SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
WASHINGTON. D. C. 
March 22, 1946 
Dear Dr. Wetmore; 
As you know. Dr. Valentine, editor of Science , has generously 
given us their issue of August 10, 1946, to be devoted to the 
Smithsonian Centennial; and since this will entail a considerable 
amount of writing by various people, it would seem that we ought 
not to delay further in getting the project under way. Valentine 
has indicated that it will be left up to us as to what goes into 
the issue, so long as we keep in the usual Science format. This 
will mean a minimum of 24 pages to be fillecH 
After a brief introductory sketch of the institution, to be 
signed by yourself, it will probably be well to have at least 
four main articles covering the hundred years of Smithsonian re¬ 
search in our principal fields, and the following are proposed; 
1. One Hundred Years of Smithsonian Anthropology. By 
{W«<aXo > John Rr - Swanton . 
2. A Century of Progress in Biology. By Remington 
Kellogg* 
3. The Smithsonian: Pioneer in American Geology. By 
R. S. Bassler. 
4. Astrophysics and the Smithsonian Institution. By 
C. G. Abbot. 
These titles and authors are, of course, tentative, but, if 
you approve, Mr. True will go ahead at once and get the writers 
lined up so as to give them as much time as possible. Copy ought 
to be in hand by July 1. The articles must he substantial and 
scholarly, written from the historical viewpoint; they should 
indicate not only the notable accomplishments of Smithsonian 
scientists over the past century but also should show the Insti¬ 
tution's part in the development of American science in general. 
Each one would be about 4,000 words in length and might have one 
or two illustrations. Besides these, of course, there will be 
shorter pieces on other activities of the Smithsonian Institu¬ 
tion, such as arts and engineering, history, publications, and 
library, but the emphasis will be on scientific research. 
I hope we may hear from you on this immediately, as the 
editors feel that it is important that no time be lost if a 
thoroughly creditable job is to be done. 
