SECRETARY'S REPORT 19 



The research work of the Musemn has increased along witli the 

 increase in public interest in its exhibits. Most of the time of the 

 professional staff is taken up with historical, teclmical, and biograph- 

 ical research to provide a service to authors, publishers, historians, 

 engineers, teachers, and students seeking authentic information. 



In addition, a considerable increase in liistorical and teclmical re- 

 search is required in comiection with the accelerated restoration pro- 

 gram of aircraft and engines. 



For the National Air Museum the decade has been a transition 

 period. It has changed from a collecting and storing agency to a 

 full museum operation that is commensurate with its world-renowned 

 collection and its responsibilities to the public. It has developed new 

 displays, research, studies, preservation and restoration teclmiques, 

 and publications in a field of great American patriotic and historical 

 interest — mamnade flight. 



National Portrait Gallery, 1961-63 



In 1961 Congress provided for the establisliment of the National 

 Portrait Gallery. This gallery will be housed, together with the 

 National Collection of Fine Arts, in the old Patent Office Building 

 which, as noted above, has been transferred to the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



The Congress in 1962 provided for the establishment of a National 

 Portrait Gallery Commission to advise the Smithsonian Institution in 

 organizing and developing this new and important unit. 



National Cultural Center, 1958-63 



The National Cultural Center was established by an act of Con- 

 gress in 1958, and the new unit was designated as a bureau of the 

 Smithsonian Institution. Like the National Gallery of Art, the Na- 

 tional Cultural Center is largely administered by its own special 

 Board of Trustees. 



Since the establishment of the bureau the principal function has 

 been coimected with raising the funds to erect a suitable building in 

 the Nation's Capital to provide halls for the presentation of opera, 

 symphonic concerts, dramatic performances, ballet, and other fields 

 of the performing arts. 



Financial Resources, 1953-63 



During the decade many generous gifts of funds have come to the 

 Smithsonian from private individuals and from foundations. Most 

 of these gifts are for very specific purposes. The most notable of 

 these private benefactions is the receipt of a legacy which, when finally 

 settled, will be in excess of $li/^ million from the late Robert Lee 

 Forrest. Another important benefaction came from the estate of 



