Events in History of Institution 



837 



1862 



Feb. 28, Institution cooperated with Surgeon-General of the United States Army, and 

 with Sanitary Commission, in the improvement of the health and comfort of the 

 soldiers during the civil war. 



April jf, Daily telegraphic bulletin of the weather, which had been discontinued for some 

 time on account of the demands of public business, partially resumed. 



June 2, Series of publications in octavo called " Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections" 

 begun. 



July 2J, Charter of the National Institute expired, and in accordance with its act of in- 

 corporation its property was delivered by Secretary of the Interior to Smith- 

 sonian Institution. 



1863 



March 3, Congress having incorporated the National Academy of Sciences, rooms were 

 furnished to it by the Institution for its meetings and library. 



1864 



June if, Residuary legacy of Smithson, on account of the death of the annuitant, Madame 

 La Batut, received by the Institution. 



Aug. i, Application made to the North American Telegraphic Association, covering the 

 entire United States and Canada, for free use of its lines for the scientific ob- 

 jects of the Institution, which was subsequently granted. 



1865 



Jan. 9, Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase elected Chancellor. 



Jan. jo, Act establishing the Institution amended by Congress, repealing the section 

 that required two of the Regents to be members of the National Institute in 

 the city of Washington. 



Jan. 24, Fire destroyed the principal part of the contents of the rooms in the upper 

 story of the Smithsonian building and the adjacent towers, including the per- 

 sonal effects of Smithson. 



July i, Reconstruction of the building with fireproof materials begun, in accordance with 

 the plans and under the superintendence of Adolf Cluss, architect. 



1866 



April 5, Act passed by Congress transferring the custody of the library of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution to the Library of Congress. 



1867 



Feb. <?, Act passed by Congress providing that the residuary legacy of Smithson should be 

 received and added to the Smithson Fund, and allowing the Regents to increase 

 that fund in the Treasury of the United States by savings, donations, and 

 otherwise, to one million dollars. 



March 2, Act passed by Congress to provide for fifty copies of all documents printed by 

 either House of Congress, or by any Department or Bureau, to be exchanged 

 through the agency of the Smithsonian Institution for similar works published 

 in foreign countries, and especially by foreign governments. 



1868 



Jan. /, National Herbarium transferred to the Department of Agriculture. 

 July 25, Amendment to the law relative to the exchange of documents with foreign gov- 

 ernments passed by Congress. 



1869 



July 7, West range of the Smithsonian building, in addition to the main halls, assigned to 

 the use of the Museum. 



1870 



June i, Secretary Henry visited Europe in behalf of the interests of the Institution, and 

 testified before an English government Scientific Commission regarding the 

 objects and methods of the Institution. 



Aug. 8, Secretary Henry represented the United States, by appointment of President 

 Grant, at the International Commission invited by the Emperor of France to 



