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REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30
20
SAGE ING To
(Publication 2834 )
WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1925
em Ob cA OVICKE SRE BE
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CONTENTS
Page
TefaSh ELE CELE COTE IG IMT SEI a aU 2 ec ee a et V, VE Mhensmitnsonian IMstitution22 28 = en se ee ee eee 1 ithevestablishment) 22 ce we we Se es i ee ee ee 1 Heer OATOKO eRe SeM tS es As aN ay a ee ee eee 2 General GONSIG CAC ONS 28 2s 2th Ce We es 2
PE prIMeN TA CES hemes serie ay GORE EN NOB eS Ak eNO ire ea Nese SRS Maes Sac 4 Researches and explorations____________________=-._-_-__-_______- 6 Geological explorations in the Canadian Rockies_______________ 6 Zoological explorations in Western China_____________________ 7 Botanical exploration in Panama and Costa Rica______________ § Archeological expedition to China_______________-__-_--__--__- 9 Mictesh oD triem eR Pemmmems i 22 er es ee 11 Additional-assistant Seeretary ok 12 Smithsonian radio talks_____ aT GS EER STINE Be a ca RN gL 12,13 Eagia Leceas tery i i AAA ml re 14
JE SUTRA a A a ie AN tel ea La BP Ph AL NY 15
BT ear et CORNEA eA USS UN TN ee ee a a NR OE Ae Ja 16 IN ETOTT AG Gre Ty; Ot WA Ee 2 BNR oe ee Ee 18 Keer aera OleAT Gee os cee ele Sel eas pee Eee a 20 Bureau of American Ethnology_______________-___-____-___-_---__----__ 20 TribernanionalobyRchanges<o..ua asie e e 22 Naionalie Zoological, “Park 2-222. fe 2 23.
FSETOUMY. Scale ObSeMVvatory. 2s Se 24 International Catalogue of Scientific Literature_______________________ 24 SSeS e RG) Cay gem mec eee ON Ct ae eee N Li i SO Cy LUN. Bh ee Se 25 Appendix 1. Report on the United States National Museum 28:
48.
2. Report on the National Gallery of Art
3: Report on the Freer Gallery of Art____________-____ peep ote 57 4. Report on the Bureau of American Ethnology____________ 60: 5. Report on the International Hxchanges__________________-_ 15 6. “Report on the National Zoological Park___________________ 87 7. Report on the Astrophysical Observatory_______-___-__-__ 101 8. Report on the International Catalogue of Scientific Litera-
{ELD Ex SUA G0) a a ee es 107 Sesheport; on theviibranty. oe Be ee ee 109
TOSREPOLE, OMS PUI GA GLOTIS pe ese hy ea A 116
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THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
June 30, 1925 Presiding officer ex officio —CaLvIn CooxLipcr, President of the United States. Chancellor—WIiLLIAM Howarp Tart, Chief Justice of the United States.
Members of the Institution: CALyvIN CooLipGr, President of the United States. CHARLES G. Dawes, Vice President of the United States. WILLIAM Howarp Tart, Chief Justice of the United States. FRANK B. Kewzoce, Secretary of State. ANDREW W. MELLON, Secretary of the Treasury. JOHN WINGATE WEEKS, Secretary of War. JOHN G. Sarcent, Attorney General. Harry S. New, Postmaster General. Curtis D. WiLBuR, Secretary of the Navy. HuBERT WorK, Secretary of the Interior. WILLIAM M. JARDINE, Secretary of Agriculture. HERBERT CLARK Hoover, Secretary of Commerce. JAMES JOHN Davis, Secretary of Labor.
Regents of the Institution: WILLIAM Howarp Tart, Chief Justice of the United States, Chancellor, CHARLES G. Dawes, Vice President of the United States. REED Smoot, Member of the Senate. GEORGE WHARTON PEPPER, Member of the Senate. WoOoDBRIDGE N. Ferris, Member of the Senate. ALBERT JOHNSON, Member of the House of Representatives. R. WALTON Moorzt, Member of the House of Representatives. WALTER H. NEwton, Member of the House of Representatives. GEORGE GRAY, citizen of Delaware. CHARLES FEF. CHOATE, Jr., citizen of Massachusetts. HENRY WHITE, citizen of Washington, D. C. Ropert 8. BROOKINGS, citizen of Missouri. Irwin B. LAUGHLIN, citizen of Pennsylvania. FREDERIC A. DELANO, citizen of Washington, D. C.
Executive committee.—GrEORGE GRAY, HENRY WHITE, FREDERIC A. DELANO. Secretary of the Institution—CHARLES D. WALCOTT.
Assistant Secretary.—C. G. ABBOT.
Assistant Secretary.—ALEXANDER WETMORE.
Ohief clerk.—Harry W. Dorsey.
Accounting and disbursing agent——N. W. DORSEY.
Editor —W. P. TRUE.
Librarian.—WItLiaM L. CoRBIN.
Appointment clerk.—JAMES G. TRAYLOR.
Property clerk.—J. H. HI.
VI ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
NATIONAL MUSEUM
Keeper ex officio—CuHarLes D. Watcort, Secretary of the Smithsonian In- stitution.
Assistant Secretary (in charge).—ALEXANDER WETMORE.
Administrative assistant to the Secretary.—W. DE C. RAVENEL.
Head curators—WatLtTER HoucH, LEONHARD STEJNEGER, GEORGE P. MERRILL.
Curators —PavL BartscH, R. 8S. Basster, T. T. BELOTE, AUSTIN H. CLARK, ¥F. W. Crarxke, F. V. Covittz, W. H. DALL, WALTER Hoven, L. O. Howarp, ALES HroiiéKxa, New M. Jupp, Freperick L. LEwTon, GEoRGE P. MERRILL, GERRIT 8. Miter, JR., CARL W. Mirman, RosertT Riweway, WALDO L. SCHMITT, LEONHARD STEJNEGER.
Associate curators.—J. M. AtpricH, C. W. Gi~mMorgE, W. R. Maxon, CHARLES W. Ricumonp, J. N. Rose, DAviID WHITE.
Chief of correspondence and documents.—H. S. BRYANT.
Disbursing agent.—N. W. DORSEY.
Superintendent of buildings and labor.—J. S. GOLDSMITH.
Editor.—Marcus BENJAMIN.
Photographer.—ARTHUR J. OLMSTED.
Property clerk.—W. A. KNOWLES.
Engineer.—C. R. DENMARK.
Shipper.—L. H. PERRY.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART Director.—WiILLIAM H. HOoLMEs, FREER GALLERY OF ART
Curator.—JOHN ELLERTON LODGE.
Associate curator.—CaRL WHITING BISHOP. Assistant curator.—GRAcE DUNHAM GUEST. Associate.—KATHARINE NASH RHOADES. Superintendent.—JOHN BUNDY.
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
Chief.—J. WALTER FEWKES.
Ethnologists—JoHN P. Harrineton, J. N. B. Hewitt, FRANcIs LA FLESCHE, TRUMAN MICHELSON, JOHN R. SWANTON.
Editor.—STANLEyY SEARLES.
Librarian.—ELLa LEARY.
Tllustrator.—DrE Lancry GILL.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
Assistant Secretary (in charge).—C. G. ABBOT. Chief Clerk.—C. W. SHOEMAKER.
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK
Superintendent.—WILLIAM M. MANN. Assistant Superintendent.—A. B. BAKER.
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY
Director.—C. G. ABBOT. Aid.—F.. E. Fow eg, Jr. Assistant.—L. B. ALDRICH.
REGIONAL BUREAU FOR THE UNITED STATES, INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
Assistant in charge.—LronaRD C. GUNNELL.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Cuartes D. WaAtcotTT
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1925
To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution:
GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit herewith the customary annual report showing the activities and condition of the Smith- sonian Institution and the Government bureaus under its adminis- trative charge during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925. The first 27 pages of the report contain an account of the affairs of the Insti- tution, and in appendixes 1 to 10 are given more cletailed summaries of the operations of the United States National Museum, the Na- tional Gallery of Art, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Bureau of American Ethnology, the International Exchanges, the National Zoological Park, the Astrophysical Observatory, the United States Regional Bureau of the International Catalogue of Scientific Litera- ture, the Smithsonian Library, and of the publications issued under the direction of the Institution.
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION THE ESTABLISHMENT
The Smithsonian Institution was created by act of Congress in 1846, according to the terms of the will of James Smithson, of Eng- land, who in 1826 bequeathed his property to the United States of America, “to found at Washington, under the name of the Smith- sonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” In receiving the property and accepting the trust, Congress determined that the Federal Government was without authority to administer the trust directly, and therefore constituted an “ establishment” whose statutory members are “the President, the Vice President, the Chief Justice, and the heads of the executive departments.”
1
2 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 THE BOARD OF REGENTS
The affairs of the Institution are administered by a Board of Regents whose membership consists of “the Vice President, the Chief Justice, three Members of the Senate, and three Members of the House of Representatives, together with six other persons other than Members of Congress, two of whom shall be resident in the city of Washington, and the other four shall be inhabitants of some State, but no two of them of the same State.” One of the Regents is elected chancellor by the board; in the past the selection has fallen upon the Vice President or the Chief Justice; and a suitable person is chosen by the Regents as secretary of the Institution, who is also secretary of the Board of Regents and the executive officer directly in charge of the Institution’s activities.
The following changes occurred in the personnel of the board during the year: The Hon. Charles G. Dawes, as Vice President, be- came on March 4, 1925, a Regent of the Institution ex officio. Sena- tor Reed Smoot, of Utah, was appointed a Regent on December 2, 1924, to succeed Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, deceased. Senator George Wharton Pepper, of Pennsylvania, was appointed a mem- ber of the board on December 3, 1924, to succeed Senator Medill Mc- Cormick, resigned. Senator Woodbridge N. Ferris, of Michigan, was appointed on March 11, 1925, to succeed Senator A. Owsley Stanley, whose term as a Regent expired with his retirement from the Senate.
The roll of Regents at the close of the fiscal year was as follows: William H. Taft, Chief Justice of the United States, chancellor; Charles G. Dawes, Vice President of the United States; members from the Senate, Reed Smoot, George Wharton Pepper, Woodbridge N. Ferris; members from the House of Representatives, Albert Johnson, R. Walton Moore, Walter H. Newton; citizen members, George Gray, Delaware; Charles F. Choate, jr., Massachusetts; Henry White, Washington, D. C.; Robert S. Brookings, Missouri; Irwin B. Laughlin, Pennsylvania; and Frederic A. Delano, Wash- ington, D. C.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
The past year marks a crisis in the affairs of the Institution. For several years past it has grown more and more difficult to stretch the income from its meager endowment sufficiently to cover the steadily increasing costs of even the limited amount of research which can be undertaken and. of the administration of the eight growing Government bureaus. The cost of publishing is more than twice that of 10 years ago, which has resulted in materially de- creasing the output of Smithsonian publications. The research work of the Institution is now limited practically to the paleontological —
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 3
work of your secretary and the work on the solar constant-of radia- tion under Doctor Abbot’s direction, and both of these investigations are partially supported by private financial aid. The Institution has for several years been undermanned, and the ordinary running expenses are met only by the exercise of rigid economy.
This condition has been recognized for some years, and attempts have been made from time to time to increase the endowment. But during the past year the situation has become acute, and it has been realized that without a marked increase in the Institution’s resources it would no longer be able to hold its place among the great research institutions of the present day, the annual income of several of which is greater than the Smithsonian’s entire endowment. If allowed to go on under these circumstances, the Smithsonian, America’s na- tional scientific establishment, which was the guiding hight during the formative period of scientific activity in this country, and which has been the parent of most of the present great scientific bureaus of the Government, would be relegated to second or third rank, and its world-wide reputation as a center of scientific effort in America would rapidly diminish.
With a definite realization of these facts, the administration oe the Institution has concentrated during the year upon a direct effort to increase its resources, and by the close of the year several plans were under way and one definite step had been taken toward that end. An agreement was entered into with the William T. De Van Corporation, of New York, to issue a series of popular scien- tific books, to be known as the Smithsonian Scientific Series, a project similar in general plan to the Chronicles of America series, published by the Yale University Press, which proved so success- ful under Mr. De Van’s direction. In the Smithsonian series it is intended to present in readable form, and profusely illustrated, the activities of the Institution and the bureaus under its direction in many branches of science. The series will consist of 20 volumes, and the following tentative titles of a few will indicate their nature:
Sun-Rays in the Welfare of Man.
Man’s Origin and Development.
Gems, Meteorites, and Stones.
North American Indians.
The Study of Our Seas.
Birds and Their Ways.
The preparation of manuscripts was well under way at the close of the year, and it is hoped that before very long the sale of these books will add materially to the Institution’s annual income. Two other projects, each holding promise of a large increase of endow- ment, were under consideration, but final action had not been taken by June 30, and their discussion at this time would be premature.
66999252
4 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
However, it is believed that as a result of the concerted effort of the administration the outlook for the future is brighter regarding the possibility of increased resources for research and publication.
FINANCES
The permanent investments of the Institution consist of the fol- lowing: Deposited in the Treasury of the United States________________ $1, 000, 000. 00 CONSOLIDATED FUND
Miscellaneous securities, etc., either purchased or acquired by
PIT; COSt OF Value at Gate acquired == =e. eee 218, 386. 50 Charles D. and Mary Vaux Walcott research fund, stock (gift) ; yaluejsinos ss eat Pe og ee re ee eee 11, 520. 00 The sums invested for each specific fund or securities, etc., ac- quired by gift are described as follows: < United Consoli- Walcott Fund States dated research Total Treasury fund fund Avery PUTA gs Bo a a te $14, 000. 00) $32, 669. 55 |_--_------_- $46, 669. 55 Virginia) Purdy Baconifund . 2122-2 ee ee eee 62) 27293; (2a ae 62, 272. 93 huey Baird funds 2-22 2 oo ee ee ee 1, 528. 09 Chamberlamnfurid = 8.022. 132..- ce shh eee RE ae 35, 000. 00 Mabel furan: eee see. 3 Leechs Sek 500, 00 500. 00 Hanniltonturid! Ye. Sale Soa ee eee ee 2, 500. 00 38, 000. 00 Caroline Henry fand.2 2) -20 5. <2 ESS ee ee 1, 223. 33 Hodgkins fund, ‘general’? 1oh Seen ee SEE ee 116, 000, 00 153, 275. 00 Hodgkins fund, specific. 100, 000. 00 100, 000. 00 Bruce Hurgbes'find lt stipe fo see SS pe ee ee Cea es oe 13, 839. 90. Morris) Loeb fund) Ss Jos. 62s a ee ee eee 5, 814. 00 Lucy T. and George W. Poore fund____ 26, 670. 00 40, 853. 14 Addison ly Red fans 2). has Ne ee eee 11, 000. 00 17, 639. 16 Rihees find 2 i so en LUE Te ea ee eee ne 590. 00 947, 34 George, .|Sanford fund... 22 ose ee 1, 100. 00 1, 715. 32 Smithson fund elt ft Se Se ee eee 727, 640. 00 729, 108. 74 Charles D. and Mary Vaux Walcott research fund_|..--..--------|------------ $11, 520. 00 11, 520. 00 opal Ss 2 oa oes Se 2S a ee ns he ree 1, 000, 000. 00 | 213,386.50 | 11,520.00 | 1, 224, 906. 50
The Institution gratefully acknowledges gifts from the following donors:
Dr. William L. Abbott, for botanical expedition to Haiti.
