APPENDIX 3 

 REPORT ON THE NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS 



Sib: I have the honor to submit the following report on the ac- 

 tivities of the National Collection of Fine Arts for the fiscal year 

 ended June 30, 1940: 



The beginning of the year found the Gallery in the throes of 

 major repairs which continued for several months after the first of 

 July. The galleries were reopened to the public October 4, 1939. 

 A new background of rubber-backed monk's cloth was used, with all 

 trimmings, baseboards, railings, and reflectors painted to match. 

 This produces such a soft, quiet effect that all attention is centered 

 on the exhibits themselves. The pictures were all put in first-class 

 condition and backed. 



Five special exliibits were held in the foyer, and two, of minia- 

 tures, in the Gallery proper. The Smithsonian Building, where 

 Graphic Arts exhibits have usually been held, was closed to the 

 public on account of alterations, so that the nine such exhibits held 

 during the year were transferred to the north lobby of the Natural 

 History Building and were displayed in National Collection of Fine 

 Arts cases. 



Three miniatures w^ere purchased and two others were received as 

 loans. Loans of large objects or paintings cannot be accepted because 

 of crowded conditions in the galleries and in storage. 



APPROPRIATIONS 



For the administration of the National Collection of Fine Arts by 

 the Smithsonian Institution, including compensation of necessary 

 employees, purchase of books of reference and periodicals, traveling 

 expenses, uniforms for guards, and necessary incidental expenses, 

 $33,765 was appropriated, of which $11,999.89 was expended for the 

 care and maintenance of the Freer Gallery of Art, a unit of the 

 National Collection of Fine Arts. The balance of $21,765.11 was 

 spent for the care and upkeep of the National Collection of Fine Arts, 

 nearly all of tliis sum being required for the payment of salaries, 

 traveling expenses, books, periodicals, and necessary disbursements 

 for the care of the collection. 

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