REPORT 



IPON 



THE CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 

 DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1893. 



BY 



G. Brown Goode, 

 Assistant ^^ecrcttir;/, S)uitIisoiiia)i Institiiiioti, iit charf/e of l'. S. Xntioiial Maseiim. 



I.— GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 



The work of the past year iu the Museum, though iu mauy respects 

 unlike that of previous years, has nevertheless been the direct out- 

 growth of the activities of more than half a century, and it seems but 

 proper, before describing current operations, to speak briefly of the 

 origin and history of the Museum, of its aims and methods, and of its 

 relations to other national institutions, especially the Smithsonian 

 Institution, under whose control it was placed at the time of its formal 

 organization. 



A.— THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSEUM. 



The history of origin and development has been discussed in previous 

 reports, and in a paper entitled " The Genesis of the National Museum."* 

 It will therefore be sufficient for our present purpose to rei)oat a few of 

 the most essential facts. 



The idea of a national museum in the city of Washington was first 

 suggested by the Hon. Joel E. Poinsett, of South Carolina, Secretary 

 of War under President Van Buren, who in 1840 organized, for the 

 purpose of establishing such a museum, a society called '' The National 

 Institution," afterwards "The National Institute," which was for four 

 years exceedingly prosperous and active. By this society the nucleus 

 for a national nmseum was gathered in tlie J*atent Office building in 

 Washington, and public opinion was educated to consider the estab- 

 lishment of such an institution worthy of the attention of the Govern- 

 ment of the United States. In 1840, having failed in securing the 

 public recognition at which it is aimed, the society became torpid, and 

 eventually, in 1861, j)assed out of existence. 



'The Genesis of the U. S. Xntioiial Museum. Hciiort of Suiitli.-^oiiian Iiistitntiou, 

 Part II, National. Museum, 1801, pp. 273-330. 



