2 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1963 



The new east- wing addition to tlie National History Building, virtu- 

 ally completed by the end of the year, has been occupied by staff 

 scientists. Many of the great biological and geological study and 

 research collections of the Institution have been moved into space 

 provided in this wing. The completion of these additional facilities, 

 when supplemented by the later completion of the west wing, will 

 again allow the opening of some large public halls of the Natural 

 History Building that have had to be closed for many years in order 

 to provide space for research activities. During the more than 50 

 years between the completion of this great Natural History Building 

 and the construction of these new wings, much exhibition space had 

 necessarily been encroached upon. Now these fine halls, originally 

 planned for natural-history exhibitions, can be returned to their 

 proper use. 



As noted in the reports that follow, physical improvements have 

 also been carried on at the National Zoological Park. Planning has 

 also been completed for the renovation of the old Patent Office Build- 

 ing. This building, by an act of Congress, has been assigned to the 

 Smithsonian Institution as the new home of the National Collection 

 of Fine Arts and of the new National Portrait Gallery. 



The Decade 1953-63 



Each annual report of the Smithsonian Institution describes the 

 advances that have been made in a single period of 12 months. It 

 may not be inappropriate occasionally in an ammal report to sum- 

 marize accomplishments and changes that have taken place in the 

 Institution over a longer period of time. The decade 1953-63 has 

 been one marked by much progress at the Institution. As the present 

 report is the last one that will be submitted to the Board of Regents 

 by the present Secretary, it has seemed fitting to review here briefly 

 some of the highpoints of this 10-year period. These years cover the 

 major period of tenure of the present Secretary. 



It must be emphasized that all the advances made at the Smithsonian 

 Institution during the period under review are a result of the actions 

 and support of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution 

 and of the Congress of the United States. 



In the paragraphs that follow, brief smnmaries are presented of 

 some of the major activities in tliis notable decade of each of the bu- 

 reaus of the Smithsonian. 



United States National Museum, 1953-63 



Ten years ago, as at the present time, the United States National 

 Museum consisted of two major sections. The Natural History Mu- 

 seum, in terms of national and indeed international recognition, prob- 



