DETAILED REPORTS ON THE COLLECTIONS. 



EEPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY, 

 By W. H. Holmes, Head Curator. 



The varied activities of the department of anthropology for the 

 year were continued along lines corresponding closely to those of the 

 preceding year, although at the beginning of the year an important 

 change was made in the scope of the field covered, the division of me- 

 chanical technology being separated from the department and placed 

 nnder separate control, as the divisions of medicine and textiles had 

 been separated previously. This change was made for the reason that, 

 although the human activities and the products of these activities 

 come within the scope of anthropology, the field liad become too wide 

 for convenient museum treatment. The subject matter of technology, 

 although embracing the primitive stages of the mechanic arts, lies 

 chiefly in the fast expanding and highly specialized field of the age 

 of steam and electricity. Similarlj^, at the close of the present fiscal 

 year the division of American history is separated from the depart- 

 ment of anthropology, under which it came into existence but with 

 which it has no necessary connection, and constituted an independent 

 division. The historical collections have multiplied greatly in recent 

 years and during the present year have increased as a result of the 

 World War to such an extent that the erection of a separate building 

 for their accommodation seems an imperative duty of the Govern- 

 ment. It may be further noted that at the close of the present year 

 the division of graphic arts, allied until now with anthropology^, has 

 been assigned to the department of arts and industries, its mu- 

 seum field dealing with the practice of the graphic arts in their highly 

 developed mechanical stages. A further change at the close of the 

 year affects the personnel of the department, the head curator havino- 

 been appointed director of the National Gallery of Art, now a coordi- 

 nate miit of the Smithsonian group, is thus separated from anthro- 

 pology, and at'the same time the recorder of the department is trans- 

 ferred to the corresponding position in the National Gallery. The 

 depatment of anthropology at the beginning of the fiscal jqhv 1920- 

 21 thus comprises four principal divisions only : ethnology, American 

 eluding religions), each being in charge of an independent curator. 



archeology, physical anthropology, and Old World archeology (in- 

 Ceramics, art textiles, musical instruments, and historical costumes 

 are cared for by the curator of ethnology. Minor changes in the staff 



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