32 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



ment of the department to make it comparable with those in the prin- 

 cipal European countries, and thus capable of exerting a direct and 

 beneficial influence on the higher industrial pursuits of the country. 



It was not until after the middle of the year, however, that the 

 extension of the work in this direction could be taken up, and little 

 more was possible than to remove the material from storage, and 

 begin its unpacking and assorting. The installations will be made, 

 at least for the most part, in the old cases, which will have to be more 

 or less remodeled for the purpose, but it is not expected that the 

 public will be long delayed in gaining access to some parts of these 

 collections. The material relating to the graphic arts and to book- 

 making will be exhibited in the Smithsonian building, but the other 

 subjects will be mainly provided for in the older Museum building, 

 and comprise, besides those above mentioned, mineral technology, 

 textiles, woods, various animal and vegetable products, foods and 

 drugs, etc. The division of history will continue to occupy its pres- 

 ent position in the older Museum building, as will the collection of 

 art textiles, but additional space will be required for the former, 

 whose growth and popularity have been exceptionally gratifying. 



Several unoccupied rooms in the new building were used by the 

 Government for the competitive plans for the Lincoln and Perry 

 memorials, authorized by Congress and submitted during the year. 

 Opened to the inspection of the public, the models and pictures of 

 the designs for the Lincoln monument in Washington were still on 

 exhibition at the close of the year. 



The Sunday opening of the Museum, so long and earnestly advo- 

 cated by the authorities of the Institution, w^as one of the most note- 

 worthy accomplishments of the year. This innovation is, in fact, to 

 be regarded as marking the beginning of a new period in the history 

 of the Museum, in which its privileges may be enjoyed with equal 

 freedom by all classes. Started on October 8, 1911, and restricted to 

 afternoon hours, it is for the present limited to the new building. 



ADDITIONS TO THE COLLECTIONS. 



The permanent additions to the collections numbered approxi- 

 mately 238,000 specimens and objects, of which about 168,000 were 

 biological, 63,000 geological and paleontological, and 7,000 anthropo- 

 logical. There were also many loans, some of great value. 



The more important accessions in anthropolog^'^ related to the 

 Indians of southern Alaska and Panama, and included an interesting 

 series of objects from the ruined pueblo of Kwasteyukwa, New 

 Mexico. To the exhibits in mechanical technology were added many 

 important articles, including the first aeroplane acquired and used 

 by the Government, a large number of firearms, both military and 

 sporting, and numerous examples of inA^entions. The division of 



