THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
65 
that would entitle it to recognition in a gallery of the fine arts, 
yet the number of worthy examples was sufficient, as a nucleus, 
to stimulate activity in this direction, had the time been oppor- 
tune or had not an accident intervened to bring discouragement. 
As will have been noted from the accounts on the preceding 
pages, the collection was derived in part from accessions directly 
to the Smithsonian Institution, as gifts, purchases and Govern- 
ment deposits, and in part through the transfer of the museum 
of the National Institute in 1862. 
It has, unfortunately, not been possible to prepare a com- 
plete catalogue of the contents of the collection at this time, 
owing to the destruction of the manuscript records of the 
Institution in the fire described on a later page, and to the fact 
that a comprehensive list was never published. The one here 
given is based on such information as could be obtained from 
the Smithsonian reports,® and from an examination of such of 
the objects obtained during the earlier years as are still in the 
possession of the Institution. At the time of writing, however, 
there is some art material in storage, the exact nature of which 
can not be ascertained before the completion of the new Museum 
building, when it may be possible to amplify the list. 
a Much information regarding the collection at this period, not to be found 
elsewhere, is contained in the following private publication: “An Ac- 
count of The Smithsonian Institution, its Founder, Building, Operations, 
Etc., Prepared from the Reports of Prof. Henry to the Regents, and 
other authentic sources. By William J. Rhees, Chief Clerk of the Smith- 
sonian Institution.” This pamphlet was essentially a guide for the use 
of visitors. It was first issued at least as early as 1857 and continued to 
be reprinted during many years. 
