REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 6 



a field expedition to Utah ; in engineering and industries, a collection 

 of relics of the aeronautical work of Samuel P. Langley, a former 

 Secretary of the Institution, an original Union aircraft engine of 

 the World War period, and many objects pertaining to transporta- 

 tion, communication, metrology, and other branches of this depart- 

 ment; and in history nearly 3,600 objects of historic and antiquarian 

 interest. The usual large number of expeditions were in the field 

 during the year in the interests of anthropology, biology, and geol- 

 ogy. These were financed largely by the private funds of the 

 Smithsonian Institution or through the cooperation of other in- 

 dividuals or institutions. Visitors to the Museum buildings totaled 

 2,233,345 for the year. Fourteen special exhibitions were held under 

 the auspices of various scientific, governmental, and educational agen- 

 cies. The Museum published an annual report, 4 Bulletins and 

 1 volume of another, 2 Contributions from the National Herbarium, 

 and 27 Proceedings papers. 



National Gallery of Art. — A number of changes in the personnel 

 of the Gallery were made during the year. Paul Mellon, President, 

 resigned in May 1939, and David K. E. Bruce, Vice President, was 

 elected President. The vacancy thus created in the vice presidency 

 was filled by the election of Ferdinand Lammot Belin. Harry A. 

 McBride was appointed Administrator of the Gallery, John Walker 

 was appointed Chief Curator, and Stephen Pichetto was appointed 

 consultant restorer. Joseph E. Widener and Samuel H. Kress were 

 chosen to fill the vacancies created on the Board of Trustees by the 

 resignation of Paul Mellon and the forthcoming expiration on July 

 1, 1939, of the term of Donald D. Shepard. The outstanding event 

 of the year was the gift to the Gallery by Samuel H. Kress and the 

 Samuel IT. Kress Foundation of a collection of Italian paintings 

 and sculpture, stated by experts to be one of the finest private col- 

 lections of Italian art in the world. The collection was accepted by 

 the Board of Trustees and will be installed in special rooms before 

 the opening of the Gallery. With the Mellon collection and the Kress 

 collection, the Gallery will at once become a center for art study 

 in this country as well as one of the great galleries of the world. 

 Congress appropriated $159,000 for the administrative and operating 

 expenses of the Gallery during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1939. 

 Temporary offices were established, and a nucleus of the permanent 

 staff was assembled for actual appointment on July 1, 1939. The 

 superstructure of the Gallery building was practically completed 

 at the close of the year, and it is hoped that by August 1, 1940, con- 

 struction will be far enough advanced so that the art collection may 

 be installed. Over $5,000,000 had been actually expended for con- 



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