REPORT OF NATIONAL. MUSEUM, 1923. 29 



AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF MUSEUMS. 



Toward the close of the fiscal year the American Association of 

 Museums opened headquarters in the northwest pavilion of the Arts 

 and Industries Building, on the third floor immediately over the 

 administrative offices of the Museum. This is the culmination of a 

 movement which has been on foot for several years for the better- 

 ment of the Association. Recently the Laura Spelman Rockefeller 

 Foundation made a grant to the Association of $10,000 a year for 

 three years contingent upon the Association raising an additional 

 $15,000 the first year and $20,000 each the second and third years. 

 At the annual meeting of the Association in Charleston in April, 

 1923, the financial prospects were such that arrangements were made 

 for the establishment of headquarters in the national capital with a 

 salaried director and secretary. Prof. Charles R. Richards and Mr. 

 Laurence Vail Coleman, respectively. 



The National Museum has always had a lively interest in the 

 American Association of Museums as the Association had its origin 

 in a meeting of nine directors of American museums at the National 

 Museum in 1905, though it was not formally organized until the 

 following year at a meeting in Nbw York. That the National 

 Museum was able to supply the needed office rooms was therefore 

 particularly gratifying, and it is appropriate that the Association 

 should find a permanent home where the movement started. Pro- 

 fessor Richards is spending his first year on leave in order to make 

 a survey of European museums, and in the meantime Mr. Coleman is 

 in charge, as acting director. 



CHANGES IN ORGANIZATION AND STAFF. 



The organization of the Museum was but slightly changed during 

 the year. A new section of organic chemistry was created in the 

 department of arts and industries in August, 1922, to which were 

 transferred the collections of animal and vegetable products. Mr. 

 Carl C. Anderson was appointed as aid to the section on August 6. 



By an interchange of custodianship the division of history on 

 July 1, 1922, took over the custody of the small arms collection 

 in the northeast court of the Arts and Industries Building, which 

 had been built up by the division of mechanical technology, and 

 that division relieved the division of history of the aircraft collec- 

 tion exhibited in the Aircraft Building. 



Great difficulty was experienced during the year in maintaining 

 the watch force needed for guarding the buildings. The conditions 

 under which the watchmen work here are more onerous and exacting 

 than in any other bureau of the Government. With the funds at 



