gb0551ms-33-26

Transcription

[Page] 26
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£650 and rises by annual increments of £25
to £750. so that I have most opportunely re:
:ceived an addition to my income to equalise
the increased taxation. My duties will
be much more responsible than in my
present post, and doubtless less free from
worries for I shall have a very considerable
staff under me, some of them men drawing
salaries not much inferior to my own.
I have never been afraid of responsibility,
however, and I think I have tact. I take
up my appointment on Monday 17th inst.

7th May 1916.
For nearly three weeks now I have been
active as Director of both Museums. I go
to Queen Street the first thing in the morning,
arriving about 9.45, stay there till about
11.0 by which time I have attended to my
correspondence and have arranged Miss
Dennison's work for the day. Then I dash
off to Chambers St to the Royal Scottish Museum,
which it takes me about ¼ hour to reach,
& stay there till 1.0. After lunch I visit
the Queen St. Museum till 3.0 & again
proceed to Chamber St. In the new
institution my work is of a very different
character to what it it was in the old.

As director of the Museum of Antiquities, a
knowledge of antiquarian matters was essential,
also, as the staff was such a small one,
the director had much more to do with the
detailed work of the Museum. In fact since
the war began, and the whole staff has gone,
I had to turn my hand to all sorts of jobs,
which not only interested me but have afforded
me a valuable training. In the Royal Scottish
Museum, however, the work of the Director is
largely administrative, and I occupy a
much more exalted position. The keepers of
the various departments are supposed to
supply the necessary acquaintance with the
subjects of their departments. In what may
be called the general aesthetic aspect of
Museum management I see where my
experience and taste may be called into
play. My predecessor, though his appointment
was considered a purely political job, and
much talked of, has been an admirable
organiser, and I am thankful that I did
not have to take over the place in the state
in which he evidently found it.

10th June 1916.
As regards the two Museums under my
charge I have little to record. At the Royal
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  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

Moira L- Moderator, Jane F Jamieson