REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 33 



adequately shown for the admiration and reverence of our people for 

 generations to come. Certainly all these historic objects, not to be 

 duplicated at any price, should be displayed under the best of condi- 

 tions as a monument to those whom they represent and to the earlier 

 generations of those who have built our Nation. 



With increase in material wealth in the United States there has 

 been developed a steadily growing class of persons who turn to intel- 

 lectual labors for occupation and aesthetic enjoyment. ISIany of 

 these, carefully trained in some one of the sciences, make definite 

 contributions to knowledge. Others deeply interested care rather to 

 assist in the labors of others than to make definite additions through 

 personal efforts. All are of tremendous assistance in carrying on 

 the important work of science. All have a sincere belief in the value 

 of scientific research in all . branches and are deeply interested in 

 furthering it in any way j)0ssible. When it is remembered that these 

 persons, through their economic situation, make large and definite 

 annual contribution to the support of the Federal Government 

 through the sums that they pay in the form of income tax, it must be 

 admitted that it is only logical to take a small part of this contribu- 

 tion and devote it to the maintenance, growth, and preservation of 

 the valuable materials found in the National Museum. 



COLLECTIONS 



Additions to the collections of the National Museum during the 

 fiscal year have reached the tremendous total of 832,912 separate 

 objects, the largest number coming to the department of biology. 

 Material sent for examination and report amounted to 1,481 lots, in- 

 cluding many thousands of si:)ecimens. Gifts to schools and other 

 educational institutions numbered 6,267 specimens, while in exchange 

 there were sent out 33,724 specimens, these being duplicate materials 

 for which other things 'were received in return. More than 25,000 

 specimens of all kinds, many of them highly valuable, were loaned 

 for study to specialists and other workers outside of Washington. 



Following is a, digest of the more important accessions for the year 

 in the' various departments and divisions of the Museum : 



Anthi'opoloffR/.— During field work on Nunivak Island, Alaska, Mr. 

 Henr}^ B. Collins, jr., and Mr. T. Dale Stewart collected an excellent 

 seriesof ivory, bone, stones, pottery, and wooden objects that give a 

 comprehensive index to the cillture- of the Eskimo on this island. Mr. 

 Oscar T. Crosby presented a series of specimens, personally collected, 

 representing the ethnology of the African bushmen. 



Among valuable' collections which have been received through the 

 field work of the Bureau of American Ethnology there may be men- 

 tioned especially a series of materials from a basket-maker village 



