REPORT OF ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 77 



Comparatively little has been done to illustrate the work of the last ten years, 

 and an offort is now beiuy; made to complete the series, so that it will he a worthy 

 nprt'sentationofthc progress of the art. The acquisition of the prints from the Wash- 

 ington Exposition of 1S96 is a step in this direction. 



An elfort will be made hereafter, especially in connection with the future exposi- 

 tions of amateur work, to secure such specimens as are necessary to make the collec- 

 tion in the National Museum a reference and record collection, which shall be not 

 only of interest and pleasure to the jjublic, but of jtractical value to photographers 

 themselves. 



It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the importance which such a collection as this 

 must have to every i)hotographer — a collection in which he may see, side by side, 

 the best works produced from year to year, and stndj' the effects of light and time 

 upon the permanence of paper and processes. 



The pictures recently bought by the Museum were chosen with the idea that they 

 represent as fully as possible the dift'erent schools of amateur photograj)hy in Amer- 

 ica at the present time and the work of as many as possible of the most character- 

 istic and representative artists. The fact is fully recognized that the development 

 of these schools is sought in amateur photography rather than among professional 

 })hotograi)hers, whose work is of necessity more conventional in its character and 

 atlbrds less opportunity for originality and progress, although the fact was recog- 

 nized that several ]>rofessioiial ])hotograi)hers were rei)resented in the exhibition, 

 and characteristic specimens of the work of each of these were also secured. 



Owing to the pressure of other work, Mr. Smillie has found but little 

 time to devote to the development of the photograi)hic collection dur- 

 ing the year covered by this Report. Fort}'- seven specimens were 

 received, all of them being unsolicited donations. Miss L. Bernie 

 Gallaher presented 20 daguerreotypes, 3 ambrotyi)es, and 1 melano- 

 tyi)e; Miss Frances Benjamin Johnston contributed a platinum por- 

 trait; Mr. 0. W. Canfield a stereoscopic melanotype; Mr. J. W. Osborn 

 19 portraits of celebrated photographers, and Mr. Alexander Beckers 

 1 hand stereoscope and 1 revolving stereoscope. 



The total number of specimens now in the collection is 1,284. 



It has been necessary to devote some attention to the preservation 

 of the specimens, many of the old and valuable daguerreotypes show- 

 ing signs of fading from exposure to the air. These have now been 

 resealed. 



The work of preparing specimens for exhibition has been carried on 

 as opportunity permitted. 



