REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1&20. 87 



received by transfer from the Post Office Department. Of these 

 '<i,475 are of the new issues received by that Department from the 

 'nternational Bureau of the Universal Postal Union, Berne, Switzer- 

 land. 



During the past fiscal 3'ear the exhibition space of the division 

 las been greatly increased by the assignment to its use of two ranges 

 on the ground floor of the Natural History building. In these have 

 been installed, with the competent assistance of Major J. H. Spang- 

 ler and under the general direction of Major General H. L. Rogers, 

 Q. M. C, extensive exhibits furnished by the War Department, note- 

 worthy features being the collections ormilitary costumes and equip- 

 ment and the appliances of chemical warfare. The Arts and Indus- 

 tries building accommodates diversified collections relating to the 

 recent war : Uniforms worn bv women organizations durino- the war, 

 collected and lent to the Museum by the National Society of Colonial 

 Dames of America ; captured German ordnance materials ; small arms 

 of the type used by the armies of the allied and enemy countries ; and 

 a collection of American war to3^s showing the development of the 

 toy industry in the United States during the war. A collection of 

 German field guns has been installed out of doors on the west side 

 of this building. 



The Copp collection of miscellaneous colonial household and 

 other relics, which has never been previously satisfactorily installed 

 on account of lack of space, has been brought together in the west 

 gallery of the Arts and Industries building, advantage being taken 

 of the fact that this section of the west gallery was particularl3" 

 suited to the purpose. This collection is now well shown. 



The ftiture of the historical collections must be given careful con- 

 lideration if they are to fulfill their proper function in the Museum 

 jclieme and in the estimation of Congress and the public. A first 

 requisite relates to the housing of the division — of its offices, its 

 laboratories, its storage and its extensive exhibition collections, in 

 close association, if not under a single roof — then a staff adequate 

 to the varied work in hand. 



Historical Costumes. — The growth of the section of historical cos- 

 /umes during the year is gratifjang, and mtich credit must be given 

 CO ^h's. Julian-James and Mrs. E. G. Hoes for their never-failing 

 interest in perfecting the collection. The chronological series of 

 jostumes of mistresses of the White House is nearing completion; 

 Airs. Wooclrow Wilson has recently contribtited a black velvet dress 

 worn by her on state occasions for which a lay-figtire is in prepara- 

 tion under her personal supervision, and Mrs. J. Stanley Brown has 

 added a lace flounce and otlier needed parts for the completion of 

 the costume of her mother, Mrs. James A. Garfield. 



