REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
C. G. ABBOT 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1944 
To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 
GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit herewith my report show- 
ing the activities and condition of the Smithsonian Institution and the 
Government bureaus under its administrative charge during the fiscal 
year ended June 30, 1944. The first 12 pages contain a summary ac- 
count of the affairs of the Institution; it will again be noted that many 
activities usually included in this section are missing, wartime con- 
ditions having forced their suspension. Appendixes 1 to 10 give more 
detailed reports of the operations of the National Museum, the Na- 
tional Gallery of Art, the National Collection of Fine Arts, the 
Freer Gallery of Art, the Bureau of American Ethnology, the Inter- 
national Exchanges, the National Zoological Park, the Astrophysical 
Observatory, which now includes the divisions of astrophysical re- 
search and of radiation and organisms, the Smithsonian library, and of 
the publications issued under the direction of the Institution. On 
page 110 is the financial report of the executive committee of the Board 
of Regents. 
Change in the Secretaryship.—This will be my last report, as on 
June 20, 1944, I addressed the following communication to the Board 
of Regents: 
Having occupied the post of Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution since 
February 1928, and of Acting Secretary for one year prior to that, and having 
passed the age of 72 years, I wish to resign from that office, my resignation to take 
effect as of July 1, 1944. 
I feel that it would be quite unfair to the Institution to continue in this re- 
sponsible position when in the nature of things my capacity must gradually begin 
to decline. In tendering my resignation, I wish to express my gratitude to the 
Board for its kindly and helpful attitude, and my desire to be of any service 
which the Board or my successor may feel disposed to suggest. 
Accordingly on July 1, 1944, I ceased to be Secretary of the In- 
stitution, and Dr. Alexander Wetmore, Assistant Secretary, took over 
the duties of the position as Acting Secretary. I wish to record here 
publicly my appreciation of the unfailing helpfulness and support 
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