158 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 
Dr. J. N. Rose, associate curator of the division of plants, was 
granted an indefinite furlough beginning February 19, 1914, to 
enable him to continue his studies of the Cactaceae under the aus- 
pices of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, and Mr. W. R. 
Maxon was appointed in his place. Mr. Glen P. Van Eseltine was 
made an aid in the division of plants from September 22, 1913. 
Dr. Edgar T. Wherry was appointed assistant curator of min- 
eralogy and petrology on October 25, 1913, in succession to Dr. J. E. 
Pogue, and Dr. James C. Martin, assistant curator of systematic 
and applied geology on November 12, in succession to Mr. Chester 
G. Gilbert. For his long and material assistance in the paleontologi- 
cal work of the Museum, Dr. E. O. Ulrich, of the Geological Survey, 
was designated honorary associate in paleontology on June 9, 1914, 
and Mr. Douglas B. Sterrett, also of the Survey, was made honorary 
custodian of gems and precious stones, dating from February 18. 
Mr. C. W. Mitman was appointed aid in the division of mineral 
technology on May 4, 1914. 
It is a painful duty to announce the death, near the close of the 
year, of one of the most important figures in the history of the 
Museum. Frederick William True was born at Middletown, Conn., 
July 8, 1858, and received his collegiate education at New York 
University, from which he was graduated in 1878 as bachelor of 
science. In 1881 and 1897 he was honored by his alma mater with 
the degrees of master of science and doctor of laws, respectively. 
Immediately after leaving college he entered the scientific service of 
the Government, in which he continued during the remainder of 
his life. 
His first appointment, in 1878, was as expert special agent in the 
fisheries branch of the Tenth Census, and in 1880 he served as custo- 
dian of the collections of the United States Fish Commission at the 
Berlin Fisheries Exhibition. The following year began his connec- 
tion with the United States National Museum, in which his duties 
have been both varied and exacting. From 1881 to 1883 he was 
librarian, and during the first two of these years also acting curator 
of the division of mammals, becoming full curator in 1883. With 
the reorganization of the Museum in 1897, he was made head curator 
of the department of biology, though retaining direct supervision of 
the collection of mammals until 1909, when a curator was designated 
to relieve him of this care. 
For nearly 30 years Dr. True was also charged with strictly ad- 
ministrative responsibilities, which greatly interfered with his scien- 
tific work. In theearly part of the eighties he was designated curator- 
in-charge to enable him to act for the Assistant Secretary during his 
absence, the title being changed in 1894 to executive curator, with 
added duties. Following Dr. Goode’s death in 1897 he served for 
