REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 37 
the National Gallery of Art; 45 private collections were viewed in 
connection with offers to the Gallery of gifts or loans; 94 consultations 
were held concerning 139 works of art brought to the Gallery for 
expert opinion; and 58 written replies were made to inquiries in- 
volving research in the history of art. 
RESTORATION AND REPAIR OF WORKS OF ART 
With the authorization of the Board, and the approval of the Direc- 
tor and Chief Curator, the necessary restoration and repair of paint- 
ings and sculpture in the Gallery’s collection were made by Stephen S. 
Pichetto, Consultant Restorer to the Gallery. All the work was com- 
pleted in the Restorer’s studio in the Gallery with the exception of 
several paintings that required restoration before shipment to Wash- 
ington, and one where the work was of such a delicate and complicated 
nature that it was necessary for the work to be done in Mr. Pichetto’s 
New York studio. 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM 
More than 72,000 people attended the various programs conducted 
by the educational department during the year. The Gallery tours 
of the collection attracted nearly 15,000 people, while 22,000 attended 
the “Picture of the Week,” a 10-minute discussion of a single painting 
given twice daily on Mondays through Fridays. More than 9,000 
attended the regular lectures on special topics delivered by the educa- 
tional staff and guest speakers. 
During the first 4 months of the fiscal year, a new project undertaken 
by the educational department was that of an automatic program 
(no speaker) employing 2 x 2 Kodachromes and titles on slides, en- 
titled “What To See in the National Gallery of Art—A Suggestion 
for Your First Visit.” This program was accompanied by recorded 
music, and more than 15,000 people attended. 
LIBRARY 
The most important contribution to the library during the year was 
the art library of the late Joseph E. Widener. This gift consisted of 
1,373 books and 579 periodicals. 
As a gift from Solomon R. Guggenheim, the library received the 
_ Richter Archives, consisting of over 60,000 photographs and reproduc- 
tions. Mr. Guggenheim also gave 975 photographs of art objects in 
the Solomon R. Guggenheim collection. A number of books on works 
of art were also added to the library collection through funds donated 
by Capt. Paul Mellon. 
