Xx 
THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
ROFESSOR G. BROWN GOODE in his history 
P of the Genesis of the National Museum! states 
that Professor Henry in his report of March 1, 1856, 
expressed the hope that Congress would ultimately relieve 
the Smithsonian Institution from the burden, laid upon 
it by law, of maintaining a Museum; and would appro- 
priate its building for a National Museum. Correspond- 
ence printed in the earlier part of this volume indicates 
clearly that the establishment of a real National Museum 
was the aim and ambition of Professor Baird. In 1859 
an unofficial guide book, privately printed for the use 
of visitors by an employe of the Institution, was issued 
with the title “Guide to the Smithsonian Institution 
and National Museum” on its cover; and about this 
time the words “‘ National Museum of the United States”’ 
were painted over the door of the Exhibition Hall. But 
legal sanction for the use of this name was given by Con- 
gress only after the elapse of nearly twenty years. In 
1874 Congress inserted in the Legislative, Executive and 
Judicial Appropriation bill for 1875 the following item: 
“For official postage stamps for the National Museum 
in the Smithsonian Institution, $1000.00.” 
This appears to be the first legislative recognition Dy 
name of the Museum for which for many years the Con- 
gress had appropriated small sums of money under the 
1 Report of the U. S. National Museum for 1891, pp. 274 to 380, 
Washington, 1893; cf. p. 341. 
409 
