PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XXIII 



(No. 8.) 



JOINT KKSOLUTION to encourage the establishment ami endowment of institutions of learning at 

 the national capital by defining the policy of the Government with reference to the use of its 

 literary and scientific collections by students. 



Whereas large collections illustrative of the various arts and sciences and facili- 

 tating literary and scientific research have been accumulated by the ac-tion of Con- 

 gress through a series of years at the national capital; and 



Whereas it was the original purpose of the Government thereby to promote 

 research and the diffusion of knowledge, and it is not the settled policy and i)resent 

 practice of those charged with the care of these collections specially to encourage 

 students who devote their time to the investigation and study of any branch of 

 knowledge by allowing to them all proper use thereof; and 



Whereas it is represented that the enumeration of these facilities and the formal 

 statement of this policy will encourage the establishment and endowment of institu- 

 tions of learning at the seat of government, and promote the work of education by 

 attracting students to avail themselves of the advantages aforesaid under the direction 

 of competent instructors: Therefore, 



Resolved by tlie Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in 

 Congress assembled, That the facilities for research and illustration in the following 

 and any other governmental collections now existing or hereafter to be established 

 in the city of Washington for the promotion of knowledge shall be accessible, under 

 such rules and restrictions as the officers in charge of each collection may prescribe, 

 subject to such authority as is now or may hereafter ))e permitted by law, to the sci- 

 entific investigators and to students of any institution of higher education now incor- 

 porated or hereafter to be incorporated under the laws of Congress or of the District 

 of Columbia, to wit: 



1. Of the Library of Congress. 



2. Of the National Museum. 



3. Of the Patent Office. 



4. Of the Bureau of Education. 



5. Of the Bureau of Ethnology. 



6. Of the Army Medical Museum. 



7. Of the Department of Agriculture. 



8. Of the Fish Commission. 



9. Of the Botanic Gardens. 



10. Of the Coast and Geodetic; Survey. 



11. Of the Geological Survey. 



12. Of the Naval Observatory. 

 Approved, April 12, 1892. 



The papers already copied and referred to in this report are deemed amply suffi- 

 cient to acquaint the Regents with the propositions made by the associated c(jlleges. 



And now, in conclusion, your committee does not hesitate to express its warm and 

 decided sympathy with the general purposes of the movement thus made for your 

 consideration. The object sought commends itself to us all, and the zeal and ability 

 with which it has been pressed upon our consideration by the ver}^ able and distin- 

 guished educators and scientists connected with these colleges furnish ample assur- 

 ance that the consummation of the great and leading object sought by them is only 

 a question of time. The material already collected in the bureaus and departments 

 of the Government furnishes a rich mine of educational wealth that will not be per- 

 mitted to remain forever undeveloped. This material is now being constantly 

 enriched by the most valuable adilitions to its present enormous wealth. Already 

 it has invited to the national capital many distinguished scientists, anxious to avail 

 themselves of the superior advantages thus offered for investigation and research. 