The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, for expedition to Southers Asia, Java, Australia, and Africa (Hrdli¢ka).
National Academy of Sciences, for researches in paleontology.
Research Corporation, for research work.
Dr. Charles W. Richmond and Dr. William Schaus, for collecting expedition in China.
Mr. John A. Roebling, for solar researches, ete.
Mr. B. H. Swales, for purchase of specimens.
The Institution has also received contributions from the following friends for the funds as listed below:
General endowment fund: Miss Anne ©. Hanson, Mr. R. B. Miller, Mr. R. 8: Poor, Prof. M. V. Walker and Mr. Hans Wilkins.
Endowment campaign expense fund: Mr. Milton HE. Ailes, Mr. Charles F. Choate, Jr., Mr. Charles C. Glover, Mr. Irwin B. Laughlin, and the Hon. Wil- liam Howard Taft.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY Hg
Smithsonian Scientific Series: Mrs. Martha W. Bacon, Mr. Hdward H. ne Mr. Clarence H. Mackay, the Radio Corporation of America, and . Samuel Rea. Freer Gallery of Art—The invested funds of the Freer bequest are classified as follows:
Command srounds) umd ese tau ke eee a ea $278, 825, 50. Court and grounds, maintenance fund____-____-________-__---__ 69, 683. 75 CH USP EO TES) i TEND a been A gma ed pL ne EO 278, 825. 50 Reals, esac ys ke DUE a LE CAP AA SAE ONT 2, 676, 232. 75 (Siirall feu hess TED aN eke nee eg Om a Ee MSU es es Rene ee a ee a a 222, 658. 75
TAREE ION Sa i a ae A eed pa ig a Ra a Bg 3, 526, 226. 25
The practice of depositing on time, in local trust companies and banks, such revenues as may be spared temporarily has been con- tinued during the past year, and interest on these deposits has amounted to $1,610.15. The income during the year for current ex- penses, consisting of interest on permanent investments and other miscellaneous sources, amounted to $62,507.06. Revenues and prin- cipal of funds for specific purposes, except the Freer bequest, amounted to $148,252.88. Revenues on account of Freer bequest amounted to $231,073.64, aggregating & total of $441,833.58.
The disbursements, described more fully in the annual report of the executive committee, were classed as follows: General objects of the Institution, $59,921.20; for specific purposes (except the Freer bequest) , $128,334.53; and expenditures pertaining to the Charles L. Freer bequest, $184, 190. 26. The balance on hand on June 30, 1925. was $171,952.75.
The following appropriations were made by Congress for the Government bureaus under the administrative charge of the Smith- sonian Institution for the fiscal year 1925:
Inpennaiional.exchangese oss) se ee se $49, 550. 00 PRAT Cee eT OLO My ta e e ee S 57, 160. 00 International Catalogue of Scientific Literature__________________ 8, 861. 66 Astrophysical Observatory__2_-____ Ra Tito, Ga ea Weel 2) Af 21, 580. 00 Additional assistant secretary_____________________ 6, 000. 00 Mogiionaletire protection’: 2.94.0 kk yay, 8 8, 500. 00 National Museum: Furniture and fixtures________________________ $21, 800. 00 Heatingand lighting ous) 22a 77, 560. 00 Preservation of collections____._.______-___________ 434, 482. 00 puldingy repairs...) 2s te ee ne ee 11, 000. 00 FEO GY ES er 2 ee ce 2, 000. 00 JEG YS TEE EXEL S| ONE PRE dE BOR een cee Rl eek 450. 00 AF ——___——_-——_ 547, 292. 00 Natwonal’ ‘Gallery of Are OO 2h ee EEN EEE 20, 158. 00 National; ZoologicaliiPark 0) feat i dye a oat i ae ne Toe 151, 487. 00 Brintin ean binding vr sob te Pe eR ee, 90, 000. 00
TRO Ta Eee LT EE OO Ee eat Sad eV ae 960, 588. 66
6 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 RESEARCHES AND EXPLORATIONS
An important part of the Institution’s work in increasing scientific knowledge is the exploration of regions imperfectly known to science. Although the limited funds of the Institution sharply restrict the number of expeditions which it is able to put in the field, neverthe- less it is often found mutually advantageous to cooperate with other agencies in field work, and the institution thus has an interest in a considerable number of expeditions each year. Many of them are conducted under the direct supervision of the heads of several of the bureaus under the Institution, and accounts of these will be found in the reports appended hereto on the National Museum, the Bureau of American Ethnology, and the Astrophysical Observatory. A few of the expeditions will here be described briefly in order to give an indication of the nature of the work undertaken.
GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
During the field season of 1924 your secretary carried on his usual geological work in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with the inten- tion of completing the reconnaissance begun some years ago of the pre-Devonian formations north of the Bow Valley. The weather was unusually unfavorable, and on forty-two days out of the season, it was very difficult and sometimes impossible to carry on the field- work. The chief problem attacked was the determination of the proper classification of the great Lyell limestones. In order to solve this it was necessary to find fossils in them, and during the past six seasons all such attempts were unsuccessful.
A section was measured from Fossil Mountain, situated northeast of Lake Louise station on the Canadian Pacific Railway, eastward into Oyster Mountain, the main north and south ridge of which was found to be formed of the Lyell limestones. Two glacial cirques, named Cotton Grass and Tilted Mountain, cut deeply into this ridge, and in these the base of the Lyell formation was uncovered, as well as the shales and oolitic limestones of the underlying Bosworth formation. The brook running out of the glacial lake in the bottom of the southern cirque was followed over the ledges of Lyell lime- stone westward to Tilted Mountain Falls, where it drops into the Canyon valley of upper Baker Creek. Everywhere the hard, un- fossiliferous light gray limestone was encountered, except near the edge of the cliffs above and east of the falls, where long narrow strips covered with grass and trees occur between the north and south ledges. An approach was made from the southern bank of the brook, and on a rounded, glaciated ridge of the gray magnesian Lyell limestone there was found, interbedded in the Lyell, an out- crop of thin layers of a bluish-gray limestone which contained frag-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 7
ments of Upper Cambrian trilobites. The next day these layers were traced back to the brook, and a little lower in the section we found two bands of shale and bluish-gray limestone which contained fossils. The lower of the two contained many fragments of trilo- bites, which were later identified as closely related to Upper Cam- - brian Franconia trilobites from Wisconsin, and the upper band contained fossils of the same type as the fauna of the St. Lawrence member of the Trempeauleau formation of Wisconsin. Thus after a search occupying a portion of several field seasons, fossils were found which definitely located the Lyell limestones as of Upper Cambrian age.
After the Lyell problem was definitely settled, further collections of fossils were made in the Ozarkian upper Mons limestones of Fossil Mountain, and later in the Mons formations of Wild Flower Canyon, which heads on Johnston Creek Pass.
During the past eight seasons considerable progress has been made in the understanding of the pre-Devonian geological forma- tions and their faunas in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, but much. remains to be done, particularly in the region between the Canadian: Pacific Railway and the Arctic Ocean.
ZOOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN WESTERN CHINA
In my last report mention was made of the tragic ending of the
Institution’s collecting expedition in China conducted under the auspices of Dr. W. L. Abbott. Mr. Charles M. Hoy, in charge of the work, following a series of misfortunes, was stricken with a severe case of appendicitis, and died shortly after. In order that Hoy’s work might be continued, his collecting outfit was transferred to the Rev. David C. Graham, who for a number of years has col- lected zoological material in the vicinity of Suifu for the National Museum. In 1923 he had carried out very successful collecting operations in the region about Tatsienlu, to the northwest of Suifu, and in May, 1924, plans were completed for an expedition to Song- pan, in the northern part of the Province of Szechwan, using Hoy’s outfit. _ The distance from Suifu to Songpan was about 400 miles, and in order to keep down expenses Mr. Graham covered most of this distance on foot. His party, including carriers, skinners, and other helpers, reached Songpan on July 14, after a strenuous journey of 22 days. In September Mr. Graham wrote as follows:
The Songpan trip has been taken, and we are safely at Suifu with 50 boxes: of specimens, most of which are about ready to be mailed by parcel post.
This has been a harder and rougher trip than the one to Tatsienlu or any
other previous trip. It is much harder to secure food and other necessities. around Songpan than at Tatsienlu. There were times when we could pur-
8 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
chase no fruit, vegetables, eggs, or meat. At Songpan it was impossible to go west or north, where large mammals are found in abundance, so that the only place we could go was east to the Yellow Dragon Gorge. Even there we had to have an escort of six Chinese soldiers and had of course to pay all their expenses. * * #*
The reason we could not go north of Songpan or west of that place was that the Bolotsi aborigines are so savage and so inclined to murder and brigandage that the Chinese can not control them and are afraid of them, and the officials could not protect us in those regions. Just before we returned from Songpan the Bolotsis attacked a company of Chinese soldiers, killed sey- eral of their number, stole several rifles, and drove the scared and defeated soldiers back to their barracks. I have not heard that the Chinese have dared to go into the Bolotsi country with a punitive expedition.
The catch of mammals is not large. We are very sorry about this. It is due primarily to the fact that the mammal-catching districts around Songpan were closed to us. Yellow Dragon Gorge was a fine place for birds and insects, but a great festival had just been held there, in which aborigine and Chinese hunters from all directions had joined in the chase, and woodcutters were busy in the woods cutting timber for the new temples that are being constructed. The mammals had been scared away.
Mr. Graham also sent native collectors out to work in other regions, and regarding their work he says:
This year’s catch is bigger than that of last year. There are 50 boxes of specimens on hand, and I expect to send them off by parcel post as early as possible. Besides the 50 boxes just mentioned, there is the entire catch of the netter Ho for at least three months, who has been collecting about Beh Luh Din, Chengtu, and Kuanshien during the summer, and specimens now being secured by two collectors on Mount Omei, one at Shin Kai Si and one on the higher altitudes.
The collections resulting from the season’s work include about 5,000 insects, notably two-winged flies, butterflies, and moths; 558 birds, of which at least a dozen proved to be new to the Museum collections; about 250 mollusks; and a smaller number of mammals, fishes, reptiles, and batrachians, earthworms, and plants.
BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN PANAMA AND COSTA RICA
Mr. Paul C. Standley, associate curator of the division of plants, United States National Museum, engaged in botanical exploration during the latter part of 1923 and the first four months of 1924 in Panama and Costa Rica. The work in Panama was carried on with the cooperation of the government of the Panama Canal, and had for its purpose the collection of specimens and data for a report on the plant life of the Canal Zone which will be published later. Regarding the exploration in Panama, Mr. Standley writes:
Part of November, December, and most of January were spent in botanical exploration in and near the Zone. Nearly all parts of this area were visited, and 7,000 numbers of plants were obtained, represented by about twice as many specimens. These collections are now being studied and have been found to contain a number of species new to science, besides many not col- lected previously in the area.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 9
The vegetation of the Zone is typical of that existing in Central America at low elevations, but it is here possible to study in close proximity the floras of the Atlantic and Pacific slopes, these floras being sharply differentiated in ‘Central America because of differences in the climates of the two watersheds. The Pacific slope has well defined wet and dry seasons; on the Atlantic slope there is usually plentiful moisture throughout the year.
Although the original vegetation of the Isthmus of Panama has been greatly ‘modified in many places because of long occupation by man, and especially because of operations incident to the construction and management of the canal, there remain near the canal extensive areas of virgin forest whose animal and plant life is of great interest. Advantage has been taken of this fact to establish recently a station for tropical scientific research on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake, the island having been set aside for the pur- pose by the governor of the canal. Upon this island, largely as a result of the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. James Zetek, there has been constructed this year a laboratory building with accommodations for students, and trails have been cut to make the virgin forest, which covers several hundred acres, available for study.
From Panama Mr. Standley proceeded to Costa Rica, where he spent two and one-half months in botanical exploration and col- lecting. Costa Rica is, from a botanical standpoint, probably the richest part of the North American continent, and in the highland region, where a temperate rather than tropical climate prevails, the luxuriance and variety of the vegetation is extraordinary. Of the Costa Rica work, Mr. Standley reports:
The ecllection consists of 8,000 numbers of plants, many of which will doubt- less prove to be new. Special attention was given to the orchids, of which about 1,500 numbers were obtained. These are now being studied by Mr. Oakes Ames, through whose interest the work in Costa Rica was undertaken. Of orchids Costa Rica possesses probably a larger number of species than any other portion of the American tropics of equal extent. Over 1,000 species have been reported from this small Republic, and it is certain that many more await discovery. While most Costa Rican orchids, like those of other countries, have inconspicuous flowers, some, such as the Cattleyas, are of un- surpassed beauty.
Visits were made to the Volcano of Poas, celebrated for its great crater, which contains a lake that erupts frequently; to’ the Voleano of Turrialba, whose forests are noted for their wealth of ferns; and to many other rich localities in the central highlands.
A short visit to the comparatively arid Pacific coast proved that the flora of this part of Costa Rica is relatively meager and uninteresting. Several visits were made to the wet lowland forests of the Atlantic watershed, where the vegetation is even more luxuriant than in the mountains and the species are almost equally numerous. Little is known of the plants of the Atlantic lowlands of Central America, although it is probable that no other region will better reward exploration.
ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPEDITION TO CHINA
An expedition to China under the joint auspices of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and directed
10 ANNUAL REPORT -SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
by Mr. Carl Whiting Bishop, associate curator of the Freer Gal- lery, conducted successful archeological investigations at I Chou, Province of Chihli, and at various localities in the Province of. Shensi. To the southwest of I Chou, which is built upon the ruins of an ancient city, Mr. Bishop discovered parts of old earthen walls of considerable size, and to the east of the city were found groups of large mounds rising from the plain. These were exam- ined, and many fragments of pottery and tile collected on the sur- face of the mounds. A survey of the locality was made by airplane, in order to determine the extent and plan of the ancient site. Although the work of this expedition commenced during the previous fiscal year, it was continued into the present year; and, as no detailed account was given in my last report, I will quote a few paragraphs from the report of the curator of the Freer Gallery upon the work at Shensi: ‘
In Shensi the members of the field staff visited the Western Han (206 B. C.—A. D. 25) capital of Ch’ang-an, securing sufficient data while there to make a fair reconstruction of the ancient city. In the same Province they inspected also two large mounds of the usual truncated pyramidal form, as- cribed to early Han emperors; the supposed tomb of the Emperor Ch’in Shih Huang-ti (221-210 B. C.), and the tombs of the famous Emperor Han Wu Ti (140-87 B. C.) and his General Ho Ch’ti-ping. The tomb of Han Wu Ti is an unusually large one, measuring 278 yards at its base, and presents opportunities of great archeological interest, as does also that of General Ho Ch’ii-ping, where Mr. Bishop saw not only the well-known stone figure of a horse tramping on a recumbent warrior but examined also several other partially exposed stone sculptures of the early Han period. Photographs and scale plans of several of the tombs and temples in this vicinity were made.
The first actual excavation work conducted by the expedition was begun in the spring of this year at Yti-ho Chén, about 17 miles west of Hsin-yang Chou, in the Province of Honan. This specific undertaking has an added sig- nificance archeologically, in that it is the first work of the kind to be con- ducted in China by any foreign Government in cooperation with the Chinese authorities. At Yii-ho Chén two tombs of the Han dynasty (206 B. O.-A. D. 221) were excavated; the work revealed interesting data on ancient tomb construction, and brought to light Chinese cultural objects dating from pre- historic times to the Han period. Specimens in metal, stone, and pottery were found in the tombs; chariot fittings, mirrors, and arrow points of bronze; one or two gold rings; cast-iron implements; a stone ax, and parts of stone doors and lintels; a jade chisel; slate arrow-heads, and a number of pieces of ancient pottery—some intact, some fragmentary—among them a kind of glazed pottery which, if it be of Han production, is a type hitherto scarcely known to us.
In August the Yti-ho Chén finds were exhibited for one day, under Mr, Bishop’s direction, at the Historical Museum in Peking; between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors attended the exhibit.
In the early autumn Mr. Bishop, together with Doctor Barbour, professor of geology at Peking University, and Doctor Tegengren, a Swedish mining geologist, examined a mound at Peitaiho, on the Gulf of Chihli, which dis-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 11
closes evidences of what Mr. Bishop believes to be a Han dynasty naval base or fortress, one of three which are said to have been built at that time, and of which two only have been located.
MARSH-DARIEN EXPEDITION
An expedition under the auspices of Mr. R. O. Marsh explored during a part of 1924 the little-known Isthmus of Darien, in Panama. A number of men representing several institutions and various branches of science accompanied the expedition at the invi- tation of Mr. Marsh, the Smithsonian Institution being represented by Mr. John L. Baer, who was particularly interested in the anthropological phase of the work. This expedition, like that of Mr. Hoy mentioned in last year’s report, had a tragic ending, so far as the Institution was concerned, for while the party was pro- ceeding up the Chucunaque River Mr. Baer was taken suddenly ill, and, although hurriedly transported to the coast, he died within a few days.
A brief report of the work of the expedition, written by the head curator of anthropology of the National Museum, reads in part as follows:
The route followed was from Balboa to San Miguel Bay, through Darien Harbor, and up the Tuyra River to the village of Real. There a change was made to smaller boats and the Rio Chucunaque ascended to Yavisa, near which a permanent camp was established. A visit was made to the Choco Indians, who occupy the middle river valleys above tidewater, and to the Cuna, who live in the higher river valleys and mountain district. .The Choco have a local government, live in large, well-built community houses, and subsist on rice, bananas, plantains, corn, and yucca. They are expert fishermen, diving into deep pools and catching certain kinds of rock fish in their hands. Their religion is a form of primitive belief in the influence of good and bad spirits. Mr. Marsh observes that they are a happy, careless, childlike people, friendly if well treated, very Polynesian-like, wearing breech-cloths, but decorated with beads, silver earrings, and wrist bands, and wreaths of gay flowers.
The Cuna have a higher culture than the Choco, are monogamous, have hereditary chiefs, families have separate houses, and large houses are used for tribal meetings and ceremonies. They raise long-staple tree cotton, dye and weave cotton into cloth and hammocks, grow corn, plantains, bananas, yucca, coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane. They are adepts with the bow and arrow and blowgun.
The party proceeded up the Chucunaque River with great difficulty, owing to barriers of drift logs, at last reaching the Cunas Bravos, who were regarded ‘as hostile. The Cunas Bravos are agriculturists and exhibit a lower degree of culture than the Cunas of the lower river. The chief of the Cunas Bravos spoke good English, having as a young man shipped at Colon on an English vessel, and in 12 years had sailed over half the world. It was at this point that John L. Baer became ill.
Activities were next transferred to the San Blas Indians, who inhabit a long stretch of the north coast of Panama. ‘These Indians, who number approximately 40,000, have always kept aloof from the white man, realizing
5&1 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
’ that contact. with other races would work their undoing. Amicable relations were established with them and many interesting specimens of their arts and industries were collected for the National! Museum. The San Blas Indians have an advanced social organization, with a ruler who could perhaps be prop- erly classed as a king. Through the San Blas, Mr. Marsh came in contact with hundreds of “ white Indians’ whose presence in Panama has been known for a long time but who have not been examined by scientific observers. Individuals brought by Mr. Marsh to the United States have been carefully examined and tentatively stated, before field studies go more fully into the matter, to present a form of albinism.
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY
For several years there has been recognized the need of an addi- tional assistant secretary to relieve the pressure on the Institution of administration of the eight Government bureaus, several of which have developed rapidly in recent years. This need was laid before Congress, and in the last appropriation bill provision was made for the new position. After a thorough study of the qualifications needed for the position, Dr. Alexander Wetmore was appointed on April 1, 1925, as Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with general supervision of the National Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Zoological Park.
Doctor Wetmore graduated from Kansas State University in 1912, having specialized in biology. He carried on post-graduate studies in biology at George Washington University, receiving the degree of M. S. in 1916 and Ph. D. in 1920. Since 1910 he has served in the Biological Survey, Department of Agriculture, first as agent, then as assistant biologist, and finally as biologist, with official station at Washington, D. C.
During Doctor Wetmore’s connection with the Biological Survey he conducted numerous investigations dealing with birds and mam- mals, and in 1923 directed the U. S. S. Z’anager expedition which engaged in general scientific exploration of islands in the Pacific.
On November 18, 1924, he was appointed superintendent of the National Zoological Park, where he exhibited unusual administrative ability, and on April 1, 1925, he was installed in his new position.
SMITHSONIAN RADIO TALKS
In my last report there was described the beginning of a series of radio talks by the Smithsonian Institution in cooperation with station WRC of the Radio Corporation of America, as an addition to the Institution’s established methods of the diffusion of knowl- edge. The entire matter was placed in charge of Mr. Austin H. Clark, curator of echinoderms in the National Museum, and under his able and enthusiastic direction the series of talks was a distinct — success, as attested by calls and letters from many listeners.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 13
On October 2, 1924, the series of talks was begun again, with © increased scope, and between that date and May 14, 1925, twenty- eight 15-minute talks were presented to the radio audience under the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution through station WRC, four of these having been broadcast jointly with stations WJY and WJZ of New York City, thus considerably extending the audience. Ten of these talks were given by members of the staff of the Insti- tution, the other 18 having been given by scientists representing other establishments selected by and presented under the auspices of the Smithsonian. A list of the talks given during the year
follows: SMITHSONIAN RADIO TALKS (1924-1925)
October 2, 1924. Life in the Sea. Mr. Austin H. Clark.
October 16, 1924. Wonders of the Deep Sea. Capt. Frederick B. Bassett, hydrographer of the Navy.
October 22, 1924. Curious Plants. Dr. F. V. Coville.
November 8, 1924. What the Ocean Means to Us. Lieut. Commander George EB. Brandt, aid to hydrographer of the Navy.
November 13, 1924. Indian Cliff Dwellings. Dr. J. Walter Fewkes.
November 20, 1924. Living Lamps. Mr. Austin H. ‘Clark.
December 11, 1924. The Ocean Bottom. Dr. George C. Littlehales, hydro- graphic engineer, Navy Department.
December 25, 1924. What Standards Mean to Us. Dr. Fay C. Brown, assist- ant director, Bureau of Standards. :
December 30, 1924. How Trees Grow. Dr. D. T. McDougall, director, Desert Botanical Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution, Tucson, Ariz.
December 31, 1924. Why the Harth is a Magnet. Prof. W. F. G. Swann, Yale University.
January 3, 1925, Tree Rings and Climate. Dr. A. EH. Douglass, University of Arizona.
January 8, 1925. The Sun and the Weather. Dr. C. G. Abbot.
January 22, 1925. The Weather. Prof. W. J. Humphreys, United States Weather Bureau.
January 29, 1925. Mysteries of Bird Migration. Dr. F. C. Lincoln, United States Biological Survey. :
February 5, 1925. The Ocean’s Food Resources. Mr. Lewis Radcliffe, Dep- uty Commissioner of Fisheries.
February 12, 1925. What Other Peoples Eat. Mr. Austin H. Clark.
February 19, 1925. What the Earth is Made Of. Dr. Henry S. Washington, Carnegie Institution.
February 26, 1925. Habits of Ants. Dr. William M. Mann, Bureau of Ento- mology.
March 12, 1925. Fish as Food. Mr. Lewis Radcliffe, Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries.
March 19, 1925. How Some Wasps Live. Mr. S. A. Rohwer, Bureau of Hntomology. ‘
March 26, 1925. The Work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in Saving Life and Property at Sea. Col. HE. Lester Jones, Director Coast and Geodetic Survey.
April 2, 1925. Mosquitoes and Other Bloodsucking Flies. Mr. Raymond C. Shannon, Bureau of Entomology.
14 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
April 9, 1925. Lizards and Their Kin. Miss Doris M. Cochran. April 16, 1925. Fighting Plant Diseases by Breeding New Plants. Dr. W. A.
Taylor, Chief, Bureau of Plant Industry. April 23, 1925. Our Fisheries. Hon. Henry O'Malley, Commissioner of Fish-
eries.
April 30, 1925. The Geodetic Work of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. Col. E. Lester Jones, Director Coast and Geodetic Survey.
May 7, 1925. Chiggers, Ticks, and Fleas. Dr. H. E. Ewing, Bureau of Ento-
mology.
May 14, 1925. Butterflies. Mr. Austin H. Clark.
This Smithsonian radio series has proved to be an excellent means of disseminating authentic scientific information, and Mr. Clark had already begun at the close of the fiscal year to arrange the program for the coming year. It is intended to increase not only the scope of the talks, but also the audience to be reached, by exchanging material with Westinghouse station WBZ, of New England.
Plans were under way also, near the close of the year, for a distinct series of radio talks on the National Zoological Park, to be presented by the superintendent of the park and others who have a special knowledge of certain groups of animals shown in the park. It is expected to begin this series in October, 1925.
PUBLICATIONS
A total of 155 volumes and pamphlets were issued during the year by the Institution and the Government bureaus under its adminis- tration. Of these, 171,865 copies were distributed, including 262 volumes and separates of the Smithsonian Contributions to Knowl- edge, 24,008 of the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 26,825 volumes and separates of the Smithsonian Annual Reports, 6,102 special Smithsonian publications, 104,596 volumes and separates of the various series of National Museum publications, 7,354 publica- tions of the Bureau of American Ethnology, 68 volumes of the annals of the Astrophysical Observatory, 44 reports on the Harri- man Alaska expedition, and 1,057 reports of the American Historical Association.
The publications of the Institution constitute its principal means of carrying out one of its main purposes, “the diffusion of knowl- edge among men.” With the 11 distinct series now issued, a very wide field of readers is reached, as in addition to the technical papers, intended for use by scientists and students, a semipopular account of progress in all branches of science is presented to the general reader in the appendixes to the annual reports of the Institu- tion. As explained in last year’s report, these reports have since the war been issued over two years late. Last year, however, funds were provided to enable the Institution to bring them up to date
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 15
by issuing two reports in one year, and this has now been accom- plished, the report for 1923 having been received from the printer in June, 1925, and the 1924 report promised for delivery in October, 1925. This is probably as nearly on time as the reports can be issued, owing to their complicated nature, which involves the assem- bling of material from foreign as well as American sources and the submitting of proof to some 30 authors in all parts of the world.
Allotments for printing—The congressional allotments for the printing of the Smithsonian report to Congress and the various publications of the Government bureaus under the administration of the Institution were practically used up at the close of the year. The appropriation for the coming year ending June 30, 1926, totals 90,000, allotted as follows:
Annual Report to the Congress of the Board of Regents of the Smith-
SOMMER ra Sel GUL Ora BN Ie OC Tot ee $12, 500 DENTE st TIED Team UL SUR TD es al a a ee 42, 500 Bureauvok American Wthnology#*= 4) ese be 25, 600 Nemertina erayey Of: Aut Oe We aie a ee ee 1, 200 imiernanonal.wxchanges)s_ Useless iit Sen 2 ee eh eee ae 300 International Catalogue of Scientific Literature_____________________ 100 eT ROTTeA eA OOLO SW Cally I aiken ea ath | a 9 WO ed cs es 300 ASErOpMystGalin ODSCEVALOLY 2245 ee 500 Annual Report of the American Historical Association___________-__- 7, 000
Committee on printing and publication.—The Smithsonian advis- ory committee on printing and publication considers and makes recommendations concerning all manuscripts offered for publica- tion. It also assists in determining the publication policy of the Institution and endeavors to insure the most efficient administration of all funds for printing and binding. During the year five meet- ings were held and 75 manuscripts acted upon. A vacancy was cre- ated in the personnel of the committee by the death of Mr. N. Hollis- ter, superintendent of the National Zoological Park. Dr. Alexander Wetmore, who succeeded him as superintendent of the park, also took his place on the committee. Upon Doctor Wetmore’s appointment as an assistant secretary of the Institution, he in turn was succeeded on the committee by Dr. William M. Mann, the present superin- tendent of the park. The membership of the committee is as fol- lows: Dr. Leonhard Stejneger (chairman), Dr. George P. Merrill, Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, Dr. William M. Mann, Dr. Marcus Benjamin, Mr. Stanley Searles, and Mr. W. P. True, secretary.
