Report on Publications 



Sib : I have the honor to submit the following report on the publi- 

 cations of the Smithsonian and its branches for the year ended June 

 30, 1955 : 



The publications of the Smithsonian Institution, comprising 14 

 different series, are issued partly from federally appropriated funds 

 (Smithsonian Reports and publications of the National Museum, the 

 Bureau of American Ethnology, the National Collection of Fine Arts, 

 and the Astrophysical Observatory) and partly from private endow- 

 ment funds (Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, publications of 

 the Freer Gallery of Art, and some special publications) . The Insti- 

 tution also edits and publishes under the auspices of the Freer Gallery 

 of Art the series Ars Orientalis, which appears under the joint im- 

 print of the University of Michigan and the Smithsonian Institution. 

 The first volume in this series was issued during the year. In addi- 

 tion, the Smithsonian publishes a guide book, a picture pamphlet, 

 postcards and a postcard folder, a color-picture album, and color slides 

 for sale to visitors. Through its publication program the Smith- 

 sonian endeavors to carry out its founder's expressed desire for the 

 diffusion of knowledge. 



During the year the Institution published 17 papers and title page 

 and contents of 3 volumes in the Miscellaneous Collections, 1 Annual 

 Report of the Board of Regents and separates of 19 articles in the Re- 

 port appendix, 1 Annual Report of the Secretary, and 4 special 

 publications. 



The United States National Museum issued 1 Annual Report, 8 Pro- 

 ceedings papers, and 2 Bulletins. 



The Bureau of American Ethnology issued 1 Annual Report and 4 

 Bulletins. 



The Astrophysical Observatory published Volume 7 of the Annals 

 of the Astrophysical Observatory. 



The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, under 

 the National Collection of Fine Arts, published catalogs for 5 of the 

 circulating exhibits. 



The Freer Gallery of Art issued 1 paper in the Occasional Papers 

 series, 1 booklet, and Volume 1 of Arts Orientalis. 



There were distributed 428,286 pieces of printed matter — 192,108 

 copies of the publications and 226,178 miscellaneous items. Publica- 

 tions: 40 Contributions to Knowledge, 37,495 Miscellaneous Collec- 



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