December 13 



Special Event: The Cooper-Hewitt Museum hosted a party in honor of Secretary 

 Adams to introduce him to the friends of the Smithsonian Institution in New York 

 City. 



December 14 



Exhibition: The opening of the eighth annual Trees of Christmas , an exhibition 

 developed by the Office of Horticulture in conjunction with the Museum of 

 American History, included 12 trees decorated to display the ethnic, artistic and 

 cultural use of the Christmas tree. 



December 14 



Special Event: The Women's Committee of the Smithsonian Associates held its 14th 

 annual Christmas dinner dance in the Museum of Natural History. The proceeds, 

 along with those from the Washington Craft Show, were used to support 29 projects 

 throughout the Institution. 



December 21 



Exhibition: Japanese Calligraphy . Traditional styles of Japanese writing, as 

 well as cursive styles inspired by Chinese models developed during the 8th 

 through 12th centuries, were displayed at the Freer Gallery in this exhibition of 

 screens, hanging scrolls and hand scrolls. 



December 26-31 



Special Event: "Holiday Celebration," the Museum of American History's annual 

 celebration, drew on the talents of more than 70 musical groups, dramatic 

 performers, artisans and cooks to demonstrate the customs of 22 countries and 

 cultures now practiced during Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year's festivities in 

 the United States. The celebration attracted more than 115,000 visitors. 



December 31 



Visitors: An estimated 23.5 million visits were recorded at the Smithsonian's 13 

 museums in Washington, D.C., in 1984. Peak tourist months were June and July, 

 during the Folklife Festival , the Aditi exhibition at the Museum of Natural 

 History, and the introduction of the new IMAX film, "The Dream Is Alive," at the 

 Air and Space Museum. 



January 



Acquisition: Successful negotiations began for the purchase of an unparalleled 

 treasury of Islamic and Persian paintings and manuscripts assembled between 1900 

 and 1943 by Henri Vever, a French Jeweler. The collection provides a 

 comprehensive survey of the art of the Persian book and is considered one of the 

 most significant purchases in the Institution's history. 



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