LIBRARY
During the year the most important change in the staff of the Smithsonian library was the appointment of Mr. William L. Corbin as librarian. Mr. N. P. Scudder, assistant librarian in charge of the National Museum library for the past 38 years, died May 19.
16 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
The accessions to the libraries, exclusive of those to the library of the Bureau of American Ethnology, which is reported on by the chief of the bureau, totaled 12,537. The most outstanding gift of the year was the entomological library of the late Col. Thomas L. Casey, numbering about 4,500 volumes and pamphlets, chiefly on coleoptera, which will be deposited in the section of insects of the National Museum.
The loans totaled 10,657. Special effort was made to supply re- quests for missing volumes or parts of volumes, and 2,009 were ob- tained. There were sent to the Library of Congress, 7,287 publica- tions to be added to the Smithsonian deposit and 7,408 documents of foreign governments for the document division. Seven thousand one hundred and thirty-two volumes and pamphlets were catalogued and much general work was done on the collections, including a de- tailed investigation by the librarian of the needs of the library.
NATIONAL MUSEUM
By the action of the Congress in providing for the appointment of an additional assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to have general supervision of the National Museum and certain other Government bureaus under administrative charge of the Institution, Dr. Alexander Wetmore was appointed to that office on April 1, 1925. The application of the reclassification act resulted in the adoption of a more just salary scale for the scientific staff, and for the first time in many years every position in the Museum personnel was filled, the salaries previously available for certain positions having been too small to attract men properly equipped to hold them. The increase of $52,396 in the Museum appropriations over last year was sufficient to cover the larger salaries, but does not allow for proper advancement for efficient service, as provided in the reclassification act. Additional funds are urgently needed for this purpose and also for the normal expansion of the Museum, in- cluding the purchase of specimens, and for use in minor explorations.
The Museum contributed during the past winter seven speakers to the series of Smithsonian radio talks, organized last year under the direction of Mr. Austin H. Clark. This new field for the dissemina- tion of knowledge offers great possibilities.
The Loeb collection of chemical types has made splendid progress under the direction of Mr. O. E. Roberts, jr., curator, 616 new speci- mens having been added to the collection during the year.
The Museum received during the year 363,490 specimens, a slight increase over last year’s accessions, and 1,232 additional lots of ma- terial were received for examination and report. A total of 23,244 duplicate specimens were distributed as gifts to educational institu-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 47
tions or exchanged for specimens needed to complete collections in the Museum, and 33,966 specimens were distributed as loans to spe- cialists and students for study and identification.
The accessions to the Museum collections in all its departments are described in detail in the report of the assistant secretary, Ap- pendix 1, and only a few of the outstanding gifts will be mentioned here. In the department of anthropology, the ethnological collec- tions were enriched by the addition of a unique series of objects illus- trating the material culture of the Indians of eastern Panama, re- sulting from the Marsh-Darien expedition, and by a collection of California Indian baskets bequeathed by the late Miss Ella F. Hubby, of Pasadena. In physical anthropology, a number of casts of the remains of early man were received, including several of the famous Trinil man of Java, Pithecanthropus erectus, from Dr. Kugene Dubois, and also much valuable skeletal material. The de- partment profited especially through explorations conducted by the Bureau of American Ethnology, and by the National Geographic Society under the direction of Mr. Neil M. Judd, which resulted in valuable additions to the collections. :
The most notable gift to the department of biology was the collec- tion of coleoptera and mollusks bequeathed to the Museum by the late. Col. Thomas Lincoln Casey. The beetles alone in this collec- tion are estimated at 90,000 specimens, representing 16,000 species. A wonderful store of rich material also has been added to the depart- ment in the large collections presented by the National Geographic Society as the result of expeditions in China by Dr. J. F. Rock and Mr. F. R. Wulsin, which include 4,500 specimens of vertebrates and 68,000 plants. Additional collections from China have also been received from the Rev. D. C. Graham and Mr. A. de C. Sowerby.
In the department of geology, the paleontological collections have been the chief beneficiaries, having received the results of your secre- tary’s field work for the past four years, as well as collections made by Doctor Bassler, Doctor Resser, and Doctor Ulrich. The other divisions have all received valuable additions, including a number of interesting minerals contributed by Col. W. A. Roebling, and a crystal of the new mineral afwillite, donated by Mr. Alpheus F. Williams. One of the most interesting exhibits is a crystal ball of unusual size and perfection, weighing 110 pounds and measuring 1314 inches in diameter, shown through the interest of Mr. Worces- ter R. Warner and the courtesy of the Fukushima Co. (Inc.), New York. This ball is said to be the largest of its kind in the world and has attracted much attention from visitors.
In the division of mechanical and mineral technology there was a slight falling off in the number of accessions received, principally
18 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
due to a lack of exhibition and storage space. Interesting additions were made, however, in the transportation section, including one early type of automobile, a Knox car, made in 1901, presented by Mrs. Lansing Van Auken, of Watervliet, N. Y.
The division of textiles, under which are administered also wood technology, organic chemistry, foods, and medicine, received over 8,800 objects during the year, more than twice the number received last year. These included several series of industrial specimens illustrating the manufacture of rubber, sealing wax, and the prepa- ration and dyeing of furs; samples of silk, cotton, and wool fabrics for the textile collections; specimens of woods used in the furniture industry; and, for the public health exhibit models, and posters showing advances in sanitary science.
The exhibits of the division of graphic arts have been greatly improved during the past year by the addition of valuable new material and the rearrangement of the collections. Fourteen special exhibitions of prints in various media, mainly the work of con- temporary artists, were held and the two traveling exhibits prepared by the division were widely circulated among the art museums and graphic art organizations of the eastern part of the country.
Among the objects of special interest added to the historical col- lections were a presentation sword, flags, uniforms, medals, and badges of the late Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles; additional numis- matic material, including 800 publications on numismatics trans- ferred from the Treasury Department; and four portraits added to the portrait collection.
The Museum participated in a number of field expeditions, de- scribed in the report on the Museum, appended hereto, which have resulted in the addition of much valuable material in all of the departments of the Museum. The auditorium was in frequent de- mand by scientific and other societies and organizations for meet- ings and lectures. Visitors to the Natural History Building totaled 557,016; to the Arts and Industries Building, 304,858; to the Air- craft Building, 52,787; and to the Smithsonian Building, 107,342, making in all a total of 1,022,003. This is the first time in the history of the Museum that the year’s attendance has exceeded 1,000,000 individuals. Five volumes and 70 separates were pub- lished as the result of Museum activities during the year, and 104,596 copies of Museum publications were distributed.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
During the past year additions to the gallery collections were less than in previous years owing to the lack of exhibition space. The art works awaiting approval at the present time do not ex-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 19
ceed $100,000 in estimated value, while, with a suitable art build- ing, it is thought that gifts and bequests to the value of a million dol- lars or more would be received annually.
Work has been continued by Mr. Platt on the preparation of preliminary plans for the proposed gallery building, made possible _ by the raising of $10,000 by private subscription as noted in last year’s report, and the plans could now be made ready for the begin- ning of construction within six months. It is estimated that three years would be required to erect the building. The movement for _ such a building suffered a severe loss in the death of Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who was deeply interested in the national collections of art and history. In 1924 he offered in the Senate an amend- ment to the deficiency appropriation bill providing $7,000,000 for a gallery building to accommodate the collections not only of art but also those of American history now housed in the National Museum.
The annual meeting of the National Gallery Commission was held on December 9, 1924. The report of the secretary mentioned the following action on problems considered at last year’s meeting: The approval by the Board of Regents of the commission’s recom- mendation to include a division of historical architecture in the National Gallery of Art; the appointment of Mr. Charles A. Platt as architect of the proposed gallery building; and the approval by the commission of the inclusion in the prospective gallery of collections of both American history and art. The question of the acceptance of works of art by correspondence was discussed, and it was resolved that hereafter a majority of the advisory committee be required to examine personally all works of art offered the gal- lery before making recommendation. Mr. Edmund C. Tarbell was selected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Edwin H. Blashfield. The annual election resulted in no changes in the officers or personnel of the commission for the coming year. Ap- preciation was expressed of the activities of the American Federa- tion of Arts and the Federation of Women’s Clubs in behalf of the proposed new art building.
Permanent accessions to the gallery during the year included seven paintings, several pieces of sculpture, and a collection of French and other art objects, part of the bequest of the late Rev. Alfred Duane Pell. Several loans were accepted and about an equal number with- drawn during the year, and five paintings belonging to the gallery were lent for exhibition elsewhere. Four special exhibitions were held during the winter and early spring, catalogues for which were issued by the gallery.
20 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
FREER GALLERY OF ART
The year’s work in the preservation of the collection included the remounting of a considerable number of prints, bringing the total number of objects in the print collection which have been put in final condition to over 1,000. Additions to the collection included a pastel by Whistler, an Indian bronze, Indian paintings, Chinese bronzes, a Chinese. painting, and Near Eastern pottery. A list of the Freer Gallery collection of paintings, pastels, draw- ings, prints, and copper plates by and attributed to American and European artists, together with a list of original Whistleriana, was in press at the close of the year.
Ninety books and periodicals and 127 pamphlets were added to the library. Several hundred photographs and a number of lantern slides were made and sold to persons requesting them. An increased number of requests have reached the gallery for translations of Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan inscriptions, and for other informa- tion bearing on the work of the gallery.
The total attendance for the year was 109,862. Of this number, 431 used the study rooms to view objects not on exhibition or to consult reference works in the library.
The gallery’s archeological expedition in China was still in the field at the close of the year, and a condensed report on its work will be submitted later for publication in the Smithsonian annual ex- ploration pamphlet.
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
The function of the Bureau of American Ethnology as defined by Congress is to conduct ethnological researches among the American Indians and the natives of Hawaii, including the excava- tion and preservation of archeologic remains. _The results of these researches are published in technical monographs as well as in arti- cles of a more popular character, and reliable information regarding the American Indian is thus made available for students. The aboriginal Indian culture is rapidly disappearing through contact with the white man’s civilization, and when the older men of the tribes who know the rites and customs of their fathers have passed away, much of the ancient lore will be lost forever. The bureau is recording as much as possible of this material before it is too late to secure it.
An important Indian culture area is that of the southeastern United States, and the bureau has recently begun an archeological reconnoissance, so far as its resources will permit, in Florida, Ala- bama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. It is possible to reconstruct from
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY © 21
historical sources the main outlines of this Gulf culture, but much more information is needed regarding the rituals, idols, ceremonial objects, and symbolism on pottery before we can form a complete idea of this interesting aboriginal culture.
Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, chief of the bureau, spent several weeks in reconnoissance near Florence, Ala., where a number of interesting Indian mounds were located which will be submerged with the com- pletion of the Wilson dam at Muscle Shoals. Mr. Gerard Fowke continued the excavation of two of these mounds, which yielded a considerable collection including rare copper ornaments, among the largest known from the Tennessee Valley. Doctor Fewkes also pre- pared during the year an illustrated report on a collection of archeo- logical objects from Youngs Canyon, near Flagstaff, Ariz., a region of great importance in determining the relationship of the various culture areas of the Southwest.
During the past year Mr. Earl H. Morris, under the direction of Doctor Fewkes, did necessary repair work on the famous tower of the Mummy Cave House in the Canyon del Muerto, Ariz., which will go far toward preserving what is considered one of the finest examples of aboriginal architecture in the entire Southwest.
Dr. John R. Swanton discovered further material bearing on the social and religious life of the Creek Indians, and embodied this information in papers now being prepared for publication. He also prepared a paper as a result of his recent study of the smaller culture centers within our present Gulf States, entitled “Culture of the Southeast ” and a short report on the “ Ethnology of the Chick- asaw,” and he continued work on the now extinct Timucua language.
Dr. Truman Michelson continued his studies of the Fox Indians, transcribing and translating a number of texts relating to their customs and beliefs. He also renewed his researches among the Algonquian tribes of Iowa, spending part of the summer in that State.
During the year Mr. John P. Harrington continued his work on the Burton Mound Indian village situated at Santa Barbara, pre- paring for publication the material resulting from last year’s excava- tions in cooperation with the Museum of the American Indian, and carrying on additional excavations at the same site which have yielded much important material. In addition, he prepared a report on the archeology of the Santa Barbara region along both historical and archeological lines. Mr. Harrington also made an exhaustive study of the language of the Tulé Indians of Panama, eight of whom were brought to Washington by Mr. R. O. Marsh in October, 1924, and remained until January, 1925, thus giving him an excellent opportunity for this investigation.
22 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
In May, 1925, Mr. J. N. B. Hewitt left Washington for Brantford, Canada, to resume his researches among the six nations, or tribes, of the Iroquois. With the aid of the two best Mohawk informants available, Mr. Hewitt made a free English translation of one of the most important of the ancient rituals, and took up the literary interpretation, revision, and textual criticism of previously recorded voluminous Iroquoian texts. An interesting resumé of this work is presented in the report of the chief of the bureau which forms Appendix 4 of this report. Mr. Hewitt also visited the Chippewa of Garden River, Canada, and the Seneca in Missouri and Oklahoma.
During the year, Mr. Francis La Flesche completed his paper on two versions of the child-naming rite of the Osage Tribe. In May Mr. La Flesche visited the Osages and remained through June work- ing at the laborious task of properly recording the gentile personal names used by the full-blood members of the tribe and by some of the mixed bloods. Mr. J. George Wright, of the Osage Agency, cooperated in this work by giving Mr. La Flesche access to the records of his office. Mr. La Flesche collected during his stay in the region some interesting plants used as food or medicine among the Indians.
