KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 33 



idly growing collections of the National Gallery of Art, and in larger 

 measure even to the great accumulations of historical material relat- 

 ing to the late war which are just now demanding adequate atten- 

 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 overcrowded 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. Eeceived 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 funds, adding to the Isaac Lea collection 

 145986—19 3 



