SECRETARY'S REPORT 155 



for publication, for special research, exhibitions, designers, and those 

 who wanted an idea of the collection as a whole. 



There were 33 sets of 2- by 2-inch slides (consisting of 1,416 color 

 slides) circulated in 22 States and Alaska. 



MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS 



The usual care of the building and its mechanical equipment and 

 the grounds was maintained at the established standard throughout 

 the year. 



Contracts were entered into with Eggers & Higgins, architects, and 

 Vermilya-Brown Co., Inc., general contractors, for the alteration of 

 a portion of the library area in the Gallery building. The remodeled 

 space is intended for the exhibition of the Samuel H. Kress Collection 

 of lienaissance Bronzes. 



Alterations were made in gallery 11 so that the opening in the north 

 wall of that gallery now matches in architectural design the openings 

 in the east and west walls. These modifications were made to enable 

 the more effective and suitable exhibition of the Donatello "David," 

 which stands in the center of gallery 11. Eggers & Higgins were the 

 architects, and Vermilya-Brown Co. the general contractor. 



The Gallery staff constructed an L-shaped, 3-compartment green- 

 house within the southwest moat wall ; and the staff is now construct- 

 ing a cold-conditioning unit to be used in conjunction with the green- 

 house. These facilities will enable the horticultural staff to supply 

 suitable flowering and foliage plants for the garden courts and for 

 special exliibitions at almost any time of the year. 



A new plaque of Andrew Mellon, sculptured by Walker Hancock, 

 was installed in the Constitution Avenue Lobby. 



OTHER ACTIVITIES 



David E. Finley, Director, delivered the following speeches during 

 the fiscal year : "The Museum in the Cold War" at a luncheon meeting 

 prior to the opening of the Kress Wing at the Denver Art Museum 

 in September 1954; the principal address at the annual meeting of 

 the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Chicago in October 

 1954; in May 1955, in New York, he delivered a speech entitled "A 

 Bridge for the Arts" at a meeting of the Columbia Associates of 

 Columbia University; and at the annual meeting of the American 

 Association of Museums in Washington in June 1955 he spoke on 

 "Musemns and their Public Relations." 



Forty Sunday evening concerts were given during the fiscal year 

 1955 in the West and East Garden Courts. The National Gallery 

 Orchestra, conducted by Richard Bales, played 10 concerts at the 

 Gallery, with additional performances at the United States Naval 



