REPORT OF THE PROGRESS AND CONDITION OF 



THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR 



THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1925 



By AxEXANDEB Wetmobe 

 Assistant Secretary, Smithsonian Institution 



INTKODUCTION 



The Congress of the United States in the act of August 10, 1846, 

 founding the Smithsonian Institution, recognized that an oppor- 

 tunity was afforded, in carrying out the design of Smithson for the 

 increase and diffusion of knowledge, to provide for the custody of 

 the Museum of the Nation. To this new establishment was, there- 

 fore, intrusted the care and development of the national collections. 

 At first the cost of maintaining this activity was paid from the 

 Smithsonian income; then for a time the Government bore a share, 

 but since 1877 Congress has provided for the expenses of thfi 

 Museum, 



The museum idea was fundamental in the organic act establish- 

 ing the Smithsonian Institution, which was based upon a 12-years' 

 discussion in Congress and the advice of the most distinguished 

 scientific men, educators, and intellectual leaders of the Nation 

 during the years 1834 to 1846. It is interesting to note how broad 

 and comprehensive were the views which actuated the Congress in 

 determining the scope of the Museum, a fact especially remarkable 

 when it is recalled that at that date no museum of considerable 

 size existed in the United States, and the museums of England and 

 of the continent of Europe, although containing many rich col- 

 lections, were still to a large extent without a developed plan. 



The Congress which passed the act of foundation enumerated as 

 within the scope of the Museum "all objects of art and of foreign 

 and curious research and all objects of natural history, plants^ 

 and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the 

 United States," thus indicating the Museum at the very outset as 

 the Museum of the United States and as one of the widest range in 

 its activities. It was appreciated that additions would be necessary 



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