16 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1961 



Comparative Anatomy Hall, a large Hall of Botany and Wood, a Hall 

 of Ocean Life, a Hall of Reptiles and Fishes, a Hall of Man em- 

 phasizing the methods and accomplishments of physical anthropology, 

 and a Classical Archeology Hall, a Peoples of Asia and Africa Hall, 

 a Peoples of the Pacific Hall, a second North American Archeology 

 Hall, a second Geology Plall, and a Hall of Insects of the World. 

 Work on still other major displays of collections already in storage 

 at the Smithsonian is underway so that they may be presented in the 

 new Museum of History and Technology Building when this structure 

 is completed. 



In introducing the present report, reference was made to the em- 

 phasis given by James Smithson and Joseph Henry to the twin ideas 

 of the diffusion and the increase of knowledge among men. Although 

 the museum displays described in the foregoing pages constitute an 

 important means of diffusing scientific and teclinological knowledge, 

 the Institution employs many other means to promote this diffusion. 

 One of these has traditionally been publications, and during the year 

 represented by this report the publication program was advanced by 

 97 titles issued under Smithsonian imprint; and nearly 775,000 copies 

 of Smithsonian publications were distributed, an increase of about 18 

 percent over the previous year. Details of these publications are 

 given on later pages of the report. It may be pointed out that the 

 publications of the Smithsonian are known worldwide, and the "ex- 

 change publications" that come without charge to Washington in 

 response to Smithsonian publications from scientific research organi- 

 zations all over the world play an important role in maintaining in 

 America a complete library of scientific research. Such a collection 

 is basic in modern American life, not only in national defense but 

 also in the development of the cultural and industrial life of the 

 country. 



It is difficult in brief compass to describe the research activities of 

 the Institution. The reader of this report, however, is especially 

 urged to note the pages that present the results of research studies 

 conducted during the current year by the Institution. The Astro- 

 physical Observatory of the Smithsonian, for example, is concerned 

 in the development of the science that is basic to a modern understand- 

 ing of astronomy and space. Only a few years ago research in astro- 

 physics seemed interesting but highly theoretical. Today the 

 significance of investigations in this area for our national defense and 

 welfare is recognized everywhere. Research investigations are also 

 conducted in almost all the other specialized divisions of the Institu- 

 tion as reported on later pages of this report. Special emphasis should 

 be given to the fact that it is the research activities of the members 

 of the Institution's scientific staff that have established its worldwide 

 reputation and won for it academic distinction. 



