KEPOBT OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. 



•j. THE FOl M>A'll<>\ AND SCOPE OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Foundation and legal status. — The National Museum was organized in 



L846 by the act of Congress transferring to the Smithsonian Institution 

 tin- custody of the u National Cabinet of Curiosities," at that time de- 

 posited in the Patent Office building.* These collections were, in L867, 



placed in the Sin it lisonian building, the Regents of the Institution hav- 

 ing accepted the trust on condition that the necessary appropriations 

 for their maintenance should be continued by Congress. 

 The aet a'nove referred to provides that '-all objects of art and of 



foreign and (anions research, and all objects of natural history, plants, 

 and geological and in inera logical specimens belonging or hereafter to 



belong to the United states, which may be in the city of Washington," 

 shall be delivered to the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and 



together with new specimens obtained by exchange, donation, or other 

 wise, shall be so arranged and classified as best to facilitate their 

 examination and study. t 



The National Museum is the authorized place of deposit for all objects 

 of natural history, mineralogy, geology, archaeology, ethnology, &c, 

 belonging to the United States or collected by the Coast and Interior 

 Survey, the Geological Survey, or by any other parties for the Govern* 

 ment of the United States, when no longer needed for investigations in 

 progress.^: 



Organization and government. — The establishment of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, to which, in addition to the carrying out of the other re- 

 quirements of the bequest of Smithson, is intrusted the control of the 

 National Museum, is composed of the President of the United States 

 and his Cabinet, the Commissioner of Patents, and a Board of Regents, 

 which has for its members the Vice-President and Chief Justice of the 

 United States, three members of the Senate, three members of the 

 House of Representatives, and six other persons, not members of Con- 

 gress, two of whom are residents of the city of Washington. § 



The management of the National Museum is intrusted to the Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution, who is, ex-officio, its director. He 

 is aided by a staff of assistants, who are chosen by him, and for whose 

 action he is responsible to the Eegents. The constitution of the Staff is 

 constantly changing with the varying needs of the Museum. 



This staff is at the present time composed of an assistant director, 

 six curators and live assistant curators, twelve honorary curators, serv- 

 ing without pay, a number of aids, acting in various capacities, a reg- 



* Ax Act to establish the "Smithsonian Institution" for the increase and diffusion 

 of useful knowledge among men. (Approved August 10, 184(5: Revised Statutes, 

 title Ixxiii, sections 5579-6594.) 

 vised Statutes, seel ion E E 



ttutea Forty-tilth Congress, third session, ohap. 182, p. 3i)4. 

 $ Revised Statutes, 5580. 



