SECRETARY'S REPORT 15 



A carbon-dating laboratory has been operating in this unit of the 

 Smithsonian for about a year, dating samples of archeological interest 

 and initiatmg a research program aimed at developing new dating 

 teclmics for geological samples. 



Two years ago a section was incorporated for research in marine 

 biology. This work in pure science has been financed by special gifts 

 from a non-Federal source, the Bredin Foundation. Marine orga- 

 nisms are well suited to fundamental investigation of radiation re- 

 sponses. Studies have been initiated to identify high molecular 

 weight phosphate compounds and determine the metabolic role of 

 these compounds in the conversion of radiant energy to chemical 

 energy. 



Electronic and instrument shop facilities are maintained for the 

 design, construction, and service of the complex and highly specialized 

 instrumentation necessary to research program of the sort mentioned 

 above. 



The division has published widely and it is safe to say has achieved 

 a favorable mternational reputation in radiation biology in the areas 

 of techniques for the generation, control, and measurements of radia- 

 tion; kinetics and biochemistry of photoresponses ; action spectra; 

 and solar radiation measurements. Several foreign scientists have 

 come to the division to study its methods for 1- or 2-year periods, 

 and work has been done in collaboration with other laboratories 

 utilizing our specialized facilities. 



National Collection of Fine Arts, 1953-63 



The original act establishing the Smithsonian Institution directed 

 that it maintain a gallery of art. The National Collection of Fine 

 Arts, as a bureau of the Smithsonian, is the oldest gallery of art 

 directly related to the U.S. Government. 



In the decade under consideration many notable paintings, largely 

 by distinquished American artists, have been added to the national 

 collections under the care of the National Collection of Fine Arts, 

 and restoration of anmy works of art in the collection of tliis bureau 

 has been carried on. 



In the first year of the present decade the exhibits of the National 

 Collection of Fine Arts were reorganized and a main hall was opened 

 in the Natural History Building. During the years that have fol- 

 lowed, many temporary exhibits of importance have been shown in 

 the foyer gallery in the Natural History Building, and under the 

 direction of the Traveling Exhibition Service of the National Collec- 

 tion of Fine Arts, 375 shows, mainly in the field of the fine arts, have 



