REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 31 



out the agreement as to renovating the building. It was therefore 

 unfortunately necessary to reopen the natural history building with- 

 out making the needed repairs, the first floor being opened to visitors 

 on April 11 and the second floor on April 22. 



Advantage was taken of the closing of the exhibition halls to give 

 additional attention to classifying, arranging, labeling, and other- 

 wise putting in shape the study series in the various departments. 

 In the department of geology this also afforded opportunity to thor- 

 oughly clean and to some extent rearrange the exhibition series, so 

 that when reopened to visitors the halls were more interesting than 

 ever. 



From the beginning of the fiscal j'^ear until the signing of the 

 armistice on November 11, members of the Museum staff in all depart- 

 ments continued along the same general lines as last year to render 

 service to the various governmental agencies more directly engaged 

 in prosecuting America's part in the great conflict. Much valuable 

 assistance was thus given, and the cooperation of the Museum in this 

 work has resulted in bringing it into even closer relationship with the 

 executive departments with beneficial results. 



War collections. — Early in the fiscal year, in cooperation with the 

 War and Navy Departments, the Museum undertook the assembling 

 and installation of a collection of materials relating to the late war, 

 which will probably form one of the most important collections ever 

 undertaken by it, and may, ultimately, need a separate building. It 

 is proposed to perpetuate the part taken by the United States in the 

 World War by preserving and exhibiting objects graphically illus- 

 trating the military, naval, and aerial activities, not only of our own 

 side of the conflict but of our opponents as well. 



The value of such a collection can not be overestimated from the 

 popular or scientific standpoint, not only forming a fitting and serv- 

 iceable supplement to the written and printed records relating 

 to the history of the war, but constituting a most notable memorial to 

 the patriotic forces represented by the individuals who have con- 

 tributed to the preservation of civilization. It will be of the highest 

 A^alue for historical and scientific research. 



The scope of this exhibit includes not only the general military 

 equipment, such as tanks, field and machine guns, and other objects 

 used by military organizations, naval equipment, including models 

 of ships, naval guns, docks, yards, etc., airplanes, battle planes, but 

 accessories of all kinds; individual military and naval equipment of 

 the various branches of the service, such as clothing, arms, and other 

 paraphernalia, military and naval decorations and medals, commemo- 

 rative medals of notable events, mementos, trophies, pictures, paint- 