Miss Frances Densmore continued her special research cu the music of the Indians during the past year, resulting in the prepara- tion of five manuscripts comprising transcriptions of 69 songs, to- gether with the original phonograph records and analyses of the songs, which were purchased by the bureau for future publication. Miss Densmore’s manuscripts included also one on the uses by the Makah Indians of 26 plants in food, medicine, and dyes. She took advantage of the presence in Washington of the group of Tulé In- dians, mentioned before in connection with Mr. Harrington’s study of their language, to make a study of their music. Their favorite musical instrument was found to be the “pan pipe” of reeds, and they also used another reed instrument known as the “mouth flute” that had not before been observed in primitive music.
The publications of the bureau issued during the year consisted of two reports and one bulletin. Three other reports were in press at the close of the year. 7,354 copies of the publications of the bureau were distributed during the year.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
The total number of packages handled by the exchange service during the year was 468,731, weighing 506,164 pounds, an increase in the number of packages over last year of 8,073 and a decrease in weight of 60,943 pounds, due to the smaller size of the packages of publications received for transmission through the service.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 23
Fifty-eight full sets of United States official documents and 40 par- tial sets are now sent regularly to depositories abroad. This is a re- duction of one full set from last year and an addition of two partial sets. At the request of New Zealand, a partial set is now being sent to the General Assembly Library instead of a full one and the Stadtbibliothek of the Free City of Danzig has been added to the list of those receiving partial sets. The immediate exchange of the Official Journal has been entered into during the year with India and the Free City of Danzig.
A committee of experts on the international exchange of: publica- tions was called together by the committee on intellectual cooperation of the League of Nations at Geneva, July 17-19, 1924. Mr. H. W. Dorsey, chief clerk of the Institution, represented the Smithsonian on this committee. The committee recommended an additional protocol to the Brussels convention of 1886, enabling the states that are not yet parties to the convention to adhere thereto with reserva- tions. ‘The committee also gave consideration to various other mat- ters looking to the improvement of the international exchange service and the extension of its activities.
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK
I regret to have to record the death on November 3, 1924, of Mr. N. Hollister, for eight years the able superintendent of the park. Dr. Alexander Wetmore succeeded Mr. Hollister and served until April 1, 1925. On that date he was appointed an assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. William M. Mann, ento- mologist of the Department of Agriculture and widely known as an explorer in the interests of zoology and entomology, was appointed superintendent of the park on May 13, 1925.
The collection of animals in the park has been somewhat dimin- ished in value during the year by a number of deaths among the older animals. ‘This loss has been offset to a certain extent by the accession of 130 animals presented by various donors and 70 mammals and birds born or hatched in the park, but among the older stock lost were many valuable specimens that can be replaced only by purchase, and funds for this purpose are very limited. The more notable of the new gifts to the park included a splendid young male chimpan- zee, from Mr. Victor J. Evans, and a Bateleur eagle, an Abyssinian falcon, and two South American stone plover from Mr, B. H. Swales.
The total number of individuals in the park collection at the close of the year was 1,620, 25 less than reported last year. The species represented, however, show an increase of 17 due to judicious selec- tion and purchase of small species offered for sale at moderate prices.
24 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
The attendance for the past year was the highest the National Zoological Park has ever known, the number of visitors recorded reaching a total of 2,518,265.
During the year the animal warehouse, construction of which was begun last year, was completed and put into service, a double bear cage of steel was erected, and many minor repairs were made on old buildings. In many instances these, even when carefully repaired, are poorly adapted to the present needs of the park and should be replaced by new ones that would not only safely and comfortably house their inmates, but would also better accommodate the great throngs of visitors to the collections. The buildings most urgently needed are a house for birds and one for reptiles.
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY
Much progress has been made during the year in the study of the sun and its application to weather forecasting. Through the generous assistance of Mr. John A. Roebling, the experimental fore- casts by Mr. H. H. Clayton for the city of New York, based on daily telegraphic reports from the observing stations in Chile and Arizona, mentioned in last year’s report, were continued. Four papers have been issued in the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, reporting | in detail on the results of this work. While it is still largely experi- mental, the forecasts have certainly indicated a moderate degree of foreknowledge. A higher degree of accuracy in the solar measure- ments upon which the forecasts are based will undoubtedly lead to better results, and to this end the staff of the observatory is now engaged in completely revising the methods of observing, measuring, and recording the solar radiation. The station at Harqua Hala, Ariz., has been removed to Table Mountain, Calif., to obtain better atmospheric conditions and greater convenience of access. This transfer was made possible through the aid of Mr. Roebling.
The director occupied the Mount Wilson station during the sum- mer and autumn of 1924. He continued work on the three proj- ects outlined in last year’s report with the following results: The solar cooker was greatly improved; measurements of atmospheric ozone were made with the Fabry type of apparatus; and new de- vices were tried in stellar energy spectrum measurements which seem to open the way for great advances in that line.
INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUE OF SCIENTIFIC LITER- ATURE
Attention is again called to the urgent need of financial assistance to enable the International Catalogue to resume publication of the 17 annual volumes which for so many years were depended on to
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 25
furnish references to the world’s literature of science. Ever since war conditions made it necessary to suspend publication in 1921, it has been the hope that foreign political and financial conditions would improve sufficiently to enable the cooperating countries to again furnish the necessary funds through subscription as hereto- fore, but with the exchange rates of several of these countries now at a lower level than ever before, it seems that this hope will be futile for some time to come.
Although actual publication has ceased for the present, the organ- ization is in no sense bankrupt, for, according to an agreement made at the Brussels Convention in 1922, the regional bureaus continue their work of assembling current bibliographical data, thus keep- ing the organization working, and when publication is resumed it is believed that new subscribers will purchase the back issues of the catalogue now held in storage. It would be difficult to find an ob- ject more worthy of endowment than this unique international, cooperative undertaking, for no similar enterprise has ever filled the place occupied by the catalogue and no new organization could hope to gain the official recognition held by the International Cata- logue of Scientific Literature. :
NECROLOGY HENRY CABOT LODGE
Henry Cabot Lodge, United States Senator since 1893 and Regent of the Smithsonian Institution for 22 years, died November 9, 1924. Born in 1850, Mr. Lodge was admitted to the bar in 1876, and dur- ing the early part of his career served as editor of the North Ameri- . can Review and later of the International Review. He next served for two years as a member of the Massachusetts House of Repre- sentatives, and 1887 was elected to Congress, where he remained until 1893. In this year began his career as a United States Sena- tor, to which office he was continually reelected until the time of his death, and the last term for which he was chosen to represent the people of Massachusetts would not have expired until 1929.
Mr. Lodge was a very influential member of the Senate, having served as Republican floor leader from 1918 until the year of his death. In addition to his political activity, he was the author of many important historical works and essays.
Through his long period of membership on the Board of Regents and his interest and active participation in the affairs of the Insti- tution, Senator Lodge had become a valued adviser, and his loss is keenly felt by the board and the officers of the Institution.
26 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
NED HOLLISTER
Ned Hollister, superintendent of the National Zoological Park since October 1, 1916, and one of the foremost mammalogists of the world, died on Nov ember 3, 1924.
Mr. Hollister was born at Delavan, Wis., November 26, 1876, where he received his education and a fhe, study of roa From 1902 to 1909 he conducted zoological field work for the United States Biological Survey in Texas, New Mexico, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Nevada, Louisiana, and Arizona. In 1910 he began his connection with the Smithsonian Institution, being appointed assistant curator of mammals in the United States National Museum, which position he held until 1916 when he was selected for the responsible position of superintendent of the National Zoological Park.
In 1911 Mr. Hollister was a member of the Canadian Alpine Club expedition to explore the Mount Robson region of British Columbia and Alberta, and in 1912 he represented the Smithsonian Institu- tion on the Smithsonian-Harvard expedition to the Altai Moun- tains, Siberia and Mongolia. The results of Mr. Hollister’s scien- tific work have appeared in the publications of the Institution and in various technical journals for many years. Besides over 100 minor papers on zoological subjects, he was the author of a number of large works, including The Birds of Wisconsin (1903); Mam- mals of the Philippine Islands (1911); Mammals of the Alpine Club Expedition to Mount Robson (1913); East African Mammals in the United States National Museum (vol. 1, 1918; vol. 2, 1919; vol. 3, 1923). This last is probably Mr. Hollister’s greatest contri- bution to science, being a complete technical account, of the great collections made in East Africa by Theodore Roosevelt, Paul Rainey, and other collectors. |
During Mr. Hollister’s term of office as superintendent the Na- tional Zoological Park showed a steady growth and development, the collection of animals in the Park being greater in numbers and in scientific value than ever before, and the number of visitors to the park having increased steadily until it reached during the past year a total of over 2,500,000., It was largely through Mr. Hollis- ter’s efforts that Congress a few years ago provided funds for the purchase of a frontage of 625 feet at the Connecticut, Avenue entrance to the park, thus insuring for the future a dignified and appropriate approach.
Mr. Hollister was a member of many scientific societies and editor of the Journal of Mammalogy.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 97
WASHINGTON I. ADAMS
Washington I. Adams, who was connected with the Institution from 1896 until his retirement in. 1924, died at Watertown, Mass., April 19, 1925. Mr. Adams came to the Institution as chief clerk of the International Exchange Service, which position he held until 1905 when he was appointed chief disbursing agent, a position he held until his retirement. Mr. Adams’s duties and responsibilities were greatly increased in recent years due largely to the receipt of the Freer bequest of over $3,000,000.
NEWTON P. SCUDDER
Newton P. Scudder, assistant librarian of the National Museum, died on May 19, 1925, two months after his retirement from active service. Mr. Scudder was given an appointment as clerk in 1882 and five years later was made an assistant librarian in the Museum, which position he held until his retirement on March 9, 1925.
Mr. Scudder was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1853, and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1879... His first work was with the Bureau of Fisheries, and under its auspices he made a trip to the halibut banks. As a result of this investigation two papers by him on “The Halibut Fishery, Davis Strait,” and “The Salt Halibut Fishery,” were published by the Bureau. of Fisheries. Following this work, Mr. Scudder came to the Museum library, where he re- mained until his recent retirement.
Respectfully submitted.
. Cuarutes D. Watocort, Secretary. 66999—25—-3
| APPENDIX 1 REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the con- dition and operations of the United States National Museum for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1925.
The appropriations for the maintenance of the National Museum for the fiscal year amounted to $584,792, an increase of $52,396 over the previous year. This increase, however, is more apparent than real so far as providing additional funds for the operation of the Museum is concerned, since $44,534 of the amount represented the sum required for increase of salaries from the inauguration of the schedules authorized by the reclassification act of 1923, which became effective July 1, 1924, while subsequent reallocations of employees by the Personnel Classification Board resulted in increas- ing salary allotments approximately $9,000 beyond the estimated amount. It thus transpired that the amounts available for actual operating expenses were less than during the previous year. More- over, the reclassification act had the effect of reducing the amount provided for printing and binding since increase in salaries in the wovernment Printing Office inaugurated under it resulted in increased cost in printing, thus reducing the production value of ane sum allotted for that purpose to the Museum.
Attention has been called repeatedly in these annual reports on operation to the great disproportion between the increase in the appropriations provided for the maintenance of the Museum and the increase in the size of its collections, as well as in the quantity, scope, and importance of its exhibition and research work and its service to the public at large. Through the unselfish efforts of the personnel and the practice of the most rigid economy it has been possible until now to maintain a high degree of efficiency, but the very fact of its steady growth will curtail the usefulness of the Museum as a factor in the field of science and education unless it can be assured of sufficient funds to cover its natural and proper expansion. There is urgent need now for additional funds for operation, and for reasonable sums for the purchase of specimens and for use in minor explorations. Rich additions to the collections are received each year through specimens deposited by Government agencies or presented by private donors. Definite gaps in all lines exist, however, that may be filled only by purchase of desirable
28
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY DAS)
things or by small sums spent in field work to acquire them. Speci-
mens actually needed are obtainable usually only at long intervals
and if such opportunities are allowed to pass further chance to- acquire them may be remote or uncertain. Highly desirable things
offered at reasonable prices are refused nearly every week. The
Institution should have available moderate funds that might be used
for such purposes.
Need of funds for exploration is also imperative since through this means only is it practicable to obtain data and information of importance in connection with many objects desired for the collec- tions. Definite research on the part of experts is often required to clear up doubtful points in source or relationship of many things.
More and more each year the National Museum is approached for authentic information in a wide range of subjects not to be ob- tained elsewhere. Its vast collections of carefully arranged and classified specimens afford a full record of industrial, social, and esthetic progress as well as of painstaking and exhaustive research work in the natural sciences. In it are gathered the results of governmental activities and private donations aggregating many millions of dollars. The Museum collections serve as a foundation for the economic work of such great Government organizations as. the Department of Agriculture, the Geological Survey, and others, and the members of the scientific staff assist materially in the work of these institutions through identification and report on the various. - objects with which they are concerned. To maintain its position of constantly increasing importance in the field of Government service and to fulfill its function as a truly national museum, it is absolutely necessary that adequate funds be provided for its proper main- tenance. It is sincerely hoped that its needs in this direction will be recognized and provided for by suitable appropriations. |
Final establishment of the salary schedules under the reclassifica- tion act brought the salaries paid to members of the scientific staff in the National Museum in most cases to a parity with those doing simi- lar work in other departments, and has thus in large part corrected a lamentable condition in which members of the staff were paid at rates established many years ago and which in modern circumstances had become wholly inadequate. The increased salaries available have allowed the filling of several vacancies that have existed for some time and to fill which there were no suitable candidates at. previous rates of pay. Adjustments in allocation in certain posi- tions still remain to be made before the scale in force is just and equitable in all its features, as it is felt that the rates assigned in some positions do not correspond with the grades or emoluments. applied to similar positions in other branches of Government service.
