40 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1959 
site made of a new plastic material so realistic and so colored to re- 
semble earth, brick, stone, etc., that the visitor feels that the actual 
site has been transported into the museum. At Jamestown Dr. Garvan 
examined a variety of objects recovered from the area in the anticipa- 
tion that some of these may be used in the Smithsonian’s hall demon- 
strating the growth of the United States. 
In August 1958 Dr. Wilcomb E. Washburn, curator of political 
history, spoke at a dinner meeting of the Eastern Shore of Virginia 
Historical Society on the personalities of Governor Sir William 
Berkeley and rebel Nathaniel Bacon. Subsequently he examined sev- 
eral historic sites in the area, including St. George’s Church, where 
archeological work is taking place, and Hungars Church. In Novem- 
ber 1959 he went to Princeton, N.J., to participate in a conference 
of the Institute of Early American History and Culture of Williams- 
burg, Va., following which he did some research in the manuscript 
collections of the University Library. In Baltimore he examined the 
observation platform that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad expects to 
donate to the Smithsonian Institution for use in a political history 
exhibit. 
Mrs. Margaret B. Klapthor, associate curator of political history, 
traveled to New York in January 1959 to pursue her research on 
matters pertaining to the First Ladies Hall. She selected samples of 
fabrics and discussed in some detail two mannequins to be used. 
Charles G. Dorman, assistant curator of political history, visited 
Dover and Wilmington, Del., in March 1959 to study 18-century tax 
lists. He located hitherto unknown midcentury cabinetmakers and 
followed the movements of others who moved about the colony after 
their apprenticeships had been served. Mr. Dorman also spoke on the 
subject of “Philadelphia Presidential Mansion” at a meeting of the 
Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, Pa. Between May 
19 and 24, 1959, he visited several towns in New England to study 
museum design and exhibits installation. He also gave a tallx before 
the Quincy Historical Society of Quincy, Mass., on “The Adams 
Family in Washington, 1800-1847.” 
To examine collections offered the Smithsonian Institution by vari- 
ous individuals, C. Malcolm Watkins, acting curator of cultural his- 
tory, made several trips to points in the Eastern States. At 
Wilmington, Del., in December 1958, he examined a loghouse offered 
to the Institution for exhibit purposes and discussed ways and means 
of dismantling it and shipping it to Washington. 
Rodris C. Roth, assistant curator of cultural history, visited Phila- 
delphia in September 1958 for research at the American Swedish 
Historical Foundation and Museum pertaining to an exhibit on 
Scandinavian backgrounds planned for the Hall of Everyday Life in 
