28 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
referred to in the assistant secretary’s report. Among the most note- 
worthy accessions in ethnology were more than 500 objects from 
Dutch New Guinea, the Moluccas and Ambon of the Ceram group, 
collected and presented by Dr. W. L. Abbott, who has done so much 
for the Museum in past years toward increasing our knowledge of 
the zoology and ethnology of the Far East. Among the important 
acquisitions in biology were some 200,000 insects obtained by ento- 
mologists of the Department of Agriculture during economic investi- 
gations; a generous donation from Dr. E. A. Mearns, consisting of 
his large private collection of bird skins, eggs, and skeletons, con- 
taining many rarities; and over 10,000 specimens, mainly grasses, 
from the Department of Agriculture., Additions in geology and 
mineralogy included a 200-pound specimen of copper from Nevada; 
many specimens of minerals from various sources, including rare and 
excellent examples and some new forms; meteorites; Cambrian fossils; 
and three valuable type collections pertaining to the paleobotany of 
Alaska and other regions. Dr. E. O. Ulrich presented about 3,000 
Paleozoic fossils of much value to the Museum. The division of 
textiles has been enriched by many important accessions and has 
been much extended in its scope during the year. 
In the division of history there were large additions to memorials 
of eminent Americans and of historic events. An exhibit of period 
costumes installed in one of the history halls has attracted much 
attention. It includes a series of costumes worn by wives of many 
of the Presidents of the United States, and contains valuable ex- 
amples of the styles of dress in America since the colonial period 
and a variety of articles of domestic and personal use. A unique 
photographic exhibit illustrates the apparatus and results of all 
stages of that art since the first attempts to obtain pictures through 
the agency of the sun. 
The collection of fine arts has been enriched by further gifts from 
Mr. Charies L. Freer, of Detroit. His original gift, made in 1906, 
contained about 2,300 objects, and has since been increased to 4,701 
most interesting and valuable examples of oriental and American 
art. The collection remains in the possession of the donor during his - 
life. Mr. Freer has provided for the construction of a suitable build- 
ing adjacent to the National Museum for the permanent preserva- 
tion and display of the collection. Among permanent additions to 
the National Gallery were a number of paintings. The loans ag- 
gregated 109 paintings and 38 pieces of sculpture from various 
sources. 
I have elsewhere mentioned the bequest to the Institution by Dr. 
Chamberlain of $35,000, establishing a fund to promote the increase 
and scientific value of the Isaac Lea collections of precious stones 
and fresh-water mussels in the Museum. 
