28 REPOET OF THE ACTING SECEETAEY. 



in the building up of the Xational Gallery of Art. One of these 

 ■was a gift from Mr. Charles L. Freer, of Detroit, Michigan; the 

 other a bequest from the late Harriet Lane Johnston, of Washington. 



THE ART COLLECTIONS OF CHAKLES L. FREER. 



Under date of January 3, 1905, Mr. Charles L. Freer, of Detroit, 

 ]Viichigan, transmitted to the Institution an oJffer to bequeath or make 

 present conveyance of title to his valuable private art collections to 

 the Smithsonian Institution or the Government, under certain condi- 

 tions, proposing at the same time to provide for the construction, 

 after his death, of a building of appropriate design and proportion 

 to receive the collections, provided that the Institution or the Govern- 

 ment "would undertake its maintenance. Consideration was given to 

 this proposal by the Board of Kegents at several meetings, and on 

 January 24, 190G, the offer was accepted on terms slightly modified 

 by jMt. Freer, as conveyed in a letter addressed to the President of 

 the United States, as follows : 



Washington, D. C, December 15, 1905. 

 To the Pbesidext : 



Permit me to repeat my offer to bequeath my art collections to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution or to the United States Government, and also the sum of 

 $500,000 in money for the purpose of constructing a suitable building in which 

 to house them, upon the following terms and conditions : 



First. The sum of -S-oOO.OOO shall be paid by my executors to the Regents of 

 the Smithsonian Institution or the United States Government promptly after 

 my decease, and shall be used forthwith for the c-onstruction of a fireproof 

 building connected with the National Museum, the construction of which 

 has been recently authorized, or reasonably near thereto. 



Second. The interior of this building shall be arranged with special regard 

 for the convenience of students and others desirous of an opportunity for unin- 

 terrupted study. A suitable space shall be provided in which the Peacock 

 Room should be re-erected complete. The whole interior arrangement of the 

 building shall be agreed upon between the Regents of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution and myself within a reasonable time after the acceptance of this offer. 



Third. The collections, with such additions thereto as shall be made during 

 my lifetime, shall be delivered by my executors to the Regents immediately 

 after the building is constructed and ready to receive them. 



Fourth. The collections and the buildings shall be cared for and maintained 

 perpetually by the Smith-sonian Institution or the United States Government at 

 its own expense. 



Fifth. No addition or deduction shall be made to the collections after my 

 death, and nothing else shall ever be exhibited with them, or in the same 

 building, nor shall the said collections, or any part thereof, be removed at any 

 time from the said building except when necessary for the purpose of making 

 repairs or renovations in the building. 



Sixth. No charge shall ever be made for admission to the building or for 

 the privilege of examining or studying the collections. 



Seventh. The collections and building shall always bear my name in some 

 modest and appropriate form. 



