A DIRECTORY OF AMERICAN MUSEUMS OF ART,

HISTORY, AND SCIENCE

COMPILED BY

PAUL MARSHALL REA

Secretary of the American Association of Museums

INTRODUCTION

At the third annual meeting of the American Association of Museums, in 1908, the writer discussed the desirability of a directory of American museums and presented a tentative outline of data which might advantageously be included.1 He was then authorized to undertake the compilation of such a directory on behalf of the Association, and the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences generously offered to publish the work. To Mr. Henry R. Howland, Superintendent of the Buffalo Society, the writer desires to acknowledge indebtedness for many courtesies.

The purpose of the directory is to bring together in convenient form data regarding the organization and work of American museums, with the object of promoting mutual aid and coöperation. It is fully realized that statistics concerning collections can give only a very imperfect indication of the importance of museums, but when the character of the financial support and other details of organization are also given it is possible to form a much closer estimate of

1 See Proc. Am. Assoc. Mus., II, 1908, 33-35.