4 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1904. 



Institution did not see its way clear to fulfill until 1858, when Con- 

 gress began to make small yearly appropriations to aid in this purpose. 

 So inadequate, however, were the sums voted that for many years the 

 slender income of the Institution continued to be drawn upon to insure 

 the maintenance of what was then justly called the Smithsonian 

 Museum, since the building was paid for out of the Smithson fund, a 

 considerable portion of the collections was and still is the property of 

 the Institution, through exploration and gift, and a number of the offi- 

 cials connected with the Museum were employed at its expense. 



The first scientific collection to come into the possession of the Insti- 

 tution — and, in fact, it accompanied the bequest — was the small but 

 valuable mineralogical cabinet of James Smithson, the founder, who 

 was himself a chemist and mineralogist of repute and a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society of London. 



The nucleus of the National Museum was, however, virtually acquired 

 by the National Institute, a society organized in Washington about 

 1840, having for its avowed purpose the direction of the Smithson 

 bequest and the pursuit of objects in consonance with the terms of that 

 foundation. One of these objects was the gathering of historical and 

 natural history specimens from both official and private sources, most 

 prominent among the former having been the United States Exploring 

 Expedition around the world from 1838 to 1842. Rooms in the Patent 

 Office building were secured for the museum of the society, which was 

 practically recognized as the appropriate place of deposit for all Gov- 

 ernment collections retained in Washington. Another important serv- 

 ice rendered by the society was, as the late Dr. G. Brown Goode has 

 said, in the direction of educating public opinion " to consider the 

 establishment of such an institution worthy of the Government of the 

 United States." Failing, however, to secure the public recognition at 

 which it aimed, it became inactive upon the establishment of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution in 1846, and its charter, which expired in 1861, was 

 not renewed. The Government collections in its possession, which 

 came practically under the care of the Commissioner of Patents, were 

 turned over to the Smithsonian Institution in 1858. Other material 

 directly under the control of the National Institute remained at the 

 Patent Office until 1862, and a part of the historical objects were held 

 there until 1883. 



Previous to 1858, however, important materials for a museum were 

 being accumulated at the Smithsonian Institution, at its own cost and 

 through the activities of its assistant secretary, Prof. Spencer F. 

 Baird, beginning even before his appointment to that office in L850. 

 The personal bent of Professor Baird was toward the collection of 

 natural history specimens for purposes of study. With the approval 

 of Secretary Henry he put into operation plans for the accomplish- 

 ment of this object, which, fostered and encouraged, were soon yield- 



