10 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1955 



center for instruction in aeronautical engineering, and as the scientific genius 

 under whose leadership the present-day National Advisory Committee for Aero- 

 nautics has become the world's greatest scientific aeronautical research organi- 

 zation. 



The Langley medal has previously been presented seven times: to 

 Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1910, to Glenn H. Curtiss in 1913, to 

 Gustave Eiffel in 1913, to Col. Charles A. Lindbergh in 1927, to Rear 

 Adm. Eicliard E. Byrd in 1929, to Charles E. Manly (posthumously) 

 in 1929, and to Dr. Joseph S. Ames in 1935. 



DR. ABBOT HONORED 



Dr. Charles Greeley Abbot, retired Secretary of the Smithsonian 

 Institution and one of the nation's most eminent astrophysicists, was 

 honored by a reception in the great hall of the Smitlisonian Building 

 on the afternoon of May 31, 1955 — his eighty-tliird birthday. This 

 also marked the sixtieth anniversary of Dr. Abbot's association with 

 the Institution. In connection with the occasion, a bronze bust of 

 Dr. Abbot by Alicia Neathery, Washington sculptress, was unveiled. 

 It is now on permanent view in the Smithsonian Building. 



FUNDS FOR THE INSTITUTION 



At its Januai-y 1955 meeting, the Board of Regents gave careful 

 consideration to the problem of what can be done to call public at- 

 tion to the Smithsonian Institution as the beneliciary for large or 

 small gifts of money to advance the "increase and diffusion of knowl- 

 edge" in the areas covered by the Smithsonian. Since that time cer- 

 tain general statements concerning the needs of the Institution have 

 been prepared, and through the kindness of various members of the 

 Board of Regents, the Secretary has had an opportunity to present 

 the need for generous additional endowments to a number of indi- 

 viduals and groups who may be in a position to help the Smithsonian 

 Institution in this important material way. Only a beginning has 

 been made on this })rogram. It is urged tliat in the present year and 

 in future years everyone interested in the Smithsonian will do every- 

 thing possible to assist in providing substantial increases in the In- 

 stitution's endowments for general or specific purposes. One of the 

 suggested possibilities is that a single donor or group of donors may 

 wish to present to the people of the United States through the Smith- 

 sonian Institution a memorial museum building for the National Col- 

 lection of Fine Arts and other related materials. 



As shown in last year's report, the Institution continues to receive 

 subventions from Federal agencies and nongovernmental organiza- 

 tions. Work assisted by such grants includes studies and publications 

 in anthropology', zoology, botany, geology, psychology, and the gen- 



