18 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 
is essentially chronological. The position of collections must, how- 
ever, In many cases be determined by their size and their timely 
interest to the public, and some of them consist of a great diversity 
of material, representing considerable periods of time. In this 
connection more than a general account of the collections, with some 
references to their more important features, is impossible. 
North hall—The two large cases on the sides of this hall, hereto- 
fore occupied by the collection of musical instruments which has re- 
cently been removed, will be used for historical furniture, though 
there are many pieces installed in connection with individual ex- 
hibits where they will remain. Among the extensive material to be 
drawn upon for these cases are chairs, tables, and various other ar- 
ticles, and among the historic names represented are Lafayette, 
Thomas Jefferson, Brig. Gen. Rufus Putnam, Alexander Hamilton, 
Chief Justice John Marshall, Col. Peter Gansevoort, and Col. John 
Cropper of the Continental Army. It is also proposed to decorate 
the upper part of the cases with a series of historical paintings and 
engravings. 
Suspended in the wall case on the right, awaiting accommodations 
by which a greater extent of its expanse may be displayed, is one of 
the most precious and valued of all the possessions of the Museum. 
This is “ The Star-Spangled Banner ” of Fort McHenry, the inspira- 
tion for Francis Scott Key’s immortal verses, which, retained by 
Maj. George Armistead, its defender, has, through the generosity of 
his grandson, Mr. Eben Appleton, become the property of the Nation. 
An account of the steps recently taken to secure the perpetual preser- 
vation of this flag is given in another part of this report. 
Taking up now the cases on the floor, one finds that the row on the 
extreme left is devoted mainly to the colonial period and the time of 
the American Revolution. Two cases are filled with colonial relics, 
including silver, glass, china, fabrics and articles of personal wear, 
many connected with prominent personages, deposited by the Na- 
tional Society of the Colonial Dames of America; and two others 
with similar objects of a somewhat later period, deposited by the Na- 
tional Society cf the Daughters of the American Revolution. In the 
same series additional miscellaneous memorials of the Revolution, 
including a flag, a number of presentation and service swords, silver- 
ware and other objects, are likewise contained in two cases, in one of ~ 
which is also installed a set of rare china purchased in 1790 by Dr. 
David Townsend, of Massachusetts, an original member of the Society 
of the Cincinnati, each piece bearing the insignia of the society, and 
the set being accompanied by Dr. Townsend’s diploma of member- 
ship, signed by Washington as president of the society. Next comes 
a printing press that was used by Benjamin Franklin in 1725-1726, 
