38 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1951 



1727 through 1948 purchased from Martinus Nijhoff at The Hague, a 

 collection containing several rare manuscript catalogs. Gifts in- 

 cluded 145 books, pamphlets, and periodicals, while 700 books, etc., 

 were received on exchange from other institutions. During the year 

 375 persons other than the Gallery staff have used the Library for 

 research either in person or by phone. 



INDEX OF AMERICAN DESIGN 



During the fiscal year, 603 examples from the Index were repro- 

 duced in various magazines while 284 were borrowed for use in forth- 

 coming publications. Of the 630 persons visiting the Gallery for the 

 purpose of studying Index material, 567 were new users. In all, 948 

 photogi-aphs of Index material were sent out for use by designers, 

 possible publication, for research, study, etc., and for publicity ; and 

 413 slides of Index renderings were used in connection with lectures. 



Mr. Christensen, as a member of the faculty of the Seminar in 

 American Culture, New York State Historical Association, Coopers- 

 town, N. Y., participated in lecture courses, panel discussions, and 

 classes. 



CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING 



During the past year, the Gallery building and grounds and me- 

 chanical equipment were maintained at the high standard established 

 in the past. Considerable redecorating work was done, including the 

 painting of several galleries and offices. Flowering plants, totaling 

 3,394 in number, and valued at approximately $6,975, were grown in 

 the moats and used for decoration of the Garden Courts. 



The condenser water, chilled-water, and dehumidifier pumps, and 

 the fountain and sump pumps were overhauled ; all air-conditioning 

 equipment was inspected, serviced, and repairs made; two refrigera- 

 tion machines were completely overhauled; new lawn sprinklers 

 M-ere installed in the space between the sidewalk and Constitution 

 Avenue, east of the service entrance; 12 sections of skylight, repre- 

 senting an area of more than 5,000 square feet, were completely 

 overhauled ; an azalea storage frame was constructed in the southwest 

 moat with surplus building tile ; a contract was entered into in June 

 1961 for the raising to the original level of the granite and marble 

 platforms at the Mall entrance which had settled and created a poten- 

 tial hazard to the public. 



CONSTRUCTION OF NEW GALLERIES AND OFFICES 



Work under the contract accepted June 24, 1949, for completing 12 

 galleries in the east end of the building was completed on July 15, 



