REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 49 



Closson, and presented to Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Drake, Washington, 

 D. C, on May 5, 1941. 



An oil painting, "The Butterfly Dance," by William Baxter Clos- 

 son (1848-1926), was withdrawn by the owner, Mrs. William Baxter 

 Closson, and presented to Miss Elizabeth Peet, Washington, D. C, on 

 May 5, 1941. 



LOANS RETURNED 



An oil painting, "Portrait of Mary Hopkinson (wife of Dr. John 

 Morgan)," by Ben.lamin West, lent to the Masterpieces of Art 

 Exhibition at the New York World's Fair, 1940, was returned 

 September 17, 1940. 



A bronze statue of Lincoln, by Augustus Saint Gaudens, lent with 

 the consent of the owners, the estate of Mrs. John Hay, to the New 

 York World's Fair for exhibition in the Illinois Building, was 

 returned November 14, 1940. 



THE NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS REFERENCE LIBRARY 



A total of 180 publications, including 146 acquired by purchase 

 and 5 by transfer, were accessioned during the year. 



THE HENRY WARD RANGER FUND 



The following two paintings, purchased by the council of the 

 National Academy of Design from the fund provided by the Henry 

 Ward Kanger bequest, were recalled for action on the part of the 

 Smithsonian Art Commission, in accordance with the provision in 

 the Ranger bequest. The Smithsonian Art Commission decided not 

 to accept the paintings and they were returned to become the absolute 

 property of the museums to which they were originally assigned. 



"The Offering," by Charles W. Hawthorne, N. A. (1872-1930), assigned to 

 the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, June 12, 1931. 



"Gleam on Hilltops," by Gardner Symons, N. A. (1863-1930), assigned io the 

 Montclair Art Association, Montclair, N. J., June 2, 1922. 



SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS 



The following exhibitions were held : 



October 8 to ^5, 1940. — Special exhibition of 48 pastels, drawings, 

 and lithographs by Lily E. Smulders. 



November 1 to 24, 1940.— The Sixth Annual Metropolitan State 

 Art Contest, 1940, under the auspices of the Department of Fine 

 Arts of the District of Columbia Federation of Women's CluDs. 

 There were 289 exhibits consisting of paintings, sculpture, and prints 

 by 158 artists. 



December 1, 1940, to January 1, i^^i.— Special exhibition of the 

 work of William Baxter Closson (1848-1926) consisting of 94 oils, 



