While this is true in a sense, if nothing were collected there would be
nothing to preserve and if there were no visitors there would be no real
purpose or goal to reach by collecting preserving materials.  There would
also be much less reason for society or individuals to support the effort
to preserve said collections.
        Private collections preserve their contents.  Many, if not most, private
collectors, at least historically have chosen to set up museums to share
their collections with the public.  That is the primary reason, at least
historicaly, for most museums - sharing a colection with the public.  I
really don't think we can have museums without visitors,(or universities
without students for that matter) nor would we want to.
        Preservation is tremendously important, of course, but to say that it is
"the primary reason for museums" is both ahistorical and impractical.




At 03:54 PM 2/20/98 EST, you wrote:
>I would argue that the primary reason for museums and similar institutions to
>exist is to *preserve* its holdings.  If something is not preserved, it
cannot
>be exhibited or studied.
>
>-Andrew
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
>
>Andrew S. Richmond | Proj. Dir. | Editor | The Papers of Philander Chase |
>Kenyon College | P.O. Box 141 | Gambier, OH 43022 | Phone: (740)427-5689 |
>Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>Please visit!    http://www.kenyon.edu/khistory/chase/
>
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>"His grave will be precious to us.  It will be honored by all generations in
>this College and neighborhood."
>                                -Bp. Charles P. McIlvaine
>                                 upon the death of Lorin Andrews
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William H. Mulligan, Jr. [[log in to unmask]]
Associate Professor of History
Director - Forrest C. Pogue Public History Institute
Murray State University - Murray, KY 42071-0009
Phone:(502) 762-6571 Fax:(502) 762-6587
Home Phone:(502)753-9033
Pogue Institute web site:
http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/Bill.Mulligan/Index.htm