[Proceedings United States National Museum, 1881. Appendix.] 



smithsonia:n^ institution 



TJNITEID STATES J^" ^^ T I O IST ^ IL, IVE XJ S E XJ Ml , 



iSTo. 15. 



THE OROAIVIZATION A:V1> OBJKCTS OF THE NATIONAI. MrSEUM. 



I. 



FouNT)ATioN The NATIONAL Museum was organized in 1846 by the 

 LEGAL STATUS. Bct of CoDgress transferring to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion the custody of the " Xational Cabioet of Curiosities," at that time 

 deposited in the Patent-Office Building.* These collections were, in 

 1857, placed in the Smithsonian building, the Eegentsof the Institution 

 having accepted the trust on condition that the necessary aijpropriations 

 for their maintenance should be continued by Congress. 



The act above referred to provides that " all objects of art and of 

 foreign and curious research, and all objects of natural history, plants, 

 and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging or hereafter to 

 belong to the United States, which may be in the city of Washington," 

 shall be delivered to the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and, 

 together with new specimens obtained by exchange, donation, or other- 

 wise, shall be so arranged and classified as best to facilitate their exam- 

 ination and study.t 



The National Museum is the authorized place of deposit for all objects 

 of natural history, mineralogy, geology, archaeology, ethnology, &c., 

 belonging to the United States or collected by the Coast and Interior 

 Survey, the Geological Survey, or by any other parties for the Govern- 

 ment of the United States, v/hen no longer needed for investigations iu 

 progress.! 



II. 



ORGANIZATION- Thc cstabllshment of the Smithsonian Institution, to which, 



AND .-,.., . ' ' 



GOVERNMENT, ui additiou to the carrying out of the other requirements of 

 the bequest of Smithson, is intrusted the control of the National Museum, 

 is composed of the President of the United States and his Cabinet, the 

 Commissioner of Patents, and a Board of Eegents, which has for its 

 members the Vice-President and Chief Justice of the United States, 



*Ax ACT to establish the "Smithsonian Institution" for the increase and diffusion 

 of useful knowledge among men. (Approved August 10, 184G; Revised Statutes, 

 title Ixxiii, sections 5579-5594.) 



t Revised Statutes, section 5586. 



X Statutes Forty-fifth Congress, third session, chap. 182, p, 394. 



(605) 



