28 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 



referred to in the assistant secretary's report. Among the most note- 

 worthy accessions in ethnology were more than 500 objects from 

 Dutch New Guinea, the Moluccas and Ambon of the Ceram group, 

 collected and presented by Dr. W. L. Abbott, who has done so much 

 for the Museum in past years toward increasing our knowledge of 

 the zoology and ethnology of the Far East. Among the important 

 acquisitions in biology were some 200,000 insects obtained by ento- 

 mologists of the Department of Agriculture during economic investi- 

 gations; a generous donation from Dr. E. A. Mearns, consisting of 

 his large private collection of bird skins, eggs, and skeletons, con- 

 taining many rarities; and over 10,000 specimens, mainly grasses, 

 from the Department of Agriculture. Additions in geology and 

 mineralogy included a 200-pound specimen of copper from Nevada; 

 many specimens of minerals from various sources, including rare and 

 excellent examples and some new forms ; meteorites ; Cambrian fossils ; 

 and three valuable type collections pertaining to the paleobotany of 

 Alaska and other regions. Dr. E. O. Ulrich presented about 3,000 

 Paleozoic fossils of much value to the Museum. The division of 

 textiles has been enriched by many important accessions and has 

 been much extended in its scope during the year. 



In the division of history there were large additions to memorials 

 of eminent Americans and of historic events. An exhibit of period 

 costumes installed in one of the history halls has attracted much 

 attention. It includes a series of costumes worn by wives of many 

 of the Presidents of the United States, and contains valuable ex- 

 amples of the styles of dress in America since the colonial period 

 and a A^ariety of articles of domestic and personal use. A unique 

 photographic exhibit illustrates the apparatus and results of all 

 stages of that art since the first attempts to obtain pictures through 

 the agency of the sun. 



The collection of fine arts has been enriched by further gifts from 

 Mr. Charles L. Freer, of Detroit. His original gift, made in 1906, 

 contained about 2,300 objects, and has since been increased to 4,701 

 most interesting and valuable examples of oriental and American 

 art. The collection remains in the possession of the donor during his 

 life. Mr. Freer has provided for the construction of a suitable build- 

 ing adjacent to the National Museum for the permanent preserva- 

 tion and display of the collection. Among i^ermanent additions to 

 the National Gallery were a number of paintings. The loans ag- 

 gregated 109 paintings and 3 pieces of sculpture from various 

 sources. 



I have elsewhere mentioned the bequest to the Institution by Dr. 

 Chamberlain of $35,000, establishing a fund to promote the increase 

 and scientific value of the Isaac Lea collections of precious stones 

 and fresh-water mussels in the Museum. 



