REPORT 



THE CONDITION AND PROGRESS OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM 

 DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1888. 



BY 



G. Brown Goode, 



Assistant Secretary, Siiutlisonian Institution, in charge of the National Museum. 



A.— GENERAL CONSIDERATION'S. 



In January, 1847, the first Board of Regents after many weeks of 

 consultation and deliberation over the plans for the organization of the 

 Smithsonian Institution unanimously voted the following resolution: 



Resolved^ That it is tJie intention of the act of Congress^ and in accord- 

 ance ivith the design of Mr. Smithson, as expressed in his will, that one of 

 the principal modes of executing the act and the trust, is the accumulation 

 of collections of specimens and objects of natural history and of elegant art, 

 and the gradual formation of a library of valuable ioorl<s pertaining to all 

 departments of human hnowledge, to the end that a copious storehouse of 

 materials of science, literature, and art may be provided, which shall ex- 

 cite and diffuse the love of learning among men, and shall assist the original 

 investigations and efforts of those who may devote themselves to the pursuit 

 of any branch of hioioledge,* 



This was a high ideal for the future National Museum, but it is one 

 which it has been year after year more closely approaching, and it is 

 hoped that the present report will show that the work accomplished 

 during the fiscal year of 1887-'88 has brought us still nearer to its re- 

 alization. 



With the death of Professor Baird, August 19, 1887, the National 

 Museum passed from under the direction of the mind by which its 

 policy had been planned for many years. If his biography could be 

 properly written, it would include a full history of the Museum, as well 

 as of the Fish Commission, and in minor degree ot the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution itself, for as secretary an<l assistant secretary he was associated 

 with nearly every i)hase of its activity during thirty-seven of its forty- 

 one years of corporate existence. With the Fish Commission, first of 

 all, his name is identified as its founder as well as its chief ad minis- 



* Report of Committee ou Organization, p. 20 



