REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 43 



I no-ton. the Washington Academy of Sciences, Georgetown Uni- 

 versity, and the Osteopathic Association of the District of Columbia. 

 At the First Pan Pacific Scientific Congress, held in Hawaii from 

 August 2 to 20, 1920, the Museum was represented by the following 

 members of the staff of the Smithsonian Institution: Mr. John B. 

 Henderson. Regent of the Institution; Dr. Paul Bartsch; Dr. Gerrit 

 S. Miller, j.; Dr. T. Wayland Vaughan; and Mr. Gerard Fowke. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The attendance of visitors to the Natural History Building dur- 

 ing the year aggregated 304,281 for week days and 103,018 for 

 Sundays, being a daily average of 1,1G7 for the former and 1,981 for 

 the latter. At the Arts and Industries Building the total attend- 

 ance was 280,397. a daily average of 917. The Aircraft Building 

 had an attendance of 31,235 for the portion of the year it was open, 

 an average of 147 persons daily. The total attendance in the Smith- 

 sonian Building on week days was 90,097, an average of 288, and on 

 the one Sunday 138. 



The publications of the year comprised the annual report for 1920, 

 8 bulletins, and 60 separate papers. The latter consisted of 4 parts 

 of bulletins, 5 parts of Contributions from the National Herbarium, 

 and 51 proceedings papers. The total number of copies of publica- 

 tions distributed was about 89,000. 



The library obtained, by purchase, gift, and exchange, 2,041 com- 

 pleted volumes and 2,719 pamphlets. The more important dona- 

 tions were from Mrs. Francis D. Cleveland, Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 

 and Dr. W. H. Dall, the former contributing the scientific library of 

 the late Joseph Paxson Iddings, petrologist. 



While it is the primary duty of a museum to preserve the objects 

 confided to its care, as it is that of a library to preserve its books 

 and manuscripts, yet the importance of public collections rests not 

 upon the mere basis of custodianship nor upon the number of speci- 

 mens assembled and their money value, but upon the use to which 

 they are put. Judged by this standard, the National Museum may 

 claim to have reached a high state of efficiency. From an educa- 

 tional point of view it is of great value to those persons who are 

 so fortunate as to reside in Washington or who are able to visit the 

 Nation's capital. In its well-designed cases, in which every detail 

 of structure, appointment, and color is considered, a selection of 

 representative objects is placed on view to the public, all being care- 

 fully labeled individually and in groups. The child as well as the 

 adult has been provided for, and the kindergarten pupil and the 

 high school scholar can be seen here supplementing their classroom 

 games or studies. Under authority from Congress, the small col- 



