REPORT ON THE DIVISION OF HISTORY. 

 By T. T. Belote, Curator. 



COMPARISON OP INCREMENT OF SPECIMENS OF 1921-22 WITH THAT OF 1920-21. 



The amount of historical material received during the past year 

 compares favorably with that received during the preceding year. 

 While the number of accessions and specimens received is slightly 

 smaller, the material received is more evenly distributed among the 

 various sections of the division and is, on the whole, of more histori- 

 cal importance than that received during the previous year. 



ACCESSIONS DESERVING SPECIAL NOTICE. 



As has been the case for the past few years, many of the im- 

 portant accessions for the fiscal year 1922 relate to the World War. 

 In this connection the following interesting exhibits have been re- 

 ceived : The American flag which, after receiving military honors in 

 the Sorbonne in the presence of President Poincare, was flown with a 

 French flag at the summit of the Eiffel Tower and saluted with 101 

 guns April 22, 1917, in celebration of the entry of the United States 

 into the World War on the side of the Allies. This flag was pre- 

 sented by the French ambassador, M. Jusserand, to President Hard- 

 ing at the White House on Decoration Day, May 30, 1922, and de- 

 posited in the Museum through the War Department. A series of 

 very handsome silk American flags presented to Gen. John J. Persh- 

 ing in recognition of his services as commander in chief of the 

 American Expeditionary Forces in France during the World War 

 and lent by him to the Museum. This series includes a flag presented 

 by the ladies of Chaumont, inscribed in gold, " Au General en Chef 

 des Armees Americaines. Les Dames de la Ville de Chaumont." 

 The arms of the town are beautifully embroidered in the lower left- 

 hand corner of the flag, and the tip of the staff is ornately in- 

 scribed " R. F." A second exquisitely decorated flag, presented to 

 General Pershing in France is one inscribed as follows : " Le Dau- 

 phine Patrie de Bayard le Chevalier sans peur et sans reproche 

 a l'Armee Americaine combattant en France pour la defense de la 

 Justice et de la Liberte. Vaincre ou se soumettre ! " The collection 

 includes also a number of other American flags presented to General 

 Pershing in France and a number of exceedingly handsome flags 



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