SECRETARY'S REPORT 63 



in a setting wliich closely resembles that shown in several Mathew 

 Brady photographs of the President. Planning and installation of 

 the exhibits in this hall were under the direction of curator-in-charge 

 Wilcomb E. Washburn, assisted by associate curator Keith E. Melder 

 and assistant curator Herbert R. Collins of the division of political 

 history in association with exhibits designer Eobert Widder. At the 

 formal ceremonies opening the hall on the evening of June 29, fea- 

 tured speakers included the Honorable Frances P. Bolton, Member of 

 the House of Representatives from Ohio, and the Honorable Claiborne 

 Pell, United States Senator from Rhode Island. 



Marked progress was made in the preparation of the Hall of 

 Philately and Postal History. During March several examples of 

 stamp production equipment were transported to the Museum and 

 moved into position in the stamp production alcove of this hall by 

 the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The series of exhibits on the 

 history of the world's posts were produced, exhibit cases for models 

 of vehicles used to transport the mails and for postage meter and 

 canceling machines were delivered to the hall, and the refinishing of 

 the pull-out frames which will exhibit by country and systematic 

 National Postage Stamp Collection was completed. This hall has been 

 planned by curator Carl H. Scheele with the assistance of museum 

 technician Francis E. Welch in collaboration with exhibits designer 

 John Clendening. 



Associate curator of numismatics Elvira Clain-Stefanelli with the 

 assistance of the Medallic Art Co. and the United States Mint pre- 

 pared a display of contemporary United States medals for the Mu- 

 seum's Hall of Monetary History and Medallic Art. A temporary 

 display illustrating the history of the traveler's check, including James 

 C. Fargo's announcement of 1891 initiating the issuance of traveler's 

 checks by the American Express Co., was installed in February. On 

 March 27 a special exhibition of original mint models and designs for 

 the John F. Kennedy half dollar was placed on display through the 

 good offices of the Director of the Mint, Miss Eva Adams, and the 

 Superintendent of the Philadelphia Mint, Michael H. Sura. In April 

 a large display of the currencies of the Austrian Empire was installed, 

 employing material recently received from the Mortimer and Anna 

 Neinken Collection. 



The Star-Spangled Banner, the original flag which flew over Fort 

 McHenry at Baltimore during the attack of the British fleet on Sep- 

 tember 13-14, 1814, and which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the 

 Avords of what is now our National Anthem, was installed in the new 

 Museum of History and Teclinology when it was opened to the public 

 in January. Although this most important museum object related to 

 the history of the United States had been exhibited in the Arts and 



