REPORT ON THE SECTIONS OF FOODS AND TEXTILES IN THE U. S. 

 NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1886, 



By Eomyn Hitchcock, Acting Curator. 



In accordance with your suggestion that I should prepare a report 

 covering, in a general way, the period of my connection with the Mu- 

 seum, I have endeavored to give, in a condensed form, a review of the 

 work done, and a statement of the present condition of the collections 

 in my charge. The different divisions of work assigned to me cover so 

 large a field that it has been impossible to give particular attention to 

 all of them. My work has, therefore, been mainly confined to the two 

 sections of textiles and foods. In addition to these I have received and 

 classified material belonging to the following sections, as enumerated in 

 the u Scheme of Museum Classification" published in the Appendix 

 to the Proceedings of the Museum for 1881, viz : 



12. The elements and their combinations, chemical collections. 



21. Preparation of food-stuffs, narcotics, etc. 



22. Distillation, manufacture of perfumeries, etc. 



23. Oils, fats, soaps, and waxes ; their preparation and use. 



24. Gums, resins, glues, cements. 



25. Pigments and dyes. 



26. The chemical manufactures and their products. 



29. Fibers, cordage, textile fabrics, needle- work. 



30. Paper and its manufacture. 



I have also taken charge of the Smithsonian collection of philosophical 

 apparatus, which is on exhibition in the north hall. 



In a communication from you dated October 13, 1885, you expressed 

 a desire that I would " take charge of all technological material, es- 

 pecially raw materials and products not otherwise already assigned," 

 and stated that " the greater portion of this will doubtless come to you 

 permanently, as soon as the departments having an interest in such ma- 

 terial ^are developed." Accordingly, I have endeavored to catalogue, 

 classify and preserve a great mass of material that it would be impos- 

 sible for one curator with a single assistant to study, label and prepare 

 for exhibition. That material, however, is available for use at any time, 

 and will some day be of great value to the Museum. 



In glancing over the names of the sections mentioned above, it may 

 seem that they include rather a heterogeneous collection, but with the 

 n. Mis. 170, pt. 2 8 113 



