REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 50 
tered out of the Navy August 8, 1872. From 1873 to 1894 he served 
with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey; on one of its 
expeditions he discovered some rare Indian pottery, which is now 
in the United States National Museum. While connected with the 
survey he was selected to assume the duties of chief of library and 
archives, and reorganized that branch of the service. From 1894 
to 1900 he was a computer in the United States Naval Observatory. 
In April, 1900, Mr. Parsons was appointed assistant in charge 
of the Smithsonian Division of the Library of Congress, and it 
was here that his major life work was accomplished. ‘The division 
had been established in the same year to care for the valuable col- 
lection of the publications of institutions and societies comprising 
the Smithsonian deposit (dating from 1866) and the Library of 
Congress accessions. 
In the 25 years of his incumbency he saw the collection grow into 
a great library, perhaps unequalled anywhere for purposes of scien- 
tific research. Mr. Parsons brought to his task infinite care and 
patience, and a wide knowledge of learned societies and their meth- 
ods of publication, and his colleagues in the Library of Congress 
learned to depend upon the fullness and accuracy of his records. 
His contribution to the care and upbuilding of the collection, which 
he carried on with the constant cooperation of the Smithsonian 
Institution, will be a lasting memorial. 
Respectfully submitted. 
Cuarites D. Waxcort, Secretary. 
