152 EEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



been made. Tliere have been on exbibition severiil Imndied engraved 

 l^ortraits of some of the eminent scientists of tin', past four centnries, 

 also several hnndred i^ortraits of medical men, these last forming tlie 

 loan collection of Dr. J. M. Toner. 



MONEY OF THE WORLD. 



About two years ago the curator was directed to begin the formation 

 of a collection to illustrate the money of the world, and within a few 

 months the collection was given a good start by the gift of sev^eral 

 hundred copi)er and silver coins of modern times, and by loans of 

 nearly two thousand ancient Greek and Koman coins. Part of the col- 

 lection is labeled and placed on exhibition, but the greater portion 

 can not be .shown for want of exhibition space. The shell money of the 

 Indians of our country during the early colonial period is interesting 

 to the public. This collection was arranged by the curator of the de- 

 partment of mollusks, and shows the shells from which the money was 

 made, the discs used as coin, and the belts of wampnm. Accompany- 

 ing the exhibit is an instructive pamphlet, giving in detail the history 

 of the manufacture and uses of this money. The collection of paper 

 money is steadily growing, and most of the principal countries of the 

 world are now represented. 



The interesting series of issues of Continental paper money of our 

 country and the State bank series is far IVom complete, though being 

 added to by frequent acquisitions. 



POSTAGE STAMPS. 



There were but few additions to thestam]> collection during the year, 

 and but little time could be given toward arranging the colhM-tion for 

 exhibition. The Museum now has about three thousand stami)s exclu- 

 sive of duplicates, and many of them are of rare issnes. 



AMERICAN HISTORIOAL ASSOCIATION. 



For three successive years the American Historical Association has 

 held its annual meeting in Washington <luring the Christmas holidays. 

 The morning sessions have been held in the lecture hall of the National 

 Museum and the evening sessions in the Columbian University. This 

 association has a membership of about six hundred enn'nent historians, 

 tefichers, and students of history from all parts of tlie United States. 



The curator of historical collections in the ^Museum is assistant secre- 

 tary and curator of the association, and has received into his charge 

 some collections of books and papers deposited for exhibition in the 

 Museum by i)crmission of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, as 

 authorized by the act of incorporation of the association. The most im- 

 ])ortiint of these collections are the "Vail papers," enumerated in detail 

 in the list of accessions, and ])ertainiiig to the ciirly history of the tele- 



