REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 3 



ton, Missouri, Vannevar Bush, Washington, D. C, and Frederic C. 

 Walcott, Connecticut. 



Proceedings. — ^The Board of Regents held its annual meeting on 

 January 17, 1947, with the following members present : Senator Walter 

 F. George, Representative Clarence Cannon, Dr. Vannevar Bush, Dr. 

 Arthur H. Conipton, Dr. Harvey N. Davis, Frederic A. Delano, the 

 Secretary, Dr. Alexander Wetmore, and the Assistant Secretary, John 

 E. Graf. 



The Secretary presented his annual report covering the activities 

 of the parent institution and of its several branches, including the 

 financial report of the Executive Conmaittee, for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1946, which was accepted by the Board. The usual resolution 

 authorizing the expenditure by the Secretary of the income of the 

 Institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1948, was adopted by 

 the Board. 



The gift of Miss Annie-May Hegeman was mentioned last year 

 as amounting in total to $300,000, being one-half the amount from 

 the sale of the Porter property at the corner of Sixteenth and Eye 

 Streets NW. The Library Trust Fund Board of the Library of Con- 

 gress, which handled this matter, during the year forwarded a check 

 for $275,000 on this account, approximately $25,000 being held tempo- 

 rarily, pending settlement of claim for sales commission on the part 

 of real- estate brokers. 



John A. Roebling made a generous gift to the Institution in further 

 support of the work of the Astrophysical Observatory. 



On August 12, 1946, President Truman signed the act (Public Law 

 722) establishing the National Air Museum under the Smithsonian 

 Institution. Under this act there is set up an advisory board com- 

 posed of the Commanding General of the Army Air Forces, the Chief 

 of Naval Operations, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 and two citizens appointed by the President. General Spaatz, Chief 

 of the Army Air Forces, has designated Maj. Gen. Edward M. Powers 

 to represent him; Admiral Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations, desig- 

 nated Rear Adm. H. B. Sallada ; and the President, early in December, 

 appointed Grover Loening and William B. Stout, both well known for 

 their work in aviation, as the citizen members of the board. Subse- 

 quently, Admiral Nimitz assigned Rear Adm. Sallada to other duties 

 and designated Rear Adm. A. M. Pride to represent him on the board. 



The first meeting of the Advisory Board was held December 16, 

 1946, at which the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution was elected 

 Chairman. Discussions covered the scope, probable size, and location 

 of the Museum. It was the opinion that these could be determined 

 only after a complete survey of material of value for the Museum. 

 The Chairman was instructed to prepare estimates for the $50,000 



