Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 



ALEXANDER WETMORE 



For the Year Ended June 30, 1952 



To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: 



Gentlemen : I have the honor to submit herewith my report show- 

 ing the activities and condition of the Smithsonian Institution and its 

 branches during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1952. 



GENERAL STATEMENT 



The period covered in the present annual report has been one of 

 steady and progressive activity along the established lines that have 

 become the functions of the Smithsonian Institution as the years 

 since its foundation in 1846 have multiplied. Although no additional 

 responsibilities have been assumed beyond those entailed by the 

 steady increase in the national collections of history, science, and 

 art, in visitors to the public exhibitions, and in requests for infor- 

 mation and other assistance, there has been much consideration and 

 effort given to improvement in methods of operation and to better 

 coordination of our affairs. Having held administrative positions 

 concerned with the direction of the Smithsonian Institution since 

 1925, first as Assistant Secretary, and since 1945 as Secretary, I find 

 it of interest to examine the current status of the Institution and 

 its position at the present time, when I have requested release from 

 these responsibilities in order to be free for the scientific investigations 

 that have been a major activity throughout my life. 



It should be stated clearly that whatever has been accomplished in 

 betterment in the Institution during this period of years has been 

 due to the combined interest and devotion of all the Institution's per- 

 sonnel and not to the work of any one individual alone. The staff of 

 the Smithsonian throughout its modern history has been the dynamic 

 part of the organization, in contrast to the material holdings of land, 

 buildings, and collections that form its possessions. The staff, while 

 constantly changing in individual members, in its entirety has been 

 the firm foundation of the structure. The varied forces exerted in 

 this staff form a steadily flowing stream of effort whose force and 

 direction have changed from decade to decade, but whose impetus as a 

 whole does not slacken. It is this working group that is the heart 



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