122 AiraUAL REPORT SI^HTHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1962 



the following : Approval of the appointment of Alfred V. Verville as 

 an honorary fellow of the National Air Museum; approval of the 

 inauguration of a series of publications called "Smithsonian Annals 

 of Flight" ; and approval of the preliminary floor arrangement and 

 interior concept of the proposed new National Air Museum Building, 

 planning funds for the building to be included in the 1964 budget. 



SPECIAL EVENTS 



Many distinguished visitors came to the Museum during the year. 

 Among these were U.S. Astronauts Shepard, Glenn, and Grissom 

 and Soviet Union Cosmonaut Titov. 



Among the special presentation and commemorative ceremonies held 

 were : The Polaris rocket, presented by the Honorable Paul B. Fay, 

 Jr., Under Secretary of the Navy; "Freedom 7," presented by the 

 Honorable James E. Webb, NASA Administrator; "Sacred Cow," 

 presented by Maj. Gen. Brooke E. Allen, U.S. Air Force; Wliittle 

 Engine Anniversary Commemoration, with his Excellency Sir David 

 Ormsby Gore, British Ambassador; reproduction of the A-1, the 

 Navy's first airplane, by Adm. James S. Eussell, U.S. Navy ; "Boedy's 

 Album," a collection of some 12,000 autographed photographs of 

 people in aviation, by Kenneth Boedecker ; portrait of Amelia Earhart, 

 by Blanche Noyes, Zonta Club of Washington. 



The director attended a number of the annual meetings of aviation, 

 aerospace, and educational organizations and societies. He also visited 

 a number of Air Force and Navy bases, NASA centers, and major 

 contractors of these agencies in the aerospace flight program. He 

 spoke frequently on these visits, emphasizing the importance of the 

 proper preservation and recording of the space flight history currently 

 being made. This has resulted in an increased flow of historical 

 material and information to the museum. 



Paul E. Garber, head curator and historian, and Curators Louis S. 

 Casey and Kenneth E. Newland represented the Museimi at a number 

 of aviation and aerospace meetings during the year and spoke on the 

 work of the Museum. Mr. Garber delivered 42 lectures. 



IMPROVEMENTS IN EXHIBITS 



Continued experunents with means and methods of display in the 

 Air and Space Building provide valuable experience in plannmg the 

 exhibits for the new building. 



REPAIR, PRESERVATION, AND RESTORATION 



The acquisition of surplus machines, parts, and tools for the pres- 

 ervation and restoration division at Silver Hill, Md., has improved 

 this facility. Storage, restoration, preservation, and the preparation 

 of aircraft and engines for display are full-time activities of the staff. 