30 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
The financial assistance accorded to members of the scientific staff _has been greatly appreciated but attention is drawn to the necessity of keeping this matter in mind so that faithful service may be further rewarded. Provision is made in the reclassification act for increase in salary to the average amount in the various grades, pro- vided a suitable record of efficiency is maintained. Two surveys of efficiency of the entire staff have been made in accordance with regu- lations laid down by the Personnel Classification Board, and in fur- ther accordance with the regulations of that board the ratings assigned have been transmitted to the staff. It is highly gratifying to record that with very few exceptions these ratings have been excellent and have been of such a degree that they warrant promo- tion. Under existing appropriations funds for the proper advance- ment indicated are not available. The matter is earnestly recom- mended for serious consideration to the end that money may be pro- vided to make the necessary increase. Such action has been taken in other departments and it is sincerely desired to avoid falling behind in this respect as was the case under former salary regulations. Though not universally recognized as an element in educational activities, the National Museum fulfills a threefold function in that field. Through the care and preservation of its vast and inestimably valuable collections and their careful arrangement and classification, it affords a visual record of progress and development of our own and foreign peoples, of important advances in the history of our country, and of achievements in science, industry, and art. As a museum of research it affords opportunity to the trained specialist and to the serious student to pursue studies of all kinds with facili- ties not elsewhere obtainable. It is seen as a museum of education by the visiting public, who come to examine the many treasures in the exhibition halls, while through its publications, correspondence, and ‘distribution of duplicate specimens it reaches thousands who are not so fortunate as to be able to visit its halls. It may be safely said that no textbook, work of reference, or encyclopedia of facts has been © issued in this country in recent years that has not based some of its statements on information originating in the National Museum. As a modern feature for the dissemination of knowledge may be mentioned the radio program of the Smithsonian Institution organ- ized last year which has continued under the direction of Mr. Austin H. Clark of the Museum staff in cooperation with the broadcasting station WRC, Radio Corporation of America. In all, 28 talks, of 15 minutes each, were given during the winter, 10 being by members cf the staff of the Institution, including 7 from the Museum. Four of these talks were broadcast also by stations WJY and WJZ in New York City, reaching thus a broad audience. The talks, which began October 2, 1924, and were concluded on May 14, 1925, were
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 31
delivered by 25 individual speakers. The subjects chosen came front a wide range in the field of science and proved highly popular as attested by the many letters received from listeners far and near.
Some of them have been published in permanent form. Possibilities
in the spread of authentic scientific information through this means
are great, since in this way informational talks prepared in an inter- - esting manner go out to an extended audience fully appreciative of
what they hear. It is possible thus to present the newer facts and
changing aspects of science in a manner unequaled by other means.
As was anticipated when the Loeb collection of chemical types was
placed under the special charge of a paid curator, splendid progress
has been made. Through the activities of Mr. O. E. Roberts, jr., the
curator, and cooperation on the part of many chemists and organiza-
tions, 616 new specimens have been added to the collection during
the year. The importance of such a collection is only just begin-
ning to be realized, but the interest already taken in it by specialists
in chemical research work is indicative of the important results
eventually to be achieved.
COLLECTIONS
_ The results of the year show a most satisfactory growth in the collections, the total number of specimens received amounting to 363,490, while additional lots of material received for examination and report numbered 1,232. The number of additions exceeds slightly the very high mark attained last year, while material for report also shows a slight increase. The increases are highly grati- fying and have brought a great amount of extremely valuable ma- terial to the collections.
As in previous years, duplicate specimens were distributed as cifts to educational institutions or utilized in the making of ex- changes for specimens needed toward completing the collections. The material thus disposed of amounted to 23,244 specimens, of which 2,099 represent gifts. An additional lot of material, com- prising 33,966 specimens, was distributed in the form of loans to specialists and students for study and. identification.
The following resumé of the more important accessions received during the year is submitted by the heads of the several depart- ments or divisions of the Museum:
Anthropology.—The department of anthropology reports a year of satisfactory progress in all lines of its activities.
In the division of ethnology there was received a unique series of objects illustrating the material culture of the Indians of eastern Panama as a result of the explorations of the Marsh-Darien expedi- tion cooperating with the Smithsonian Institution. This collection
32 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
is regarded of such scientific interest that a special paper describing it has been prepared and submitted for publication. Another acces- sion of particular beauty and rarity was the remainder of the collection of California Indian baskets bequeathed by the late Miss Ella F. Hubby, of Pasadena.
Among additions in American archeology may be mentioned col- lections from Town Creek, Ala., on the site of Wilson Dam, Muscle Shoals, and from Weeden Island, St. Petersburg, Fla., collected by Gerard Fowke and Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, respectively, and trans- ferred from the Bureau of American Ethnology. The first of these is especially valuable, since it comes from a locality that will be covered by water when impounded by the dam.
The accessions in the division of Old World archeology include a copy of the Welsh version of the Bible from David W. Evans and numerous Egyptian and Graeco-Roman antiquities and ancient glassware loaned by Edward Sampson.
In physical anthropology there were added several casts of the remains of the famous Trinil man of Java, Pithecanthropus erectus, received from Dr. Eugene Dubois, who has been engaged in ex- haustive studies of this highly important fossil. Also there has been received from the British Museum a cast of the skull found re- cently at Broken Hill in Rhodesia. Other important casts repre- sent remains of ancient man from Czechoslovakia. These will all be of great assistance in studies of ancient man. The Bureau of Ameri- can Ethnology transferred skeletal material from Florida, and the National Geographic Society presented important skeletons found in- excavations at Pueblo Bonito and Pueblo del Arroyo, New Mexico. The Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences donated a collection of Iro- quois skeletal material collected in Erie Coutty, N. Y.
Mr. Hugo Worch has added to the Worch collection of pianos four splendidly decorated harpsichords of the sixteen and seventeen centuries. Miss Frances Densmore completed her study of the col- lection of musical instruments and submitted a manuscript descrip- tive of it.
' The ceramic collection was augmented by a collection of English porcelain and glass, gift of Mrs. Frances Roome Powers.
In art textiles, the valuable laces of the late Mrs. H. K. Porter were continued as a loan by her daughter, Miss Hegeman. By be- quest of the late Miss Emily Tuckerman, all specimens belonging to her on deposit in the Museum were made a gift. The Misses Long contributed several fine specimens of embroidery and lace.
The department profited especially through explorations by the Bureau of American Ethnology, the National Geographic Society, and the Marsh-Darien expedition. Neil M. Judd, in charge of
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 30
the excavations carried on under auspices of the National Geo- graphic Society at Pueblo Bonito, remained in the field for several months and secured excellent collections and highly important in- _ formation. Henry B. Collins, jr., conducted explorations at ancient village sites in Mississippi, where valuable studies have resulted from intensive work in the field.
Biology.—tIncrease in the collections in the various divisions of this department have equaled and in some cases have excelled those recorded for the previous year. Of outstanding interest is the col- lection of coleoptera and mollusks that came to the Museum by bequest of the late Col. Thomas Lincoln Casey. The beetles alone in this collection are estimated at approximately 90,000 specimens representing 16,000 species of which 5,000: were described by Colonel Casey and are represented by the types.
The large collections presented by the National Geographic
Society as the result of expeditions in China by Dr. J. F. Rock and Mr. F. R. Wulsin include a total of over 4,500 specimens of verte- brates and 68,000 plants, a wonderful store of rich material that has added greatly to the representation from that area, for, in addition to a number of forms previously unknown to science, there are in the collection many species’ not before represented in this institution. Additional collections from China have come through the continued efforts of Rev. D. C. Graham in western Szechwan, which have added vertebrates and valuable insects. China has been further represented in our accessions by material collected by A. deC. Sowerby, pre- sented through the continued interest of Col. R. S. Clark. - Mr. B. H. Swales has continued his important additions to the collections of birds by the purchase of a considerable number of species not previously represented including a number of rarities from Madagascar. Further acquisitions through the interest of Dr. Casey A. Wood have resulted in additional specimens from Fiji. Dr. Hugh M. Smith, now in Siam, has begun presentation of valuable material from a region almost unknown in our collections and has included among other things in his first sending a highly valuable lot of marine invertebrates.
Valuable collections of fishes have come from the EH K. Mulford ©o., of Philadelphia. Certain important specimens have been pur- chased for the collections of mollusks from the income provided tor that purpose by the Frances Lea Chamberlain fund.
In the exhibition halls there was installed a new group of Rocky Mountain goats prepared from material collected by Secretary and Mrs. C. D. Walcott; the case represents a family of four with an appropriate background of rockwork. A number of older mounts of other mammals have been replaced by material prepared by
34 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
modern methods and additions have been made to the collections exhibiting the local fauna. A second group not quite completed is that of the dik-dik, a diminutive antelope from Africa.
Geology.—Although a decrease is shown in the number of acces- sions and amount of material received in this department as com- pared with 1923-24, reference to earlier reports shows the present year to be an average one, with a total of 198 accessions, aggregating 79,674 specimens.
The paleontological collections are again the chief peitelehesniany notable among the acquisitions being the results of Secretary Wal- cott’s field stole for the past four years, as well as collections made by Doctors Bassler, Resser, and Ulrich in the summer of 1924. Gifts also materially increased the collections of invertebrate fossils, particularly those of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic periods, and one bequest added many thousands of specimens, including types.
In vertebrate paleontology the most important acquisition is a series of footprints from Permian deposits secured by Mr. C. W. Gilmore from the Hermit Trail, Grand Canyon National Park, working under the auspices of the National Park Service. Dr. J. C. Merriam, of the Carnegie Institution, of Washington, who was instrumental in perfecting the arrangements under which this material was secured, supplemented it by additional specimens taken personally. The fossil cetacean collection has also been materially increased and is now thought to be probably the largest and best preserved assemblage of these forms in any American institution.
A series of unusual forms of stalactites and stalagmites from Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, presented by the National Geo- graphic Society, permitted the installation of an important addition to the exhibits showing cave phenomena.
In the field of applied geology the most important material re- ceived was that obtained by Assistant Curator Foshag while work- ing with a United States Geological Survey field party in New Mex- ico. Doctor Foshag also collected much mineralogical material needed for the study collections. A few striking exhibition specimens of ores were obtained from various sources.
Col. W. A. Roebling was the chief contributor to the mineral collec- tions, 6 accessions comprising 51 specimens being credited to him during the year. The most notable of these is a group of axinite crystals thought to be the largest of this mineral yet found.
A crystal of the new mineral afwillite, donated by Mr. Alpheus F. Williams, is of particular interest in being one of the type lot which consists of less than a pound of the material. Notable speci- mens for exhibition were furnished through Mr. F. L. Hess, of which a group of large wulfenite crystals from Mexico, and a mass of pink muscovite and amblygonite from New Mexico are prominent.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY — 35
Through the interest of Mr. Worcester R. Warner and the courtesy of the Fukushima Co. (Inc.), New York, the department of geology has been privileged to exhibit a crystal ball of unusual size and per- fection, weighing 110 pounds and measuring 1314 inches in diameter, which is said to be the largest of its kind known. This has attracted much attention from visitors.
Exchanges have added materially to the collections in all divisions of the department, both for exhibition and study, and a few objects
have been acquired by purchase. Several additions have been made _ to the meteorite collection, consisting chiefly of fragments of mod- erate size, which, while important from a scientific standpoint, add little to the exhibits. A number of gems have been added to the Isaac Lea collection through the Frances Lea Chamberlain fund.
Secretary Walcott continued his researches in British Columbia; Dr. R. S. Bassler in Tennessee, in cooperation with the geological survey of that State; Dr. C. E. Resser in the Rocky Mountain re- gion of the United States; and Dr. W. F: Foshag was detailed to accompany a geological survey party in New Mexico. Mr. C. W. Gilmore spent some weeks in the Grand Canyon National Park, under the auspices of the National Park Service.
Work on the exhibits has been chiefly confined to cleaning and rearranging, no important changes having been made. In strati- graphic paleontology much time and effort have been consumed in ex- pansion of the collections and in general cleaning and rearranging of the paleobotanical collections. The efforts of the force in verte- brate paleontology have been confined almost wholly to the prepara- tion of the huge dinosaur skeleton, collected last year, with satis- factory results.
_ Research work has continued to the extent permitted by other duties.
Arts and industries—Growth in this department has been satis- factory in the main though hampered in many lines by crowding. Materials for accession are selected with great care, but so much that is wholly desirable is offered that available facilities for ex- hibition are greatly overtaxed.
- In the division of mechanical and mineral technology there was a slight falling off in the number of accessions received and a material decrease in the number of specimens catalogued during the year, due, primarily, to a lack of exhibition and storage space. This condition is aggravated more and more each year and will lead to further de- crease in the rate of acceptance of objects for the collection since now choice may be made only of things urgently required.
In the transportation section one early type of automobile was re- ceived, a Knox car made in 1901, presented by Mrs. Lansing Van
66999—25——_4
86 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
Auken, Watervliet, N. Y. The signal section of the American Rail- way Association added to its series of specimens showing develop- ments in railway signaling 16 objects that indicate some of the early efforts in block signaling. 'The Buda Co., of Harvey, IIL, pre- sented a full-size gasoline automobile engine operated by an elec- tric motor specially arranged for exhibition, as by pressing a but- ton it may be put in operation, thus permitting study of many of the working parts in action. Mr. Henry Ford presented a specially prepared exhibit of the planetary transmission used in the Ford automobile. As this is one of the distinctive types of automobile transmissions it will form an interesting part of an exhibit now under way designed to illustrate the various fundamental units com- posing the automobile.
The Portland Cement Association, of Chicago, Ill., through its local office, presented a full-size photographic copy, suitably framed, of the original patent on Portland cement granted by King George III to Joseph Aspdin in 1824. The presentation of this interesting paper was made in the presence of about 12 officials representing various departments of the Government interested in Portland cement and was accepted on behalf of the Museum by Secretary Walcott. The framed copy now hangs in close proximity to the exhibit on Portland cement in the division of mineral technology.
The collections under the supervision of the curator of textiles, which, besides textiles, embrace wood technology, foods, animal products, organic chemistry, and medicine, were increased by many gifts and by transfer of material from other Government bureaus, amounting in all to over 8,800 objects. A statement concerning the most important of these follows:
Series of industrial specimens illustrating many branches of rubber manufacture, the manufacture of sealing wax, and a model showing the preparation and dyeing of furs were added to the collections from the field of industrial chemistry. The textile col- lections were increased by gifts of fibers, yarns, silk and cotton dress and drapery fabrics, wool fabrics, mohair plushes, and machine embroideries; also many examples of modern handicraft. To the collections arranged to show the importance of wood and the indus- tries based thereon were added veneered panels of woods used in the furniture industry, showing the different kinds of finishes used, a series of specimens demonstrating the manufacture of lead pencils, and a large timber of Douglas fir to represent an important product of the forests of the Pacific Northwest. The collections added to the division of medicine were chiefly in the field of public health, and consisted of models and posters showing advances in sanitary science. Specimens of materia medica and numerous objects asso-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 37
ciated with the history of medicine in America were among other additions to this division.
