State funding for the Bishop Museum - Legislative Reference Bureau

STATE FUNDING FOR THE BISHOP MUSEUM
Presently, the Bishop Museum's collection includes the f~llowing:~
- Area
Anthropology
Botany
Education
Entomology
Geology
Zoology
Library
books
archives and miscellaneous
maps and aerials
Visuals
art
photographs and negatives
TOTAL
Number of Specimens
240,000
442,000
13 000
13,000,000
1,800
6,481,000
According to the Museum administration, extensive rearrangements of
space are currently planned in which many collections will be placed in a
compactor-type storage system. Although these systems result in reductions
in space, they also create safer, more available storage for a larger number
of specimens. Castle Hall is planned to be used for long-term storage of the
anthropology collections. '
Research
In 1985, research programs were cut back, which included the
termination of 13 staff members. lo It has been said by individuals employed
by the Museum and other interested persons, that because the research
function of the Museum has declined, the Museum may be becoming merely an
attraction for tourists, and not an institution with high scholarly standards.
Such individuals would like to see the research programs restored, because
high-quality exhibitions and public education rely on a strong research
program. According to the Museum administration, research programs were