REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 51 
The curatorial staff continued its assistance to the American Com- 
mission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic 
Monuments in War Areas (Justice Owen J. Roberts, Chairman) to 
the end of the Commission’s activity on June 30, 1946. 
Although the custodianship of the French Government collection 
of works of art was terminated February 1, 1945, a number of paint- 
ings continued to be housed and exhibited in the National Gallery 
of Art. At the end of the past fiscal year preparations were begun 
to remove all but six of those paintings for packing and shipment to 
France. 
RESTORATION AND REPAIR OF WORKS OF ART 
With the authorization of the Board and the approval of the Chief 
Curator, the necessary restoration and repair of works of art in the 
Gallery’s collection were made by Stephen S. Pichetto, Consultant 
Restorer to the Gallery. All work was completed in the restorer’s 
studio in the Gallery, with the exception of 39 paintings requiring 
attention before they could be shipped to Washington or on which 
work had already been begun in Mr. Pichetto’s New York studio. 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM 
Approximately 15,000 persons attended the Gallery tours of the 
collection, and 13,030 attended the lectures in the auditorium by staff 
and visiting lecturers. The Picture of the Week, a 10-minute, twice- 
daily talk on a single painting, continued to be a most popular feature, 
attracting 25,029 persons during the year. Special tours, confer- 
ences, and appointments were arranged for 2,599 persons. 
LIBRARY 
A total of 802 books, 160 pamphlets, and 98 periodicals were pre- 
sented to the Gallery; 7 books were purchased by the Gallery; 135 
photographs and 196 kodachrome slides were presented as gifts; 35 
books, 43 pamphlets, and 443 bulletins were received on exchange 
from other institutions; and 26 subscriptions to periodicals were 
made; 3,589 books were borrowed and returned, of which number 
3,504 were from the Library of Congress and the remaining 85 from 
art museum and university libraries. 
PHOTOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT 
During the year the photographic laboratory of the Gallery made 
13,195 prints, 669 black-and-white slides, and 2,026 color slides, in 
addition to 821 negatives, and 178 X-rays, infrared photographs, 