Work of the division of graphic arts continued mainly along lines developed in past years, and consisted of improving and completing existing series of specimens and the continuance of special exhibi- tions. Fourteen of the latter held during the year attracted favor- able attention. Valuable additions to exhibit materials have been received or promised as a result of these exhibits.
One important new exhibit of microengraving has attracted much . attention. It consists of “The Lord’s Prayer” engraved on glass in a square space about ;s455 of an inch on a side, so arranged that it is viewed under a microscope through the eye of a needle. The entire exhibit was prepared and presented by Alfred McEwen, of New York City.
The exhibit of mezzotints has been completely rearranged, with additions of new specimens to the historical series and of two series of plates and prints to the technical set, so that it now presents a clear idea of the early and modern methods of engraving mezzotints.
The collection illustrating methods used in printing for the blind has also been greatly improved by the incorporation of additional material which gives a clear idea of the method of making and print- ing the special plates required in this work and the manner in which the characters are read by the blind.
Three Babylonian tablets about 4,000 years old, inscribed with cuneiform writing, acquired by purchase, have been placed with the exhibits on the history of writing where they make an interesting addition. Two of these of small size are of baked clay and represent a skillful form of writing. The other represents the effort of a schoolboy learning to write, and, while crude, is of considerable in- terest. Tablets of this latter kind are very rare, as they are of un- baked clay and were not intended to be permanently preserved.
From Mr. B. M. Comerford, of Washington, D. C., were received four examples of the rare and beautiful art of fore-edge decorating, which consists of painting on the small portions of the leaves of a book that are exposed when the back is pushed out of normal posi- tion. The picture disappears when the book is closed. . ‘This art is said to have been originated by Samuel Mearne, who is reported to have practiced it as early as 1662.
The aquatone process, which was mentioned in last year’s report as a new and beautiful development among modern photomechanical processes, is now represented by an exhibit indicating the technical steps in the process of preparing and printing such a plate. This is the gift of William Edwin Rudge, of New York, and shows well the simplicity of the process and the beauty of the results obtained.
38 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
The two traveling exhibits prepared by the division have been out almost continuously, and have been shown by various art museums and graphic art organizations in the eastern half of the country, including those in Milwaukee, Wis., Brooklyn, N. Y., and Houston, Tex., as well as many intermediate points. Four other smaller ex- hibits are being prepared, which likewise depict the technical side of graphic arts but on a smaller scale. These consist of 25 mats, measuring 14 by 17 inches, weighing approximately 30 pounds, that can be shipped by mail at very small expense. The larger exhibits, which weigh 320 and 430 pounds, respectively, are forwarded by express.
The collection of photographs in the section of photography is becoming one of the most important public collections in the coun- try, due to the efforts of A. J. Olmsted, custodian, and Mr. Floyd Vail, of New York City.
History.—The additions to the historical collections surpass both in number and scientific importance those received during the previ- ous year. The military collections have been increased by the addi- tion of a number of objects of special interest, among which are a presentation sword, flags, uniforms and accessories, and medals and badges owned by Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles. The sword was pre- sented to General Miles in 1887 by citizens of the State of Arizona in recognition of his services in connection with the capture of the Indian chief, Geronimo, and his band of hostile Apaches. The medals and badges include the Congressional Medal of Honor and the badge of the Society of the Cincinnati. An object of special in- terest in this connection is a large heart-shaped shield of silver and bronze which was presented to General Miles by the officers of the Fifth United States Infantry. These objects have been received by the Museum from Mrs. Samuel Reber and Maj. Sherman Miles, United States Army. A number of presentation and service swords owned during the nineteenth century by Maj. Gen. Frank Wheaton, United States Army, have been presented to the Museum by Mrs. Frank Wheaton. From Gen. John J. Pershing was received a num- ber of military flags, maps, and posters, and the office desk and acces- sories which he used at the headquarters of the American Expedi- tionary Forces at Chaumont, France, during the World War.
The naval collections have been increased by the addition of a sword and two uniform coats owned during the early part of the nineteenth century by Commodore Samuel Woodhouse, United States Navy, which have been presented by Dr. Samuel W. Wood- house, jr., and also by the transfer from the Navy Department of a series of 17 models illustrating the development of the United States Navy during the period from 1776 to 1920.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 389
Through the cooperation of the United States Treasury Depart- ment, a number of valuable United States and foreign coins and medals have been added to the numismatic collections. Of special interest in this connection has been the transfer from the Treasury Department to the Museum of about 800 publications, forming a highly useful library, on the subject of numismatics.
The portrait collection was increased by the following additions: A portrait of Elizabeth Cady Stanton by Anna KE. Klumpke was presented by the National American Woman’s Suffrage Associa- tion; portraits of Gen. John J. Pershing and Marshal Ferdinand Foch were presented by the artist, Victor Perard. A portrait of President Warren G. Harding, by John Innes, showing the former delivering an address at Stanley Park, British Columbia, July 29, 1923, was presented to the Museum by the National Press Club, Washington, D. C.
EXPLORATIONS AND FIELD WORK
The greater part of the material added to the collections during the current year was as usual derived from expeditions and ex- plorations under the auspices of private organizations and Govern- ment agencies.
In biology the National Geographic Society was a large con- tributor through its expeditions in China, in the Arctic, and in this. country. From the former extremely valuable and extensive col- lections, comprising some 68,000 plants, over 1,600 birds, 60 mam- mals, and other specimens, were received from the society’s expedi- tion under Dr. Joseph F. Rock, principally from the Province of Yunnan. The bulk of the material collected by the society’s expedi- tion under Mr. F. R. Wulsin, which has been referred to in previous. reports, was received during the past fiscal year. It comprised im- portant and extensive collections of birds, mammals, reptiles, and. fishes from inner Mongolia, the Alashan Desert, and Western Kansu,, in the region of Lake Kokonor, northeastern Tibet, as well as from the Min Sha Range, which marks the boundary between the Provinces of Kansu and Szechwan. The specimens from this source are of particular importance, since they afford topotypes of numer- ous species described from Przevalski’s famous exploring trip of 50 years before. They also include important ethnological material. from a region not heretofore represented in this institution. The: collections from these sources supplement those made by Mr. R. S.. Clark and Mr. Arthur deC. Sowerby in 1908-9 in Kansu, Thansi,. and Shensi, and the important collections made during the past. year by Rev. David C. Graham in Szechwan. The latter were: secured on a difficult trip to Songpan and the Yellow Dragon Gorge,
40 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
and comprise many specimens new to the Museum. Incidental to the Arctic explorations undertaken for the National Geographic So- ciety in Bering Sea and Arctic America during the summer of 1924 by Capt. R. A. Bartlett, and by Mr. D. B. Macmillan in the Bowdoin in Greenland in 1924, some interesting zoological material was se- cured and presented to the Museum. In August, 1924, Mr. Paul C. Standley was detailed as a member of the Carlsbad Cavern expedi- tion of the National Geographic Society, his association in the en- terprise resulting in a collection of some 500 specimens of plants, many of species not previously known from New Mexico. A popu- lar account of the vegetation of the Carlsbad Cavern region has been prepared for publication largely on the basis of this field -work. Under the auspices of Mr. Robert S. Clark, several eastern Provinces in China were visited by Mr. Arthur deC. Sowerby, from whom extensive collections were received. Dr. Hugh M. Smith, who is at present fisheries adviser to the Siamese Government, for- warded interesting zoological material from that country.
As a result of his visit to Haiti during the spring of 1925, Mr. Gerrit S. Miller, jr., of the Museum staff, secured a collection of the extinct vertebrate cave fauna as wéll as miscellaneous specimens of the living mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and plants of the island. Doctor Bartsch continued his experiments with Cerions, through the assistance of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, his visit to the experimental colonies of these mollusks planted on the Florida Keys resulting in the addition of some 2,700 specimens to the collections. In addition, through the cooperation of the United States Coast Guard, he was able, with the assistance of Mr. W. B. Marshall of the Museum staff, to do some dredging in the inner leads of Cape May and in the shallow waters off the coast of New Jersey, which resulted in adding quite a number of speci- mens from a region little explored. A survey of the fisheries of the Republic of Salvador, undertaken by S. F. Hildebrand and F. J. Foster, of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, at the request and at the expense of the Salvadorean Government, resulted in the collection and subsequent transfer to the Museum of a large collec- tion of fishes and some crustaceans from the region referred to. Secretary Walcott’s field work in the Canadian Rockies, in addi- tion to yielding important paleontological material, added a num- ber of valuable zoological specimens, some of which have been utilized in preparing a new exhibition group of Rocky Mountain goats in the Mammal Hall of the Museum. As the result of the detail by the Department of Agriculture of Mrs. Agnes Chase, of — the Bureau of Plant Industry, to field work in the eastern high- lands of Brazil, important botanical material was received for the National Herbarium.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY Sg itt
Dr. William Schaus, honorary assistant curator of insects, through personal efforts raised the sum of $50,000 for the purchase of the famous collection of Lepidoptera gathered by M. Paul Dognin, Wimile, France, comprising a series of specimens highly valuable _ for studies of these important insects. Doctor Schaus went to France to supervise the packing of this collection for shipment to the museum, where it has been received, although not in time to be mceluded in more detail in this report.
The material secured by the Marsh-Darien expedition to Panama, referred to in last year’s report, was received during the past year. It contained so much interesting ethnological material of a class not previously represented in our collections that it has been made the basis of a special report prepared by Mr. H. W. Krieger, curator of ethnology. Mr. Neil M. Judd, curator of American archeology in charge of the Pueblo Bonito expedition of the National Geo- graphic Society, secured important collections for the Museum, and equally important material was secured by Mr. Gerard Fowke under the auspices of the Bureau of American Ethnology from burial sites near Muscle Shoals, Ala., which will soon be covered by water impounded by the Wilson Dam. Doctor Fewkes, Chief of the Bureau of American Ethnology, assisted by Mr. M. W. Stirling, of the department of anthropology, conducted an explora- tion of ancient Indian mounds at St. Petersburg, Fla., which resulted in important finds and material valuable to the collections. Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, of the Museum staff, assisted by a generous grant from the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, left in March for an extended trip through the Far East, Australia, and South africa for the purpose of observing at first hand a number of peculiar races of men and to collect data on various discoveries of ancient man.
Under the auspices of the United States Geological Survey, Dr. W. F. Foshag, of the Museum staff, was enabled to make collections and to visit mineral properties in western Nevada where acquaint- ances made with mine owners and collectors will inure greatly to the benefit of the Museum. He also collected a series of minerals from California. Short trips to various localities in Maryland were made by Mr. Karl V. Shannon, of the Department of Geology, in cooperation with the State geological survey, and to Connecticut through an arrangement with the geological and natural history survey of that State, which resulted in necessary additions to our collections. Aided by grants from the O. C. Marsh and Joseph Henry endowment funds of the National Academy of Sciences, Secretary Walcott continued his field work in western Alberta for the purpose of completing his reconnaissance of the pre-Devonian
42 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
formations north of Bow Valley, the main objects of this year’s work being to determine the correct geologic horizon of the Lyell limestone. Many attempts to do this during the past six years resulted in failure, and it really seemed that these great lime- stone beds were barren of fossils. In measuring geologic sections in the Tilted Mountain Area, however, interbedded bluish-gray layers containing fragments of Upper Cambrian trilobites were at last found, which proved their correct geologic horizon.
Dr. Charles E. Resser continued his field explorations of the Can- brian and associated formations. Dr. R. S. Bassler, in cooperation with the geological survey of Tennessee, continued his work in that State, and at the same time made collections of Mississippian fossils for the Museum. Mr. Erwin R. Pohl was detailed for a short time to make collections from the celebrated Rysedorph conglomerate of northern New York, which resulted in a good series of fossils for the Museum.
In cooperation with the National Park Service, Mr. C. W. Gilmore, curator of vertebrate paleontology, visited the Grand Canyon Na- tional Park, Ariz., for the purpose of accompanying the Doheny scientific expedition as an observer to investigate and make col- lections of fossil tracks exposed in the Coconino sandstone and to prepare an exhibit of the tracks in situ by the side of the Hermit Trail leading into the Grand Canyon. His trip was a most success- ful one in all of its aspects, a series of slabs some 2,000 pounds in weight and containing a splendid series of the fossil footprints being collected and shipped to the Museum. Dr. J. W. Gidley, of the geo- logical staff of the Museum, visited the region around Melbourne, Fla., on two occasions during the year and secured an interesting collection of fossils. He also visited Adele, Iowa, for the purpose of studying the geology of a formation in which had been found certain human artifacts. Continuing the practice of previous years, Mr. Norman Boss made several short trips to the Calvert Cliffs along Chesapeake Bay in search of Miocene fossils.
A movement which promises important results to the Museum was inaugurated in the summer of 1924, when the Secretary of the Navy invited the Smithsonian Institution to participate in a conference of representatives of the executive departments and scientific establish- ments of the Government of the United States for the purpose of formulating plans for a naval expedition to undertake investigations in oceanography. Mr. Austin Clark, Dr. Waldo L. Schmitt, and Dr. Paul Bartsch, of the Museum staff, were designated as representa- tives of the Institution on this occasion, and at the close of the meet- ing Mr. Clark was chosen as representative of the Smithsonian In- stitution and its branches on an executive interim committee.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY ae 43
BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT
The various buildings of the Museum have been kept in good con- dition throughout the year through minor repairs, which have con- sisted largely in painting walls, ceilings, and floors, repairing cracks in plaster and cement surfaces, painting tin gutters and roofs, and work of a similar character. In the Arts and Industries Building
~ new floors were laid in a few of the rooms and the ventilation 1m-
proved.
In the Smithsonian Building it was necessary to replace with beaded sheets the entire plaster ceiling of the main hall on the third floor, occupied by the Museum’s division of plants. The work was done partly by contract and partly by the Museum force.
Under a special appropriation for the purpose, four modern fire hydrants were installed under the direction of the District Commis- sioners in the Smithsonian Park. |
The cost of heating for the year was considerably less than during the previous year, due partly to the lower cost of coal and partly to the fact that for the first time in many years it was possible to secure coal from the New River fields, which is better adapted to the
heating apparatus. During the year, 3,292 tons of bituminous and 15.5 tons of anthracite coal were used. The total electric current generated during the year was 476,709 kilowatt-hours, at a total cost of 2.362 cents per kilowatt-hour, including labor, material, interest, and depreciation on the plant.
