SECRETARY'S REPORT 59 



the battle of Valconr Island on October 11, 1776, in which this gun- 

 boat participated. 



Mr. Howell continued supervision of the preparation of the Star- 

 Spangled Banner for exhibition in the central rotunda of the new 

 building. Skilled seamstresses have sewed tapes to the flag backing 

 to support this great national treasure in its new location. 



Following his appointment to the directorship of the Museum of 

 Natural History, Dr. T. Dale Stewart assumed the chairmanship 

 of the committee coordinating and supervising the modernization of 

 exhibits in natural history ; he also continued planning and develop- 

 ment of the new hall of physical anthropology. In addition to plan- 

 ning for the future hall of plant life. Dr. K. S. Cowan, assistant 

 director, coordinated the work of the curators and the exhibits staff 

 involved in preparing exhibits for the Museum of Natural History. 



Exhibits chief John E. Anglim continued in charge of the planning 

 and preparation of all exhibits and directly supervised the operation 

 of the exhibit laboratory in the Natural History Building. In June, 

 A. Gilbert Wright joined the staff of that laboratory to assist in its 

 supervision. Julius Tretick supervised the production and installation 

 of natural history exhibits. 



The installation of exhibits in four halls of the Museum of History 

 and Technology was initiated late in the year. Exhibit units were 

 prepared for 15 of the halls in the new museum during the past year, 

 and 2 other halls were in the design stage. Assistant director John 

 C. Ewers continued to coordinate the work of curators and exhibits 

 staffs for the new museum. Benjamin W. Lawless supervised the 

 design and production of exhibits for this museum, as well as the 

 preparation of additional displays for the Air and Space Building. 

 He was assisted by Bela S. Bory in production, Robert Klinger in 

 the model shop, and Robert Widder in design. Carroll Lusk entered 

 on duty as exhibits lighting specialist in January. The editing of 

 the curators' drafts of exliibits scripts was continued by George 

 Weiner, with the assistance of Constance Minkin and Edna Wright. 



DOCENT SERVICE 



For the ninth consecutive year the Junior League of Washington 

 continued its volunteer docent program, conducting school classes 

 from the greater Washington area through the Smithsonian museums. 

 The program was carried out through the cooperation of curator G. 

 Carrol Lindsay, Smithsonian Museum Service, with Mrs. Vernon 

 Knight, chairman of the League's docent committee, and Mrs. Dickson 

 R. Loos, cochairman. Mrs. Loos will serve as chairman for the 

 forthcoming year, with Mrs. Arnold B. McKinnon as cochairman. 



