APPENDIX 1. 



REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the United States National Museum for the fiscal year end- 

 ing June 30, 1921 : 



The fiscal year was an unusually busy one. The separation of the 

 National Gallery of Art from the Museum, the completion of the 

 building for the Freer collections, the opening of the Aircraft Build- 

 ing, the preparation of data for the schemes of reclassification of 

 Government employees and reorganization of Government depart- 

 ments, the inauguration of the retirement system for civil employees, 

 and the impending inauguration of a budget system for Government 

 accounts, all added to the usual Museum activities of the year. 



The National Gallery of Art, which had for a number of years 

 been administered as the fine art's department of the Museum, be- 

 came an independent bureau under the Smithsonian Institution on 

 July 1, 1920, through provision for its separate maintenance in the 

 sundry civil appropriation act for the year 1921. To the new bureau 

 were transferred such of the Museum's collections as had been in the 

 custody of the curator of the National Gallery of Art, consisting of 

 paintings, sculptures, and a few miscellaneous pieces. For the pres- 

 ent the gallery continues to be housed in the Natural History Build- 

 ing of the Museum. 



Dr. William H. Holmes severed his connection with the Museum 

 as head curator of anthropology on July 1, 1920, to become director 

 of the National Gallery of Art, and carries with him to his larger 

 field the good will of the entire Museum staff. When in 1906 it 

 became necessary to provide a somewhat definite organization for the 

 department of fine arts of the Museum, the curatorship of the Na- 

 tional Gallery of Art was tendered to Dr. Holmes and accepted by 

 him in addition to his duties then as Chief of the Bureau of Ameri- 

 can Ethnology. Since that time Doctor Holmes has given freely of 

 his time and strength for the National Gallery without financial re- 

 turn. It is gratifying that he is now enabled to devote all of his 

 energies to his chosen field. 



As a separate administrative unit of the Institution a rapid growth 

 is predicted for the National Gallery, of which the Freer collection, 

 housed in its own building, forms a distinct unit. It is hoped that 



25 



