STORY OF THE "RANDOM RECORDS" 
When, in the later years of the 1920-30 period, 
I came to realize that I was approaching my official age 
limit, I began looking over my affairs with a view of 
rounding up as far as possible the ragged edges of my 
life work. 
in 1926 
I talked with Dr'. Walcott /indicating my readi- 
ness to retire from the service, and thus open the way for 
the selection of a suitable successor, but he did not 
think it advisable to take action at that time. I began, 
however, to prepare for the change. There were numerous 
matters that seemed to require attention. One thing es- 
pecially insisted on intruding itself upon my attention - 
the great accumulation of unfinished work. My files were 
burdened with no end of diaries, field notes, and unpublish- 
ed papers covering a period of sixty years; with accumula- 
tions of loosely assembled data, in pen, pencil and water 
colors and photographs that could not .be utilized save in 
a very limited way by those who might happen to follow me. 
A plan was finally adopted that promised in part at least 
to overcome the difficulty. The extremely varied accumu- 
lations were assembled in groups, largely chronological, 
to be bound at my own expense, for deposit in the Library 
of the National G-allery of Art or the Institution,- the volumes 
from 16 on to go to my sons if they wish. 
