130 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1924 



units arranged in two buildings at a considerable distance from 

 eack other. Not only are the historical exhibits shown in two 

 separate buildings, but in widely separated portions of those build- 

 ings. Such a method of arrangement inevitably results in a tremen- 

 dous loss so far as the value of these exhibits to the public is con- 

 cerned, and also in the amount of work accomplished by the his- 

 torical staff in connection with the handling of the exhibits. 



RESEARCHES 



The progress of the research work for the benefit of the Museum 

 described in the previous report was interrupted by the receipt at 

 the close of the past fiscal year of the large numismatic collection 

 transferred to the Museum by the Treasury Department and de- 

 scribed in the previous annual report. The urgent necessity of un- 

 packing, classifying, installing the exhibition series, and arranging 

 in storage series those portions of this collection not suitable for 

 exhibition purposes, has occupied the time of the curator of the 

 division throughout the past fiscal year, with the exception of that 

 devoted to routine work and matters of an urgent character. These 

 processes have by no means been completed and it will be impossible 

 to undertake research work of any other character until the aims 

 of the Museum in this connection have been accomplished. Owing 

 to the magnitude of the numismatic collection, its vast scientific im- 

 portance, and the circumstances under which it was received, it is 

 felt that the work in this connection outlined above should receive 

 first consideration. 



In a number of instances historical materials were lent to the 

 Department of Agriculture for use in connection with the prepara- 

 tion of historical films by that department. A collection of en- 

 graved portraits of Confederate military officers was lent to the 

 Brooks Memorial Art Gallery for the Confederate reunion held in 

 Memphis, Tenn. The usual number of inquiries both verbal and 

 written concerning the historical collections and historical museum 

 work in general were answered by the staff of the division. No 

 special tabulation of the exact amount of information furnished in 

 this manner was kept, but the amount of information furnished in 

 this connection during the present fiscal year was both large and 

 varied. 



NUMBER OF SPECIMENS IN THE DIVISION 



The number of historical objects received by the Museum during 

 the year and assigned to the division of history was 5,374. This 

 brings the total number of objects in the care of the division on 

 June 30, 1924, up to 325,363. 



