10 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1909. 



funds permitted, and, as is well known, the maintenance of the 

 museum and the library was long ago assumed by Congress, the 

 Institution taking upon itself only so much of the necessary responsi- 

 bility for the administration of these and subsequent additions 

 to its activities as would weld them into a compact whole, which 

 together form a unique and notable agency for the increase and diffu- 

 sion of knowledge, for the direction of research, for cooperation 

 with dei^artments of the Government and with universities and 

 scientific societies in America, and likewise afford a definite corre- 

 spondent to all scientific institutions and men abroad who seek inter- 

 change of views or knowledge with men of science in the United 

 States. 



Since that early day no material change has been suggested in the 

 general scope of the government Museum; it has onlj^ remained to 

 elaborate the details, and the opportunity is now close at hand to 

 realize all that the first Board had in view, since ample space will be 

 available during the coming year. 



The development of the ISIuseum has naturally been greatest in 

 those subjects which the conditions of the past sixty years have made 

 most fruitful — the natural history, geology, ethnology, and arche- 

 ology of the United States, supplemented by many collections from 

 other countries. The opportunities in these directions have been 

 mainly brought about through the activities of the scientific and 

 economic surveys of the Government, manj^ of which are the direct 

 outgrowths of earlier explorations, stimulated or directed by the 

 Institution. The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 afforded the first 

 opportunity for establishing a department of the industrial arts on a 

 creditable basis, and of this the fullest advantage was taken, though 

 only a part of the collections then obtained could be accommodated 

 in the space available. 



The department or gallery of the fine arts had made little progress, 

 though not from lack of desire or appreciation, until within the past 

 three years, during which its interests have been markedh' advanced, 

 as elsewhere explained. 



Another subject to which much attention has been paid with satis- 

 factory results is American history, illustrated by objects repre- 

 senting distinguished personages and important events as well as the 

 domestic life of the country from the colonial period to the present 

 day. 



It is gratifying to note that in the course of a few months it will 

 be possible to give the national collections a systematic arrangement 

 and to provide for the increase of those branches whose growth has 

 heretofore been restricted through lack of space. By transferring to 



