APPENDIX TO THE SECRETARY'S REPORT. 



Appendix I. 

 REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Sir: I have the honor to report as follows regarding the condition and 

 operations of the National Museum during the year ending June 30, 1901 : 



While having as its primary function to preserve and classify the Gov- 

 ernment collections, to which large additions were made during the year, 

 the National Museum is best known to the public from its educational 

 side, and as a source of information on scientific subjects. As one of the 

 principal points of interest at the national capital, it is visited by large 

 numbers of persons from all parts of the country, the attendance during 

 the past year having been above 216,000, which is about the average. 

 Many thousands who have not the opportunity of coming to Washington 

 are benefited by its publications sent to them directly or accessible in the 

 public libraries. Upward of 700 lots of specimens were received at the 

 Museum for identification and report, besides some 8,000 letters requesting 

 information on a great diversity of scientific topics. The amount of dupli- 

 cate material contributed to educational establishments, large and small, 

 in various parts of the country, and used in connection with the exchanges, 

 has aggregated over 10,000 objects. At the close of the year scarcely any 

 of the regular educational sets of duplicates remained on hand, but a new 

 series of 100 sets of marine invertebrates was in course of preparation. It 

 has also been possible to grant facilities to many students for conducting 

 investigations along their special lines of research, and to others material 

 has been sent as loans, to enable them to carry on their work at their home 

 laboratories. 



One of the most noteworthy accomplishments of the year has been the 

 fitting up, under the direction of the Secretary, for the special benefit of 

 very young people, of the main floor of the south tower of the Smithsonian 

 building, adjacent to the Bird Hall, which has been designated the Chil- 

 dren's Room. The floor is of marble mosaic, with a border of Celtic design. 

 The walls have been painted in several shades of green and paneled, with 

 a view of some time adding pictures illustrating curious features of animal 

 and plant life. The ceiling is decorated with a trellis and vine, through 

 which are glimpses of sky and cloud, and of bright-plumaged birds. 



The main exhibition consists of strange and attractive specimens of birds, 

 mammals, insects, shellfish, sponges, corals, minerals, and fossils, and 

 occupies two cases surrounding the room and built so low that even the 

 smallest child can examine the objects on the upper shelves. In the cen- 

 ter of the room is a large aquarium with fresh-water fishes, while hanging 

 from the ceiling are several brass cages with bright colored and singing 

 birds. 



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