REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 33 



whose foresight and generosity were responsible for the establishment of this 

 Gallery along lines truly national in scope ; who, during the course of a long life 

 of business activity and public service, found time to bring together the mag- 

 nificent collection of art which, with the building now in course of erection 

 and an endowment for future acquisitions, he has, with unparalleled gen- 

 erosity, given to his counti-y for the benefit of all and "for the purpose of 

 encouraging and developing a study of the fine arts." While he sought to efface 

 himself in connection with the Gallery in order that others might be encouraged 

 to contribute to this great national undertaking, he will not be forgotten but 

 will always be remembered with gratitude by those who will benefit from what 

 he has done, and his "story will live on, woven into the stuff of other men's 

 lives." 



That the Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Art express their 

 profound sorrow at the death on February 23, 1938, of Seymour Parker Gilbert, 

 a Trustee of this Gallery, whose sound judgment and experience obtained during 

 his years of public service peculiarly fitted him to be a useful and distinguished 

 member of the Board. His loss will be greatly felt in this work as in many 

 other fields of activitiy to which he gave generously of his time and strength. 



At the annual meeting of the Board held February 13, 1939, Paul 

 Mellon was elected President, and David K. E. Bruce was elected 

 Vice President of the Board. Also, at this meeting Donald D. Shep- 

 ard was elected a member of the executive committee, and Secretary 

 Hull and David K. E. Bruce and Ferdinand Lammot Belin were 

 elected members of the finance committee, Mr. Bruce to serve as vice 

 chairman of the finance committee. 



At a special meeting of the Board, held May 26, 1939, the Trustees 

 adopted a seal and also passed appropriate resolutions relating to 

 the administrative duties and responsibilities of officers of the Gallery. 

 The Board accepted with regret the resignation of Paul Mellon as 

 President, and elected David K. E. Bruce President to fill the vacancy 

 thus occasioned, and also elected Ferdinand Lammot Belin Vice 

 President to fill the vacancy in the office of Vice President occasioned 

 by the appointment of Mr. Bruce as President. Donald D. Shepard 

 was appointed General Counsel for the National Gallery of Art to 

 serve in that capacity, in addition to his duties as Secretary and 

 Treasurer of the Gallery. David E. Finley is serving as Director 

 of the Gallery, having been elected to that position by the Board last 

 year. 



At an earlier meeting of the Board, held August 31, 1938, the 

 Board appointed Harry A. McBride, of Pontiac, Mich., to fill the 

 office of Administrator of the National Gallery of Art. Mr. McBride 

 has served a number of years in the Foreign Service of the United 

 States in an administrative and executive capacity, his last post being 

 as Assistant to the Secretary of State. At the same meeting, John 

 Walker, of Pittsburgh, Pa., was appointed Chief Curator of the 

 National Gallery of Art. At the time Mr. Walker was serving as 

 Associate in Charge of Fine Arts at the American Academy in 



