38 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1913. 



In the matter of reorganizing the several industrial collections 

 which were long ago displaced through the overcrowding of the 

 older buildings in which they are now being rearranged, excellent 

 progress was made despite the limited means available. The division 

 of mineral technology, which had been nominally recognized for 

 several years and for which a large amount of valuable material 

 has been held in storage, was actively established, but not until late 

 in the year. In the division of textiles, in which the work was 

 started over a year earlier, the results accomplished have been suffi- 

 cient to very materially attract public notice. The old collection, 

 including also certain animal and vegetable products, was first un- 

 packed, and, although much of it had so greatly deteriorated as to 

 be rendered useless, there 4*emained an excellent nucleus to build 

 upon, the material being chiefly serviceable for its bearing, on the 

 histoi*y and development of the subjects represented. It was exten- 

 sively drawn upon in preparing a preliminary exhibition series, 

 which was practically completed before the close of the fiscal year 

 1912. During last year there was marked activity in the acquisition 

 of new material, in the extension of the exhibition collections, and 

 in the general work of the division. Many of the leading manu- 

 facturers were advised with, and their cordial approval of the plans 

 and the substantial support they have already given the Museum 

 insures beyond question the building up of a thoroughly practical 

 representation of the textile and allied industries. The accessions of 

 the year covered a wide range of materials and manufacture, and 

 included raw materials, intermediate stages, and finished products, 

 as well as illustrations of various processes. They were almost 

 wholly from American sources, among the exceptions being an in- 

 structive exhibit of the woolen industry of Bradford, England, and 

 another of native Filipino handicraft in the making of mats, baskets, 

 hats, fabrics, and other useful articles. In lines other than textiles 

 the additions related mainly to the utilization of rubber, and included 

 many testimonials to Charles Goodyear, whose name is indissolubly 

 connected with the origin and early advancement of this important 

 industry. The installation of textiles kept pace with the receipt of 

 materials, and by the close of the year a very notable and. attractive 

 exhibition had been assembled, mainly in the south hall of the older 



building. 



COLLECTIONS. 



The total number of specimens acquired during the year was ap- 

 proximately 302,132, of which 26,999 pertained to the several sub- 

 jects covered by the department of anthropology; 113,509 were 

 zoological, 140,015 botanical, 5,569 geological, and 14,716 paleonto- 

 logical ; while 12 were paintings for the National Galler}'- of Art, and 

 1,312 were textiles and useful plant products for the department of 



