36 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 



reference to the rotunda. In planning for the distribution of the 

 collections it has not been found possible to provide for all of the 

 subjects which should be comprehended, and the fact that a few of 

 the halls are still unarranged is due in part to the insufficient force 

 and in part to the length of time required for the preparation of 

 many of the exhibits. A brief summary of the conditions at the 

 close of the year may, however, be of some interest. 



The division of history, formerly limited to the north hall, has 

 been extended into the west north range and the north west range, 

 and also occupies the floor space in the northwest court. The hall 

 and connecting range contain the general collection of history, con- 

 sisting chiefly of memorials. The collection of musical instruments 

 previously filling the large wall cases along the sides of this hall, 

 though not belonging to this division, have been removed to a corre- 

 sponding position in the northwest court, leaving these cases to be 

 used for historical furniture, of which the Museum has many im- 

 portant pieces. In one of them, however, " The Star-Spangled Ban- 

 ner" still remains, pending arrangements for a better installation. 

 In the north west range has been placed the period costume collec- 

 tion, which was first opened to the public in February last. This 

 noteworthy feature, which centers upon a series of \Vliite House 

 costumes draped on manikins, contains many and valuable examples 

 of the styles of dress in America from the colonial period to the 

 present time, besides a great variety of articles of domestic and 

 personal use. In the adjoining or northwest court are the coins and 

 medals and the postage stamps, also an installation of last year. 

 The former are shown in table cases, but the stamps required a 

 special arrangement which has been carried out in the form of two 

 long upright cases, fitted with framed sliding screens to which the 

 stamps are attached. The gallery of this court is devoted to the 

 unique photographic exhibit, illustrating by apparatus and results 

 all of the stages in the progress of this art from the first attempts 

 at obtaining pictures through the agency of the sun. The opening 

 of this display was likewise a feature of the year. 



On the left-hand side of the building on entering is the art textile 

 collection in the east north range, followed by the boat hall, or north 

 east range, in both of which but few changes were made. The divi- 

 sion of mechanical technology, to which the exhibit of boats belongs, 

 also occupies the east hall, the northeast court, and about one-half 

 of the south east range. The court is mainly given over to small 

 arms, both military and other, of which the collection is the largest 

 and most varied in this country. The remaining space is used for 

 a considerable variety of subjects, such as land and air transporta- 

 tion, electricity in its several applications, measures of space and 

 time, and manv miscellaneous devices and inventions, which are well 



