Plea for a Museum for Croydon

Abstract

DR. H. W. DICKINSON'S presidential address this year to the Croydon Natural History and Science Society discussed the proposal for a museum for the district. Croydon is the largest borough in Great Britain without an adequate museum service, and he stated that the Society is now urging the proposal upon the local authority "as one of the particular objects to be carried into effect in the post-war municipal reconstruction scheme". If the museum materializes, he stressed the importance of a localized policy, and in this connexion suggested that a plan already exists in the form of the Society's Regional Survey of the district. Alluding to museum functions, he placed 'research' before 'visual education', but in view of the present-day urgent need for all forms of education, the smaller regional museums might usefully reverse this order. Dr. Dickinson justifiably deprecated the use of old dwelling-houses for museum purposes, for these do not provide the offices and facilities required for the execution of a useful and progressive service. Referring to the reluctance of municipalities "to spend money on buildings even if they own valuable collections", he reminded the audience that the Nuffield Trust, and the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, could be approached for financial help. Clearly, Dr. Dickinson has closely studied Markham's report on "The Museums and Art Galleries of the British Isles" (1938), and all authorities undertaking the establishment or reorganization of regional museums in the future could profitably follow his example.