REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 99 
tion. The older building, designed to accommodate the nationally im- 
_ portant department of arts and industries, although not adequate in 
space to serve this purpose, is from absolute necessity half filled with 
a great body of unrelated exhibits, representing history, anthro- 
pology, and art. 
The National Gallery of Art, now for the first time taking an 
enviable place among the galleries of the country, is crowded into the 
natural history building without possibility of expansion, and many 
liberally inclined collectors of art works who seek a permanent home 
for their treasures, and who may be favorably disposed toward Wash- 
ington, are necessarily met with the statement that additional col-— 
lections, if acquired, must go into storage. These possible benefac- 
tors of the national collection are thus turned to other institutions 
or to the auction room. The Nation is thus deprived of the possi- 
bility of building up, even by gift and bequest, collections of art, 
such as are highly prized and fully provided for by civilized nations 
generally. The sooner a building devoted to the fine arts, including 
all departments, is provided the more quickly will the American 
people find themselves in the forefront in all that characterizes the 
highest level of civilization. 
American history, one of the most essential and vital of the de- 
partments of museum activity, is not better provided for than art. 
There is no provision for it save in the present overcfowded build- 
ings. A building of an order commensurate with a great national 
purpose is an absolute essential, and its erection should be provided 
for with the least possible delay. 
COLLECTIONS. 
The total number of specimens acquired during the year was ap- 
proximately 526,845. Received in 1,198 separate accessions, they were 
classified and assigned as follows: Department of anthropology, 
12,333; zoology, 442,383; botany, 40,357; geology and mineralogy, 
4,750; paleontology, 26,050; textiles, woods, medicines, foods, and 
other miscellaneous animal and vegetable products, 884; mineral 
technology, 62; and National Gallery of Art, 26. As loans for exhi- 
bition, 3,096 articles were also obtained, mainly for the divisions of 
history and American archeology and the gallery of art. 
Material to the extent of 539 lots was received for special exami- 
nation and report. 
During the year the Museum made its first purchases from the 
Frances Lea Chamberlain fund, adding to the Isaac Lea collection 
of gems and to the Isaac Lea collection of mollusks, respectively. 
Through the generosity of Mr. B. H. Swales, a member of the staff, 
a small fund which has been given the donor’s name was established 
