its galleries under the title of " Docent Service" since
1907. The Bulletin of the Museum for April of that year made the following announcement :— "The guidance of visitors in the galleries has been made the special duty of one of the Museum staff, under the title of Docent. The Docent will give any visitor what information he possesses about any or all of the collections. Visitors having special interests will be aided in pursuing them; those desiring to see the whole Museum at one visit will be guided to the principal objects without loss of time ; for those interested in the newest accessions the Docent may have data not yet published. . . . The under- taking is a first essay in a new direction, and its development will be guided by results."
The immediate and increasing demand for the services of the guide or docent showed that the offer met a real want. Within six months another officer was assigned to the duty in aid of the first, and now the entire official staff of the Museum and many others join in the work. The visitors, old and young, individuals, groups and school classes, annually conducted in this way through the galleries have rapidly increased in number and are now counted by thousands. A year or two after the instalment of the "Docent Service" the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York each appointed a representative to a similar service, called museum instructor. The newer museums in America may at present be said to accept the duty of official guidance in the galleries as an indispensable means of influence.—I am, Sir, Sic.,
GARDINER MARTIN LANE._
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Mass. : November 28th, 1919.
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