REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



The technological collections were increased along many lines, the most impor- 

 tant additions having been of firearms, including a number of historically 

 interesting pieces, for which the Museum was chiefly indebted to the War De- 

 partment. Also worthy of mention were series of sun dials and of watch and 

 chronometer movements and the original machine, long in use, by which com- 

 plete pins were first manufactured automatically. 



The division of history was greatly enriched. The bequest of Prof. Simon 

 Newcomb to the nation for deposit in the Museum of many personal memorials 

 comprised, besides his uniform and sword as a rear-admiral in the navy, gold 

 and bronze medals, vases, including a large and fine example in jasper presented 

 by the Emperor of Russia, and 118 diplomas and announcements of honors con- 

 ferred on this distinguished astronomer by universities and other learned bodies 

 for eminence in science. Among the gifts and loans were personal relics of 

 Admiral Farragut and Rear-Admiral Charles Wilkes, and a number of pieces 

 of china bearing the insignia of the Society .of the Cincinnati, made in China 

 in 1790 for David Townsend, of Massachusetts. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Of duplicate specimens from the collections of the various divisions, about 

 6,000 were distributed to educational establishments in different parts of the 

 country, while about 24,000 were used in making exchanges with other institu- 

 tions and with individuals, whereby much valuable new material was acquired. 

 The number of specimens sent to specialists for study in behalf of the Museum 

 or of work in progress for other purposes was about 16,000. 



The record of visitors to the public halls showed an average attendance, the 

 total number of persons who entered the older Museum building during the 

 year having been about 229,000. It is to be expected that the attendance at the 

 new building when its exhibition collections have been fully arranged will be 

 much greater than this, but not until Sunday opening has been effected, a step 

 anticipated in the near future, can the Museum hope to meet its manifest obli- 

 gations in popular education. 



The publications of the year, all but one of which were descriptive of material 

 in the collections, comprised the annual or administrative report for 1909, one 

 volume of Proceedings, one of Contributions from the National Herbarium, 8 

 bulletins, and 55 separate papers belonging to three uncompleted volumes. 



Because of the insufficient funds provided for the purchase of books the 

 library of the Museum still serves very inadequately the purposes for which it 

 is maintained, the classification of the collections, and important work is often 

 much hindered on this account. At the close of the year it contained 38,300 

 volumes and 61,858 unbound papers. 



Mr. William H. Holmes, who has served as Chief of the Bureau of American 



Ethnology since 1902, returned to the Museum in January to again take up 



the duties of head curator of the department of anthropology. It is with deep 



regret that I announce the deaths, at advanced ages, of two of the honorary 



associates of the Museum, Dr. Charles A. White and Dr. Robert E. C. Stearns, 



once active members of its staff, both of whom became widely known through 



their important contributions to science during many, years, the former especially 



in paleontology, the latter in zoology. 



Respectfully submitted. 



Richard Rathbun, 



Assistant Secretary, in Charge of U. S. National Museum. 



Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 



Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



August 27, 1910. 



