REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 35 



The film was made available to 16 institutions and individuals dur- 

 ing the year. One of the 16-mm. prints was on loan in South Carolina 

 for several months during the winter, in which time it was viewed 

 by approximately 3,000 people. 



INDEX or AMERICAN DESIGN 



For the period from July 1, 1946, to June 30, 1947, reproductions 

 of Index material were used in a number of magazines, including 

 Fortune, Life, Antiques, The American Collector, Architectural Re- 

 view, and Art in America. There were 118 new users of the Index 

 this year, and 24 people revisited the collection. The great majority 

 of them made a special trip to Washington for the purpose of study- 

 ing Index material. They included a university class in American 

 art, designers, manufacturers, artists interested in design motifs, 

 authors, editors, publishers, etc. A total of 1,048 photographs of 

 Index designs were sold for use in commercial design by individuals 

 and by firms, for hobbies, for publications, for teaching purposes, for 

 publicity, and for reference and exhibitions. During the year 449 

 new slides were made of Index material for use in lectures. 



INTER-AMERICAN OFFICE 



During the fiscal year 1947 the Inter-American Office of the Na- 

 tional Gallery of Art has continued to devote its efforts to the circu- 

 lation of exhibitions in the other American Republics. These exhibi- 

 tions, two of original works of art and six consisting of photographic 

 panels, have been very well received in Latin America. 



CURATORIAL DEPARTMENT 



During the past year there were 1,510 new accessions by the Gallery 

 as gifts, loans, or deposits, including paintings, sculpture, prints, and 

 the decorative arts. These accessions were registered and the great 

 majority placed on exhibition, or in the case of prints, placed on file 

 and available to the public. A total of 161 works of art were brought 

 to the Gallery for expert opinion, and 92 visits were made to collec- 

 tions of private individuals in connection with offers of gift or loan, 

 or possible acquisitions for the Gallery. The curatorial staff made 290 

 written and 293 verbal replies to questions from the public requiring 

 research. During the year 17 lectures and 3 lecture courses were 

 given by members of the curatorial staff. 



Other activities of the Curatorial Department include the follow- 

 ing : The collections of paintings and drawings belonging to the French 

 and the Belgian Governments were packed and dispatched to Europe 

 during this year; the collection of American paintings assembled by 



