Abstract
IN the following notes we propose to consider the Natural History Museums in Germany, and to see to what extent and in what manner, indirect or direct, they are utilised for the scientific instruction or education of the people. These institutions are very numerous, there being one in nearly every larger German town, and even two or three in places like Vienna and Hamburg. Some comprise collections of zoological, anatomical, palæontological, botanical, and mineralogical objects, while others are limited to one or more of these branches, but whatever their contents may be, we do not recollect visiting one of these Museums in which the objects were left unnamed or unarranged. The majority are State establishments, under the direction of a single head, who is responsible to the Minister of Public Instruction. If the establishment is very extensive, the collections of the various branches are placed under more than one director, the administration and responsibilities being divided. Their development is in some measure dependent on the direct assistance of the Government, but still more on the energy and capability of the director, inasmuch as, of two Museums originally supported by the same grant of money, one has remained stationary for years, whilst the director of the other, making the best use of his independent position, has known how to raise the value of his Museum as a purely scientific or instructive institution, thus establishing claims for additional assistance, which could not be neglected by the Government.
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The Utilisation of Natural History Museums for Scientific Instruction in Germany . Nature 3, 441 (1871). https://doi.org/10.1038/003441a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/003441a0