34 REPORT OF NATIONAL, MUSEUM, 1924 



October 1, 1923. He was again granted leave without pay on May 

 16, 1924, to continue for the fourth summer his archeological explora- 

 tions at Pueblo Bonito, N. Mex., under the auspices of the National 

 Geographic Society. P. C. Van Natta, aid in physical anthropology, 

 who is studying to better fit himself for his position, was again 

 granted a furlough for the college year from September 26, 1923, 

 to May 31, 1924. His position was temporarily filled from October 

 16 to January 15 by John L. Baer, who had served as aid in the 

 division on previous similar occasions, and from January 28 to May 

 31 by T. D. Stewart. Mr. Baer was relieved that he might join 

 the Marsh Darien expedition as the representative of the Museum, 

 and while collecting specimens in Panama succumbed to a locally 

 acquired illness on May 28, 1924. Mr. Baer was highly regarded 

 by his colleagues and friends for his scientific work and unfailing 

 enthusiasm. Another field worker, Charles M. Hoy, met a tragic 

 death at Kuling, Kiangsi, China, on September 6, 1923, while through 

 the generosity of Dr. W. L. Abbott he was collecting natural history 

 specimens for the Museum. 



The Museum lost from its staff by death : On July 19, 1923, Miss 

 Elizabeth D. Tabler, clerk, one of the oldest employees in point of 

 service, having served continuously for nearly 41 years ; on November 

 23, 1923, John J. Dolan, who entered the Museum employ in 1891, was 

 captain of the watch from July 1, 1902, to April 15, 1923, and was ad- 

 vanced to the office of Museum shipper only a few months previous to 

 his death; and on May 2, 1924, George W. Spier, custodian of watches. 



Mr. Spier was born March 28, 1854, in Bueckeburg, Germany, 

 and was early apprenticed to a master mechanic and chronometer 

 maker. As soon as he received his certificate as an expert watch- 

 maker he set sail for America, arriving June 8, 1872, and early the 

 following year he came to Washington. He served at his trade with 

 prominent local jewelers until 1890, when he opened his own jewelry 

 store, from which he retired in October, 1922. 



Mr. Spier was given an honorary appointment on the staff of the 

 National Museum as custodian of watches on February 13, 1920, and 

 devoted much of his time in bringing about a better arrangement 

 and classification of the Museum's horological collections. He was 

 instrumental, with the aid of the National Research Council, in the 

 establishment, in October, 1921, of the Horological Institute of 

 America, of which he was elected the first president. Mr. Spier also 

 advocated the establishment of horological schools throughout the 

 country and the erection of a structure in Washington in which 

 should be shown the development of the art and science of time 

 keeping and for the collection and housing of objects illustrating 

 that subject — to visualize the importance and value of correct time 

 keeping in the economic life of our country. 



