REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1923. 129 



building of the collection of military materials received from the 

 Military Service Institution. This collection now occupies nine 

 wall cases, six remodeled Jamestown slopetop cases, and seven small 

 table top cases in the space noted. The flags, guns, swords, pistols 

 and miscellaneous relics are grouped about General Sheridan's war 

 horse which is exhibited in the open in a very effective manner. 



In numerous other portions of the historical collections reinstalla- 

 tion has been undertaken with a view to rendering the exhibition 

 series more homogeneous in character, to reduce overcrowding, and 

 to improve appearances from the artistic point of view. The usual 

 precautions have been observed to protect the textile collection from 

 the incursions of moth and other destructive insects. 



The acceptance of the Julian- James. collection of historical cos- 

 tumes and other materials entailed the large work of checking off 

 and marking the individual specimens of which this collection is 

 composed. This was accomplished by the following committee ap- 

 pointed by the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary in charge 

 of the Museum: Theodore T. Belote, curator of history, chairman; 

 Dr. Walter Hough, head curator of anthropology, and Mr. H. S. 

 Bryant, chief, division of correspondence. 



The reinstallation of the philatelic materials described in the last 

 report is proceeding satisfactorily and will be completed within the 

 next three months. Of the 472 frames in the cabinet, 408 have 

 already been completed. 



BBSEABCHES. 



During the past year the curator has devoted much time to the 

 preparation of two proposed publications. One of these is a cata- 

 logue of the swords in the historical collections embracing a descrip- 

 tion of the various specimens and with an introduction outlining 

 the development of the American military and naval sword from 

 the time of the Kevolution to the present day. The second paper 

 consists of a treatise descriptive of the classification of historical 

 museum materials, a matter of very great interest and importance 

 to all workers in this field. 



The usual number of inquiries concerning the historical materials 

 have been received during the past fiscal year, and much informa- 

 tion along this line has been furnished for the benefit of researches 

 in historical museum material in other fields. In many instances 

 the data furnished has been accompanied by photographs of objects 

 connected with the work under discussion. 



Antique fire arms and costumes have twice been lent to the Agri- 

 cultural Department for use in the connection with the preparation 

 of motion picture films by that Department. 



