86 Memorial of George Brozvn Goode. 



his own hand-writing. The cabinet also contains a valuable suite of meteoric 

 stones, which appear to be specimens of most of the meteorites which have fallen 

 in Europe during several centuries. 



This report was made in July, 1841, at the time when, by order of the 

 Secretary of the United States Treasury, the minerals, books, manu- 

 scripts, and other articles forming part of the Smithson bequest, were 

 deposited in the custody of the National Institution, where they remained 

 until 1858. 



A room had been planned for their reception in the Smithsonian edi- 

 fice, which was to be made fireproof,' but if this was ever constructed it 

 was not occupied, and the collections having been displayed for some 

 years in the Regents' room, were destroyed by fire January 24, 1865. 



The National Institution was for nearly eighteen years the official 

 custodian of these and other museum materials belonging to the nation. 

 This organization, ten years before the Smithsonian Institution was pre- 

 pared to receive any collections whatever, fourteen years before its build- 

 ings were ready for the exhibition of museum objects, and in after years, 

 until its charter expired by limitation in 1862, held many objects whose 

 proper place was in the National Museum. Indeed, the retention of 

 many historical objects in the Patent Office hall until 1883, was an evi- 

 dence of a lingering uncertainty as to the proper location of responsibility 

 for the care of the national collections. 



In order to understand the genesis of the National Museum of the 

 United States, it seems necessary to examine the history of this society, 

 at one time so enterprising and influential. 



The National Institution for the Promotion of Science, organized in 

 Washington, May 15, 1840, was for some years the most prominent 

 exponent of the idea of a national museum.'' The establishment of this 

 society was doubtless to a very great degree due to the stimulating and 

 inspiring effects upon public opinion of the Smithson bequest. The 

 germs of the idea which it represented seem, however, to have been 

 existing in Washington at a much earlier period, for in 18 16, or before, 

 a similar societ}^ had been organized in the capital under the name of 

 The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences.^ 



The Columbian Institute received on May 20, i8i8, a charter from 

 Congress which expired in 1838, after which its members "were invited 



' Report of the building committee to December i, 1847, in Report of the Board 

 of Regents, January 6, 1848, Thirtieth Congress, first session, Mis. Doc. 23, p. 8. 



^ The National Institution was organized at the seat of Government on the 15th of 

 May, 1840, by the adoption of a Constitution and the declaration of the objects of 

 the Institution; which are to promote Science and the Useful Arts, and to establish 

 a National Museum of Natural History, etc. — Proceedings of the National Insti- 

 tution, 1841, 1st Bull., p. 3. 



3 Before 1816 an organization known as The Metropolitan Society was in existence 

 in Washington, and the Columbian Institute was an outgrowth of it or replaced it. 

 The United States Military Philosophical Society met in Washington and New York 

 as early as 1805. 



