REPORT 



UPON THE CONDITION \NI> PROGRESS OF THE U, S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 

 DURING THE FISCAL FEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1889, 



By (i. Brown Goode, 



tssistani Secretary Smithsonian Institution, in charge of U. S. National Museum. 



A.— ORGANIZATION AND SCOPE OF THE MUSEUM. 



The National Museum is under the charge of the. Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, and its operations are supervised by the Board of Eegents of 

 the Institution. 



The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution is by law the keeper of 

 the collections. 



In the act of Congress establishing the Smithsonian Institution are 

 contained the following provisions concerning the scope of the museum 

 to be placed under its charge: 



(1) The law specifies certain classes of objects which shall come 

 into the custody of the Institution, viz: All objects of art; all objects 

 of foreign and curious research (/. e. f ethnological collections); all 

 objects of natural history; all plants; all geological and mineralog- 

 ical specimens belonging or hereafter to belong to the United States, 

 which may be in the city of Washington — including the "National 

 Cabinet of Curiosities," at that time in one of the halls of the Patent 

 Ofiice building — in whosesoever custody they may be. 



(2) It provides that in proportion as suitable arrangements can be 

 made for their reception these objects shall be delivered to such per- 

 sons'as may be authorized by the Board of Regents to receive them. 



{'■>) It provides that they shall be arranged in such order and so 

 classed as best to facilitate their examination and study. 



(4) It provides that they shall thus be arranged in the building to be 

 inclosed for the institution. 



(5) It authorizes the Regents to obtain new specimens, by exchange 

 Of duplicate specimens, and by gift, and directs thai they shall be also 

 appropriately classed and arranged. 



(6) It constitutes the Secretary of the Smithsonian institution the 

 keeper of the museum. 



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