26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1954 



and paneling from the White House rooms in which these dresses were 

 worn will lend realism to dignified room settings befitting the col- 

 lection and its historical significance. The gowns will be exhibited on 

 plaster figures in rooms equipped with the furniture of the appropri- 

 ate period. Six alcove wall cases will be utilized in this hall to dis- 

 play objects too small to be clearly seen in the period rooms, including 

 personal belongings of the First Ladies such as jewelry, laces, hand- 

 kerchiefs, and fans, as well as china used in the White House. 



A series of ethnological exhibits ranging geographically from 

 Tierra del Fuego to California and the southwestern States has been 

 designed for early installation, "Native Peoples of Latin America 

 and Southwestern United States," to explain the characteristics of 

 Indian cultures in the Western Hemisphere. Ten life-size groups of 

 Indians showing everyday activities in realistic settings will be in- 

 stalled, as well as 12 alcoves which will contain 5 small-scale diorama 

 models of villages depicting hunting and other activities and 38 panel 

 cases containing materials illustrative of the culture, implements, and 

 achievements of these aboriginal peoples. Ten new wall-case displays 

 illustrating the cultures of the Indians of California, the Navaho, and 

 the Apache have been completed ; others are in progress. 



Construction work has been commenced on display cases for four 

 habitat groups in the North American mammal hall. The mammals 

 chosen for exhibition in this hall include not only those of outstanding 

 interest to the public but particularly those that played an important 

 role in the lives of our pioneering settlers. Virginia deer, pronghorn 

 antelopes, timber wolves, and the puma will be shown in habitat set- 

 tings with natural accessories and painted backgrounds. 



The bird hall will contain 10 habitat groups of birds chosen for 

 special interest either because of unusual habits or structures they 

 possess. Antarctic penguins, ostrich, bowerbird, passenger pigeon, 

 Carolina parakeet, hoatzin, argus pheasant, Kea parrot, palm chat, 

 and rhinoceros hornbill have been selected for these groups. In 10 

 topical alcoves and 12 topical wall cases typical representatives of 

 various families of birds of the world will be shown as well as such 

 aspects of birdlife as nests and nest building, migration, courtship, 

 flight, food and feeding habits, plumages, birds famous in legend and 

 literature, and tlie agricultural and other economic importance of 

 birds to man. 



These exhibition funds also enabled the purchase and erection in the 

 west court of the Natural History Building of a Butler-type steel 

 building which provides 8,000 square feet of additional storage space 

 for materials temporarily removed from the exhibition floors. Facili- 

 ties have also been provided in this building for a working area, en- 

 abling the staff of exhibit workers to accomplish the preliminary 

 artistic work and assembly of exliibits while the construction of dis- 



