THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
103 
These collections I desire to retain during my life for the enjoyment of 
Students, my friends and myself, and for the further purpose of making 
additions and improvements from time to time. Believing that good 
models only should be used in artistic instruction, I wish to continue my 
censorship, aided by the best expert advice, and remove every undesirable 
article, and add in the future whatever I can obtain of like harmonious 
standard quality. 
This generous tender received consideration at the annual 
meeting of the Board of Regents, January 25, 1905, at which a 
committee was appointed to wait upon Mr. Freer in Detroit, 
and to make such an examination of the collection as it deemed 
necessary. Some slight verbal changes in the wording of the 
offer, thought advisable from a legal point of view, were agreed 
to by Mr. Freer, who addressed the revised form to the President 
of the United States. Under the modified conditions Mr. 
Freer’s offer was accepted by the Board of Regents at their 
annual meeting, January 24, 1906. Mr. Freer’s letter to the 
President was as follows : 
Washington, D. C., December 15 , 1905. 
To the President: 
Permit me to repeat my offer to bequeath my art collections to the 
Smithsonian Institution or to the United States Government, and also the 
sum of $500,000 in money for the purpose of constructing a suitable build- 
ing in which to house them, upon the following terms and conditions: 
First. The sum of $500,000 shall be paid by my executors to the Regents 
of the Smithsonian Institution or the United States Government promptly 
after my decease, and shall be used forthwith for the construction of a fire- 
proof building connected with the National Museum, the construction of 
which has been recently authorized, or reasonably near thereto. 
Second. The interior of this building shall be arranged with special re- 
gard for the convenience of students and others desirous of an opportunity 
for uninterrupted study. A suitable space shall be provided in which the 
Peacock Room should be re-erected complete. The whole interior ar- 
rangement of the building shall be agreed upon between the Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution and myself within a reasonable time after 
the acceptance of this offer. 
Third. The collections, with such additions thereto as shall be made 
during my lifetime, shall be delivered by my executors to the Regents 
immediately after the building is constructed and ready to receive them. 
Fourth. The collections and the building shall be cared for and main- 
tained perpetually by the Smithsonian Institution or the United States 
Government at its own expense. 
Fifth. No addition or deduction shall be made to the collections after 
my death, and nothing else shall ever be exhibited with them, or in the 
