REPORT ON THE HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 

 IN THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 1891. 



By A. HoWAKD C^KAiJK, Ciirdtor. 



Work on the historical collections lias been carried on with industry 

 during the year, and much progress has been made toward a more com- 

 prehensive classification of the material that has accumulated since the 

 beginning of this department in 1884. Fifty-six new accessions were 

 received, including about three thousand individual objects. Several 

 collections of ancient bronze and silver coins, and other historical 

 objects were received by the curator and were returned to tlie owners 

 with descri[)tive reports, identifying the objects. This branch of the 

 curator's duty is becoming greater each year, and has resulted in the 

 permanent accession of several valuable collections. Many letters of 

 inquiry have been answered concerning the identity and value of 

 medals, coins, and other obje(;ts. 



Among the most important accessions of the year are: (1) The "Vail 

 Papers " dei>osited by the heirs of Alfred Vail, and consisting of about 

 thirty volumes of manuscript letters, drawings, and j)rinted matter per- 

 taining to the invention an<l history of the telegraj)h from 1837 to 1852. 

 These papers are enumerated in detail below in the list of accessions. 

 (2) Original full-size plaster model of the statue of Liberty, from which 

 was cast the bronze statue surmounting the dome of the United States 

 Capitol. This model was made in Rome, Italy, by Thomas Crawford, 

 American sculptor (born 1814, died 1857), and the bronze was cast by 

 Clark Mills, in Washington, 1800; height, 10 feet i> inches. (3) Album 

 of ])ortraits of the officers and members of the International American 

 (Conference, held at Washington in 1880-'90. (4) A silver watch cap- 

 tured from a British officer at the battle of Lexington in 1775, also the 

 silver watch carried by Thomas Cheyney, who did valiant service at the 

 battle of Brandywine during the Revolutionary war. (5) A Bible (Pen- 

 tateuch) in Sechuana language, carrie<l l)y Dr. David Livingstone in his 

 jonrney in Africa in 1852, with autograph of Livingstone on title page. 

 (6) Royal account-book of Louis xv and Louis xvi of France, with 

 autograph of Louis xvi a])i)roving the accounts. (7) Collection ^)f 

 almanacs from 1730 to 1750. (8) A large collection of personal papers 



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