REPORT ON THE PROGRESS AND CONDITION 

 OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 

 FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1924 



By William deO. Ravenel, 



Administrative Assistant to the Secretary, 



In charge of the United States National Museum 



INTRODUCTION 



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

 founding the Smithsonian Institution recognized that an opportu- 

 nity 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, therefore, 

 intrusted the care and development of the National Collections. At 

 first the cost of maintaining the Museum was paid from the Smith- 

 sonian income; then for a time the Government bore a share, but 

 since 1877 Congress has provided for the expenses of the Museum. 



The museum idea was fundamental in the organic act establishing 

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

 cussion in the Congress and the advice of the most distinguished 

 scientific men, educators, and intellectual leaders of the Nation 

 during the years 1834-46. It is interesting to note how broad and 

 comprehensive were the views which actuated the Congress in deter- 

 mining 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 Conti- 

 nent of Europe were still to a large extent without a developed plan, 

 although containing many rich collections. 



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 one of the 

 widest range and at the same time as the Museum of the United 

 States. It was also appreciated that additions would be necessary to 



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