REPORT ON THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 



A. Howard Clark, curator. 



The curator of historical collections, being also editor of the Pro- 

 ceedings ami Bulletin, and in charge of the printing of labels and 



blanks for all departments of the Museum, has been unable to give as 

 much attention as desired to the general work on the very valuable 

 collection of objects classified as " historical relics," and which are of 

 very great interest to the numerous visitors to the National Museum. 



An effort has been made to place on exhibition relics or memorials 

 that may teach biography or American history in an intelligent man- 

 ner, rather than to exhibit objects that are simply "curios," bearing no 

 special relation to eminent men or important events. 



Being without the aid of an experienced assistant, the curator is 

 unable to report much technical work accomplished in the study and 

 arrangement of the hundreds of medals and coins that have accumu- 

 lated. In fact, the incomplete condition of several classes of objects on 

 exhibition, as regards proper labeling and installation, has necessitated 

 the temporary withdrawal of some of the most interesting collections. 



For exhibition at the Columbian Historical Exposition at Madrid in 

 the summer and fall of 1892, the curator brought together quite a full 

 series of American colonial coins; medals illustrating the colonial 

 period, the Revolutionary War, and medals commemorative of political 

 and civic events, besides a large series of paper money, extending from 

 the early days of the American colonies down to the present national 

 currency; also postage stamps of each issue since 1847, when they 

 were introduced in this country; maps of early explorers, engravings 

 of important national events, etc. 



The character of the historical collections in the National Museum 

 was outlined in the curator's report for the last fiscal year, and an effort 

 has been made to carry out the plan therein set forth. Some valuable 

 additions have been made to the collections. The number of accessions 

 has been thirty-three, aggregating several hundreds of individual 



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