. C. The Gloom of the Museum. #2 of "New Museum" Series 1917.

12. Dill, H. R. Training Museum Workers. Proc. Amer. Assn. of Museums, Vol. XI, 1917.

13. Grinnell, J. The Museum Conscience. Museum Work, March 1922.

14. Hall, A. F. Educational Activities in National Parks. Pan Pacific Conference Proceedings, 1927.

15. The Evolution of our Museum. Hobbies, Vol. 6, Dec. 1925, (Buffalo)

16. Maier, H. The Purpose of the Museum in National Parks. Yosemite Nature Notes, May, 1926.

17. What is a Docent? Museum Journal, Vol. 17, Sept. 1926.

18. Standards and Functions of Museums. Nature, Vol. 96, Sept. 23, 1915.

19. Why is a Museum? Proceedings American Association of Museums, Vol. 6 1912.

20. Guides or Docents in Museums. Proc. A.A.M., Vol 7, 1913.

21. Increasing the Usefulness of Museums. Proc. A.A.M., Vol. 10, 1916.

22. Russell, C. P. The Place of the Museum in the Yosemite Educational Program. Yosemite Ranger Naturalists Manual, Vol. I, 1929, P. 16.

23. Russell, C. P. Responsibility of the Ranger Naturalist on Museum Duty. Yos. R. N. Manual, Vol. I, 1929, p. 21.

24. Simmons, Ella I. Museum Courtesy. Museum Work, Vol. IV, p. III.

25. Woodward, B. H. Aims and Objects of Museums. Museums Journal, Oct. 1907.

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