SECRETARY S REPORT 



Other Buildings Planned 



By the use of private funds given to the Institution siiecificall}' for 

 the purpose, preliminary architectural studies were made during the 

 year for the projected new National Air Museum. The proposed site 

 for this museum is between 9th and 12th Streets, SW., on the south 

 side of Independence Avenue, where it would be closely associated 

 with other Smithsonian buildings. No final estimates have yet been 

 given of the new Air Museum's cost or of the time when it may be 

 most appropriate to ask for public or private funds for its erection. 



This new building is urgently needed. The airplane is in many 

 respects a product of the genius of the American people. The Smith- 

 sonian collections in this great field, beginning with the Wright 

 brothers' "Kitty Hawk" itself, are unrivaled in the world. Today 

 many of the most important treasures of the Smithsonian collection 

 of aircraft and associated objects are crated and held in storage. They 

 are thus not available either for the i)ublic or even for the use of en- 

 gineers and patent authorities. As soon as possible it is important to 

 find means, public or private, or both, for the erection of a suitable 

 building for this great collection. 



The National Collection of Fine Arts is now also most inadequately 

 provided for in an incongruous setting in the Natural History Build- 

 ing. As was especially emphasized in last year's report, a new Smith- 

 sonian Institution Gallery of Art to house the great historical paint- 

 ings in this collection, the National Portrait Gallery, and the work of 

 deserving living artists is most urgently needed. The collections that 

 will be displayed in the proposed new gallery would include painting, 

 sculpture, ceramics, and other forms of decorative art. 



Authorization to construct wings on the Natural History Building 

 was approved by Congress in 1932, but it has never been implemented 

 by an appropriation. Our superlative study collections in natural 

 history are crowded from attic to basement and have extensively in- 

 vaded the exhibition halls. To be of the greatest use to the Nation, 

 these collections must continue to grow, for only in this way can they 

 become more complete and thus more useful in the scientific and eco- 

 nomic researches conducted by many other agencies. Eoom for ex- 

 pansion is urgently needed for all the collections in anthropology, 

 geology, and zoology. Also far below our needs is laboratory space 

 for the scientists and aides working on these collections, and for the 

 visiting specialists who so freely and generously assist in this work. 

 The over-all situation is such that the addition of wings on the Natural 

 History Building must hold high priority in the Institution's build- 

 ing program. 



