REPORT ON THE PROGRESS AND CONDITION OF 



THE U. S, NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THE 



YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1908. 



By Richard Rathbun, 

 Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in cliarfje of the V. S. National Museum. 



GENERAL COXSIDERATIONS. 



INCEPTION AND HISTORY. 



The inception and history of the National ^Vlnsenm have often been 

 discussed in the opening pages of the annual report. Congress, in 

 the act of August 10, 184G, founding the Smithsonian Institution, 

 recognized that an opportunity^ was afforded, in carrying out the 

 large-minded design of Smithson, to provide for the custody of the 

 museum of the nation. To this new establishment was therefore 

 intrusted the care of the national collections, a course that time has 

 fully justified. 



In the beginning the cost of maintaining the museum side of the 

 Institution's work was wholly paid from the Smithsonian income; 

 then for a number of years the Government bore a share, and during 

 the past three decades Congress has voted sufficient funds to cover the 

 expenses of the Museum, thus furthering one of the primary means 

 " for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men " without 

 encroaching upon the resources of the Institution, 



The museum idea was inherent in the establishment of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, which in its turn was based upon a ten years' dis- 

 cussion in Congress and the advice of the most distinguished scientific 

 men, educators, and intellectual leaders of the nation of seventy 

 years ago. It is interesting to note how broad and comprehensive 

 were the views which actuated our lawmakers in determining the 



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