SECRETARY'S REPORT 6 



The staff of the National Collection of Fine Arts improved details 

 of the exhibits of this important unit in our Nation's provision for 

 the preservation, study, and display of works of art. It becomes 

 more certain each year, however, that the really great collection of 

 American paintings and the decorative arts which is served by this 

 bureau can never be adequately dealt with until it has a satisfactory 

 building of its own. Its present borrowed space in the Natural His- 

 tory Building is both inadequate and inappropriate. The greatest 

 paintings of American artists and examples of outstanding Kenais- 

 sance jewelry should not be displayed next door to dinosaur bones and 

 totem poles. 



The National Air Museum has also added many significant items 

 to its great collections this year. A new building for this world- 

 famous and peculiarly American collection is now most urgently 

 needed. 



Progress in the collections and in the physical facilities of the 

 National Zoological Park was also made during the year. It is still 

 true, however, that this great collection of animals is far from ade- 

 quately housed. It is certainly important that as soon as possible the 

 outmoded wooden buildings at the Zoological Park be replaced by 

 modern and appropriate structures. The National Zoological Park 

 each year is visited by Americans from every State and by many for- 

 eign guests. In attendance and scope of its collections it is one of 

 the foremost zoos of the world, but in spite of some recent improve- 

 ments in its facilities, it is still far behind many modern zoological 

 parks in the adequacy of its display techniques. 



Dr. Mann Retires 



Dr. William M. Mann, who served for 31 years as Director of the 

 National Zoological Park, retired on October 31, 1956, having reached 

 the statutory retirement age of 70. Dr. Mann was the fifth director 

 of the National Zoological Park since it was established by Secretary 

 Langley in 1889. Under his direction the Washington Zoo became 

 one of the best and most representative collections of living animals 

 in the world. The physical equipment of the Zoo also steadily im- 

 proved, and during Dr. Mann's administration four modern exhibi- 

 tion buildings were added. Today the National Zoological Park is 

 not only a scientific and educational center but also one of the 

 Capital's prime tourist attractions. 



For the Zoo, Dr. Mann made trips to many foreign lands to obtain 

 live animals for the collection. For example, in 1926 he headed the 

 Smithsonian-Chrysler Expedition to East Africa, in 1937 a National 

 Geographic Society Expedition to the East Indies, and in 1940 the 



