4 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1948 
THE BOARD OF REGENTS 
During the year the following changes occurred in the personnel 
of the Board of Regents: 
On January 27, 1947, Representative Clarence Cannon was reap- 
pointed a regent for another term. On July 26, 1947, Robert V. 
Fleming was appointed a regent by Joint Resolution, for the statutory 
term of 6 years, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of 
Frederic A. Delano. On November 12 Mr. Fleming was given 
interim appointment by the Chancellor as a member and Chairman 
of the Executive Committee to serve until the next meeting, when 
election by the Board would take place. This appointment was con- 
firmed at the meeting of January 16, 1948. 
Proceedings——The Board of Regents held its annual meeting on 
January 16, 1948. Present: Representative Clarence Cannon, Dr. 
Vannevar Bush, Dr. Harvey N. Davis, Representative John M. Vorys, 
Representative Samuel K. McConnell, Jr., Robert V. Fleming, Sec- 
retary Alexander Wetmore, and Assistant Secretary John E. Graf. 
The Secretary presented his annual report covering the activities 
of the Institution and its bureaus, including the financial report of 
the Executive Committee, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1947, 
which was accepted by the Board. The usual resolution authorizing 
the expenditure by the Secretary of the income of the Institution for 
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1949, was adopted by the Board. 
The Secretary announced a further generous gift to the Institution 
by John A. Roebling in support of the work of the Astrophysical 
Observatory. 
The National Air Museum began independent operations. The 
aeronautical collections of the United States National Museum, 
numbering approximately 3,500 specimens, were transferred to the 
Air Museum, together with pertinent records and files. The staff of 
the former division of aeronautics of the National Museum, consisting 
of a curator and clerk-stenographer, was also transferred. Under 
this new set-up the Nation-wide survey for aeronautical materials 
continued. Arrangements were under way to take over the temporary 
storage at Park Ridge, Ill., where the air force had been assembling 
historical collections for this Museum. 
The Canal Zone Biological Area on Barro Colorado Island has 
utilized available funds for renovation and repair. John E. Graf, 
Assistant Secretary, visited the laboratory in June, in connection with 
its administration. T. F. Clark, fiscal officer for the Institution, also 
visited the island in October 1947 to check over methods of accounting 
and inventory to insure that these meet the most recent requirements 
of the General Accounting Office. 
The annual report of the Smithsonian Art Commission was pre- 
