[Proceedings United States National Museum, 1831, Appendix.] 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



XJISriTED STATES IST A.T10 N J^IL, IM XJ S E TJ M! , 



No. 15. 



THE OROAIVIZATIOIV AIVD OBJECTS OF THE NATIOIVAIi MVSEUi^. 



I. 



FOUNDATION The NATIONAL MtTSEUM was Organized in 1846 by the 

 LEGAL STATUS, act of Congress transferring to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion the custody of the "National Cabinet of Curiosities," at that time 

 deposited in the Patent-Office Building.* These collections were, in 

 1857, placed in the Smithsonian building, the Eegents of the Institution 

 having accepted the trust on condition that the necessary aijpropriations 

 for their maintenance should be continued by Congress. 



The act above referred to provides that " all objects of art and of 

 foreign and curious research, and all objects of natural history, j^lants, 

 and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging or hereafter to 

 belong to the United States, which may be in the city of Washington," 

 shall be delivered to the Eegents of the Smithsonian Institution, and, 

 together with new specimens obtained by exchange, donation, or other- 

 wise, shall be so arranged and classified as best to facilitate their exam- 

 ination and study.t 



The National Museum is the authorized place of deposit for all objects 

 of natural history, mineralogy, geology, archaeology, ethnology, &c., 

 belonging to the United States or collected by the Coast and Interior 

 Survey, the Geological Survey, or by any other parties for the Govern- 

 ment of the United States, when no longer needed for investigations in 

 progress.l 



II. 



ORGANIZATION Thc cstablishment of the Smithsonian Institution, to which, 

 GOVERNMENT. Ill addltlou to the carrying out of the other requirements of 

 the bequest of Smithson, is intrusted the control of the National Museum, 

 is composed of the President of the United States and his Cabinet, the 

 Commissioner of Patents, and a Board of Eegents, which has for its 

 members the Vice-President and Chief Justice of the United States, 



*Ax act to establish the " Smithsonian Institution" for the increase and diffusion 

 of useful knowledge among men. (Approved August 10, 1846; Revised Statutes, 

 title Ixxiii, sections 5579-5594.) 



t Revised Statutes, section 558G. 



I Statutes Forty-fifth Congress, third session, chap. 182, p. 394. 



