State funding for the Bishop Museum - Legislative Reference Bureau

BACKGROUND
In 1878, the annual government appropriations for the first time
approximated the expenditures from the Smithsonian's trust funds (see Exhibit
1). By 1882, appropriations were providing more than 80 per cent of the
Smithsonian's annual expenses (see Exhibit 2). In 1986, federal
appropriations contributed 47 per cent of the Smithsonian's income.26
Facilities, Activities, and Finances of Selected Museums
In 1971, the Bureau surveyed 12 natural history museums "comparable to
Bishop Museum in as many respects as possible'' for its report, Feasibility
Study: State Acquisition of Bishop Muse~m.~' In 1987, the Bureau again
surveyed these museums, to have a source for comparison of the evolution of
the Bishop Museum since 1971, and to assess the current operations of the
Bishop Museum.
One state-owned museum and 5 independent museums responded to our
questionnaire, in addition to the Bishop Museum. Exhibits 3 through 10 chart
their replies and also include data from the American Association of Museums,
Official Museum Directory, 1987. Information about the Smithsonian
Institution is also provided, because of its mention in the Resolution.
Exhibits 3 and 4 indicate the institutions' facilities and exhibitions.
Exhibit 5 describes activities offered. Exhibit 6 discusses the role of
research in each institution. Exhibit 7 lists the number of professional and
nonprofessional staff employed by the institution and the salary ranges of the
respective staff. Exhibits 8 and 9 report sources of income and
expenditures. Exhibit 10 indicates the nature of the government funding
received by the institutions.
The following observations may be made from the information gathered
and analysis thereof. The kinds of facilities, exhibitions, and activities of
the Bishop Museum are still fairly comparable to the other 6 institutions. Its
library has grown at a higher rate than the other independent museums. The