SECRETARY'S REPORT 167 



reference questions and served 350 readers otlier than the Gallery 

 staff. 



The Library is the depository for photographs of the works of art 

 in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, and is the base for 

 circulation activity, maintaining a stock of reproductions for the spe- 

 cific purposes of research, exchange, publicity, and sale. During the 

 year approximately 500 individuals other than members of the Gallery 

 staff purchased prints from the Library and about 250 mail orders 

 were filled. 



INDEX OF AMERICAN DESIGN 



During the fiscal year 1954, there were 37 traveling exhibitions of 

 original watercolor renderings of this collection with 69 bookings, rep- 

 resenting an increase over last year. The Index material was used 

 during the year by 440 persons doing special research, seeking mate- 

 rial for publication, exhibitions, slides, and for use by designers. 



A total of 533 photographs of Index material were sent out of the 

 Gallery on loan, for publicity, and purchase. Thirty sets (consisting 

 of 1,310 slides) of 2- by 2-inch slides circulated in 16 States and in 

 Italy. 



MAINTENANCE OF THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS 



The usual work in connection with the care of the building and its 

 mechanical equipment and the grounds was maintained throughout 

 the year. 



The stonemason opened the joints and repointed the marble floors 

 in the garden courts and the Fourth Street lobby where spalling of 

 the marble was occurring owing to the rising of the phantasia marble 

 borders. It is the opinion of marble experts that this should prevent 

 further damage to the floors in these areas. 



Flowering and foliage plants were grown in the moats and used in 

 the garden courts ; and a new overhead sprinkler system was installed 

 in the northwest moat, thereby reducing labor costs in maintaining 

 these plants. 



One of the two white pines near the building at the west fountain 

 died ; therefore it and its companion tree opposite were removed and 

 replaced by two Magnolia grandi-fiora^ thus balancing the magnolia 

 planting at the east fountain, where the pines died and were replaced 

 a number of years ago. The dead boxwoods at the Fourth Street 

 entrance were replaced by specimen Taxus {mispidata) , and plants 

 were replaced in the Taxus hedges as necessary. 



A contract was entered into with Lord and Bumham on May 17, 

 1954, for supplying materials for a gi^eenhouse in the southwest moat. 

 Upon receipt of the materials the greenhouse will be erected by the 

 Gallery staff. 



