The United States National Museum 3*3 



In the same connection he expressed his views regard- 

 ing the importance of a National Museum, in the following 

 words : 



"Though the formation of a general collection is neither 

 within the means nor the province of the Institution, it is 

 an object which ought to engage the attention of Congress. 

 A general museum appears to be a necessary establishment 

 at the seat of government of every civilized nation. . . . An 

 establishment of this kind can only be supported by govern- 

 ment ; and the proposition ought never to be encouraged of 

 putting this duty on the limited, though liberal bequest of a 

 foreigner. The Smithsonian Institution will readily take 

 the supervision of an establishment of this kind, and give 

 plans for its organization and arrangement, provided it be 

 requested to do so, and the means for effecting the object be 

 liberally supplied." 1 



In 1850 Professor Spencer F. Baird was appointed Assist- 

 ant Secretary of the Institution in charge of publications and 

 museum. He brought with him from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 

 not only a considerable zoological collection assembled by his 

 own activity, but, what was vastly more important, a system 

 of recording, assorting, and distributing collections which was 

 sufficiently comprehensive and elastic to meet the needs of a 

 great museum. In December, 1850, he placed in the hands 

 of Secretary Henry a full outline of operations which he after- 

 ward carried into practice with the most signal success. He 

 perceived that the numerous surveying parties which the 

 government was sending out from year to year into the 

 Western territories would be powerful agencies in increas- 

 ing the knowledge of the natural history of the country if 

 they could be induced to make collections of natural objects 

 along the various routes they traversed. To this end the 



1 "Smithsonian Report," 1851, page 25 (reprinted in Report for 1854, page 227). 

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