4 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



ent purpose it will suffice to repeat a few of the most essential facts as 



The formation of a national museum in the city of Washington was 

 first undertaken by a society organized in 1840, called "The National 

 Institution," and afterwards "The National Institute," which was for 

 four years exceedingly prosperous and active. The nucleus for a 

 national nniseum was gathered by this society in the Patent Office 

 building in Washington, and public opinion was educated to consider 

 the establishment of such an institution worthy of the attention of the 

 Government of the United States. In 1846, having failed in securing 

 the public recognition at which it aimed, the society became inactive, 

 and eventually, in 1861, passed out of existence. In the meantime the 

 Smithsonian Institution had been organized, but from 1844 until 1858, 

 when the so called "National Cabinet of Curiosities" passed into the 

 charge of the Smithsonian Institution, the term "National Museum" 

 was not in use. From that time onward it was used, unofficially, to 

 designate the collections in the Smithsonian building. 



In January, 1847, the first Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, after many weeks of consultation and deliberation over the 

 plans for organization, unanimously voted the following resolution : 



Resolved, 'I'hat it is the intention of the act of Con,ii,res8, and in accordance with 

 the design of Mr. Suiithson, as expressed in his will, that one of the principal modes 

 of executing the act and the trust is the accumulation of collections of specimens 

 and objects of natural history and of elegant art, and the gradual formation of a 

 library of valuable works pertaining to all departments of human knowledge, to the 

 end that a copious storehouse of materials of science, literature, and art may be pro- 

 vided, which shall excite and diffuse the love of learning among men, and shall 

 assist the original investigations and efforts of those who may devote themselves to 

 the pursuit of any branch of knowledge.' 



After the "national cabinet" had been delivered to the Regents, 

 annual appropriations were made by Congress for its maintenance. 

 During the twenty-three years which followed, the collections were 

 greatly increased and were made the basis of numerous important 

 memoirs upon the natural history and ethnology of America. The 

 public halls, with their arrangements for the exhibition of a portion of 

 tlie collection, also received a due share of attention, and a certain 

 amount of instruction and pleasure was aftbrded to visitors. The 

 ai)proi)riations, however, were meager, the space limited, and the staff 

 was so inadetpiate that little could be done except to keep the collec- 

 tions in good 1 (reservation. 



The broad i)lan upon which the operations of the National Museum 

 are now conducted was anticipated as early as 1853, when Professor 

 Henry wrote : 



There can be little doubt that in due time ample provision will be made for a 

 library and museum at the capital ..f this Union worthy of a Government whose 

 perpetuity depends upon the virtue and intelligence of the people. ^ 



'Report of committee on organization, p. 20. 

 ^Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1853, p. 245. 



