REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 35 



dated June 24, 1937, the legal title to the building was deemed forth- 

 with to be vested in the Smithsonian Institution, of which the National 

 Gallery of Art is a bureau, and the maintenance and administration 

 of the building and site became the exclusive and sole obligation of 

 the Trustees of the National Gallery of Art. A copy of the notice of 

 completion is attached to this report, as exhibit A (not printed). 



The Gallery building was turned over to the Trustees of the Gallery 

 on December 1, 1940, and following inspection and upon certification 

 by Eggers and Higgins, successors of John Russell Pope, architect 

 for the Gallery, as to the final completion of the project, the Trustees 

 of the Gallery, at a meeting held December 10, 1940, formally accepted 

 the Gallery project. Copy of the architect's certificate is attached 

 to this report, as exhibit B (not printed). At this meeting the mem- 

 bers of the Board expressed great satisfaction with the construction 

 of the Gallery building, as finally completed, and their appreciation 

 of the efforts of the Trustees of The A. W. Mellon Educational and 

 Charitable Trust, the surviving Trustees being Paul Mellon, Donald 

 D. Shepard, and David K. E. Bruce, in the erection of a Gallery build- 

 ing of such monumental character and such outstanding architectural 

 merit. 



The Trustees have been apprised that the total cost of the Gallery, 

 including approaches and the landscaping of the site, amounted to 

 $15,035,597.50. 



The small nucleus of the Gallery staff, which was housed in offices 

 furnished by The A. W. Mellon Educj)tional and Charitable Trust, 

 moved into the building on November 27, 1940, and proceeded with 

 the work of installation of furnishings and equipment. By Decem- 

 ber 1, 1940, the nuclear staff, consisting of curatorial and clerical 

 employees, mechanical, guard, and cleaning force, had been organ- 

 ized sufficiently to take over the administration and maintenance 

 of the Gallery building by the Trustees. 



During the first days of January 1941, the works of art in the 

 Mellon Collection were moved into the building, and during January. 

 February, and March the works of art in the Kress Collection were 

 received from New York. 



Installation of the works of art in the two collections in the gal- 

 leries prepared for them was undertaken immediately upon their 

 receipt in the new building, and was completed the first week of 

 March. 



DEDICATION CEREMONIES AND OPENING OF 

 THE GALLERY TO THE PUBLIC 



On the evening of March 17, 1941, 8,822 invited guests attended 

 the opening ceremonies. Included among the invited guests were 

 the members of the Cabinet, Senate, and House of Eepresentatives, 



430577 — 12 i 