A total of 346.3 tons of ice were produced during the year at a cost of $2.309 per ton. A new compressor has been purchased which, with increase in the size of the condenser made during the year, will increase the capacity of the ice machine from 2 to 21% tons per day. Even with the cost of the new compressor included, the cost per ton of ice will be under the wholesale price paid for ice by the Govern- ment.
During the year 18 exhibition cases and bases and 127 pieces of storage, laboratory, office, and other furniture were acquired by purchase and construction. Of the storage cases 11 were purchased and 116 built in the Museum shops.
MEETINGS AND RECEPTIONS
The Department of Agriculture was granted the use of the audi- torium on October 27, 28 and 31 for a series of lectures by Dr. Vernon H. Blackman, of the Imperial College of Science and Tech- nology in London, and on January 26 for a lecture on Agricultural Research and the Community, by Sir Daniel Hall, scientific adviser
44 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
to the Minister of Agriculture in England, all lectures being open to department workers and others. Other bureaus of this depart- ment using the auditorium were the Forest Service for a series of five lectures extending from October to June, the Bureau of Agri- cultural Economics for an exhibition and talk on the evening of April 20 by Mr. L. M. Estabrook, and the Federal Horticultural Board on June 29 and 30, for public hearings on fruit and rose stocks and the white-pine blister rust (when room 438 was also used), and again on September 20 by the same board for a conference on the white-pine blister rust quarantine. The auditorium and all com- mittee rooms available were used for a national conference on utiliza- tion of forest products called by Secretary Wallace on November 19 and 20. On the afternoon of May 22, the department’s post, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars of the United States, held memorial services in the auditorium in honor of the late Henry C. Wallace, and of the men of the Department of Agriculture who lost their lives in the World War. |
The Department of Commerce occupied the auditorium for the National Radio Conference on October 7 and 8.
Dr. AleS Hrdlitka, of the Museum staff, gave two courses of lec- tures on anthropology during the period from October 24 to Decem- ber 19—Man’s Origin, on Friday afternoons in the auditorium, and Man’s Physical and Physiological Characteristics, on Monday afternoons in room 43. These proved highly popular and were well attended.
Under the auspices of the School of Foreign Service, a series of 12 lectures were given in the auditorium by Dr. Edmund A. Walsh, S. J., of Georgetown University, on Russia in Revolution. These extended over a period from February 13 to May 15 and attracted much attention.
Associations and societies using the auditorium and room 48 for their annual meetings were the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, December 29 to January 3, and the American Society of Mammalogists, April 8 to 10. The Amertcan Surgical Association met in the auditorium May 4, 5, and 6, and on the same dates the eighth annual meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was held in room 48. On the evening of Janu- ary 2 the division of insects of the Museum was thrown open to members of the Entomological Society of America and the Associa- tion of Economic Entomologists, who were in attendance at the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Sci- ence.
In addition to the foregoing the auditorium was used on various occasions by the Wild Flower Preservation Society, the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Dental
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 45
Society, Washington Society of Engineers, Washington Chapter of the American Association of Engineers, Practical Psychology Club, and the Boy Scouts of the third division.
Among the scientific and other societies that met regularly in room 43 were the Anthropological Society of Washington, the Ento- mological Society of Washington, the American Horticultural So- ciety, and the Society for Philosophical Inquiry. Those using the room from time to time were the Audubon Society of the District of Columbia during February and March for a series of talks by Dr. Alexander Wetmore; the Helminthological Society of Washing- ton, when Prof. EK. Brumpt, of the University of Paris, made an address; the Biological Society of Washington, for an address by F. Johansen; the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Chemists; the directors and assistant directors of municipal play- grounds, the Camp Fire Girls, and the Camp Fire Guardians, and by the Garden Homes Association for addresses intended “ to en- courage people to own a home and garden.”
Mr. Chr. Thams, minister of the Prince of Monaco to France, on November 29 gave a lecture on the results of a journey under- taken into eastern Africa for the purpose of advancing the cause of conservation of wild life. The lecture was illustrated by a fine series of moving pictures impressive for their accuracy in revealing the habits of big game under natural conditions.
At the request of the Air Service Officers Reserve Corps, pictures illustrating the flight around the world were shown in the audi- torium on the evening of April 8.
On the evening of May 2 the auditorium was used for a private showing of the historical picture made for the Commission of Re- lief in Belgium, before Secretary Hoover, who was chairman of that organization during the years of its operation from 1914 to 1919.
The auditorium was also used by the following: The Filipino Club of Washington, on the evening of July 3, for a meeting. to celebrate the Fourth of July; El Club Cervantes, on the evening of December 20, to celebrate the centenary of the Battle of Ayacucho, the decisive battle in South America’s wars for independence; by Sefior Don C. de Quesada, of the Cuban Embassy, on the evening of March 28 to celebrate the ratification of the treaty of the Isle of Pines and in honor of the Spanish War Veterans; the Cornell Alumni Society of Washington for a musical recital by Prof. Vladimir Karapetoff, of Cornell University, on the evening of April 23.
A national spelling bee was held in the auditorium on the eve- ning of June 17, under the auspices of the Courier Journal and Louisville Times, of Louisville, Ky.
46 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
At the request of the Washington Chapter of the American In- stitute of Banking all of the exhibition halls on the ground, first, and second floors of the Natural History Building were opened on the evening of July 19 for a reception to the members of the In- stitute meeting in Washington at that time.
A joint meeting of the Anthropological Society of Washington, the Washington Academy of Science, the Art and Archeology League, in conjunction with the Archeological Institute of America, was held in the auditorium on the evening of December 16, during which Count Byron Kuhn de Prorok gave a lecture on the “ Carthage excavations, 1924,” and “The dead cities of the Sahara.” After the lecture a reception was held in the Art Gallery.
As one of the features of the meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, on the evening of December 29, members and their guests were received in the Art Gallery by the Secretary of the Institution and Mrs. Walcott, at which time the entire first floor of the building was open. On the evening of June 10, the halls on the first and second floors were opened for a reception to the delegates of the National Association of Credit Men attending the convention held in Washington from June 8 to 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
For the first time in the history of the Museum the total number of visitors to the several buildings reached more than 1,000,000. These were recorded at the several buildings as follows: Arts and Industries, 304,858; Natural History, 557,016; Aircraft, 52,787; Smithsonian, 107,342; a total of 1,022,003.
The Museum published 5 volumes and 70 separate papers during the year while its distribution of publications amounted to 104,596 copies of books and pamphlets.
Additions to the library numbered 1,457 books and 1,894 pam- phlets, mostly obtained by exchange or donation. With the funds available, only a few books could be purchased. Important con- tributions which have not yet been catalogued are the bequest by the late Col. Thomas L. Casey of approximately 4,500 books and pam- phlets, mostly relating to Coleoptera, which were not entirely as- sorted until after the close of the year, and the transfer from the Treasury Department of 800 books and pamphlets relating to the science of numismatics.
Through the operation of the reclassification act, which became effective July 1, 1924, the salary standards in the Museum, partic- ularly of the scientific staff, were materially improved and for the first time in many years every position in the Museum personnel was filled. The staff in the department of anthropology was completed
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 4”
through the appointment of Mr. Herbert W. Krieger as curator and Mr. Henry B. Collins as assistant curator of ethnology. In the department of arts and industries Miss Aida M. Doyle was appointed aid to succeed Mr. Harry W. Rabinowitz, resigned, and in the divi- sion of history Miss Hortense Hoad was appointed aid.
In accordance with the special provision, included in the last appropriation act, creating a new Assistant Secretary of the Smith- sonian Institution to have general charge of the museum interests of the Institution, including the United States National Museum, the National Gallery of Art and the National Zoological Park, the pres- ent incumbent was honored with appointment to that office on the 1st of April, 1925.
The Museum lost two employees during the year through the ‘operation of the retirement act, viz, Mr. N. P. Scudder, assistant librarian of the Smithsonian Institution, in charge of the Museum library, and Robert Ghor, fireman. The only death among em- ployees on the active rolls of the Museum was that of Israel Free- man, a laborer, employed in the Museum over 15 years, who died on July 16, 1924.
Respectfully submitted.
ALEXANDER WETMORE, om Assistant Secretary.
Dr. Cartes D. Watcort, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
APPENDIX 2 REPORT ON THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the affairs of the National Gallery of Art for the year ending June 30, 1925.
The activities of the gallery for the fifth year of its status as a separate administrative unit of the Smithsonian Institution cor- respond closely with those of previous years. The staff, which is limited to the director and the recorder, has been occupied during the year with the current work of the gallery; with the receipt, record, installation and care of the collections, permanent and tem- porary; with the affairs of the gallery commission; with the devel- opment of an art library; and with promotion of the gallery’s diver- sified interests. Other employees are: a stenographer, a gallery at- tendant, three watchmen, two laborers, two charwomen, and a carpenter who is assigned to the gallery by the National Museum when his services are required.
Additions to the gallery collections have fallen short of the aver- age of previous years, the art works received by the Institution and awaiting approval by the advisory committee of the gallery com- . mission not greatly exceeding a hundred thousand dollars in esti- mated value. This falling off is due, at least in part, to the shortage of exhibition space. Further important enrichment of the collec- tions must thus await the erection of a gallery building, since collec- tors seeking a final resting place for their treasures consider very carefully their prospective installation and care. Mention may be made here of the fact that during the period between 1904 and 1924, the period during which suitable exhibition space happened to be available in the museum buildings, accessions by gift and bequest averaged in value approximately half a million dollars per year. With a gallery building such as the nation should have, it is believed that a million or millions annually would be within reasonable ex- pectation. It is hardly within the range of possibility that a second benefactor will appear who is willing to present the Govern- ment with a building for his gift as did Mr. Freer, in order that the gift might be accepted.
During the year much attention has been given to the prepara- tion of preliminary plans for a gallery building. Although Con- gress in 1921 set aside an appropriate site for a building, it was left
48
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 49
to the Institution to obtain funds necessary for the employment of an architect to prepare the preliminary plans. As the result of an appeal for this purpose by the Institution, $10,000 was raised by private subscription, and Mr. Charles A. Platt was selected to pre- pare the necessary plans. During the winter of 1923-24 Mr. Platt spent several months in Europe engaged in the study of the more important art galleries. The committee appointed by the Regents of the Institution to collaborate with Mr. Platt on the plans, which included in its membership Henry White, chairman; Frederic A. Delano, Herbert Adams, Gari Melchers, J. H. Gest, and C. D. Wal- cott, met in the Regents’ room on February 138, 1925, and Mr. Platt presented the sketch plans, which he stated had been carried just far enough to be submitted for consideration by the Institution. Two hours were spent in examining the drawings, which comprised plans of the three floors, sections of the building, and a detailed drawing of the south front. Plans of a number of European gal- leries were submitted for comparison, and details of lighting and adaptation of space to the various requirements of the structure were considered. Mr. Platt stated that if the regents desired to have the work proceed the plans could be ready for the beginning of construction within six months, and that if appropriations were made available, the building could be completed in three years. It was expected by Mr. Platt that granite would be employed in the building. Questions of construction, employment of builders, and cost were discussed at length. Mr. Platt stated that the building, which as planned is 300 feet in width by 500 feet in length, will contain 10,000,000 cubic feet of stonework, and that the cost will hardly fall short of $1 per cubic foot. The committee accepted the plans as entirely satisfactory and reported to that effect to the Regents of the Institution.
The Platt drawings were first published in an article which ap- peared in the American Magazine of Art, March, 1925, where they were accompanied for purposes of comparison by the plans of a number of the principal art museums of both Europe and America. Tt is expected that the Regents of the Institution will, at the proper moment, present these preliminary plans to the committees of Con- gress having the erection of Government buildings in charge, for their consideration.
The death of Senator Lodge, a member of the Board of Regents of the Institution, who in 1924 offered in the Senate an amendment to the deficiency appropriation bill providing seven millions for a gallery building, leaves the movement without a militant head, but another will doubtless take his place since the urgent need of a building is now very generally recognized. The movement is re-
50 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
garded as having much added strength as a result of the fact that, as indicated in the Lodge resolution, the building when completed is expected to accommodate the collections of American history as well as those of art. The historical collections are of great popular interest, occupying to-day 120,000 square feet of floor space in the Smithsonian and the two Museum buildings—space urgently needed for the legitimate activities and vast collections of the several branches of natural science.
MEETINGS OF THE GALLERY COMMISSION
The annual meeting of the gallery commission was held in the Regents’ room of the Smithsonian Institution December 9, 1924. The members present were: Gari Melchers, chairman; Herbert Adams, Joseph H. Gest, John E. Lodge, Frank J. Mather, jr., Charles Moore, James Parmelee, Edward W. Redfield, Charles D. Walcott, and William H. Holmes.
The very important problem of the inclusion in the prospective gallery building of collections both of art and history, as indicated in the Lodge resolution, was given attention and the view prevailed that it would be advantageous, at least for a time, to have the two departments in the same building, although definitely separated.
The question of the acceptance of works of art by the advisory committee through the medium of correspondence was raised, and after discussion it was resolved that hereafter, a majority of the advisory committee be required to personally examine the works before making recommendation. As a result of this action and the impracticability of calling the committee to Washington for the consideration of works offered from time to time, the practice has been adopted of having all works of exceptionally high merit offered to the gallery accepted by the Smithsonian Institution for submis- sion to the advisory committee at the annual meeting of the com- mission or on occasions of particular importance, at especially called meetings of the committee.
Mr. Edmund C. Tarbell was selected a member of the commis- sion to succeed Mr. Edwin H. Blashfield, resigned, and his appoint- ment was recommended to the Board of Regents. Regarding the expiration of the three-year terms of three members of the commis- sion, Messrs. John E. Lodge, James Parmelee, and E. W. Redfield, it was decided to recommend to the Board of Regents the reelection of these members for the succeeding term of four years. The pres- ent members of the executive and advisory committees and the pres- ent officers of the commission were reelected for the year 1925.
The Platt plans for the proposed National Gallery Building were then presented by the secretary and were given careful considera- tion by the members of the commission.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 51
The advisory committee of the commission met in the gallery December 11, Gari Melchers, Miss Leila Mechlin, and W. H. Holmes being present. The following works were given favorable consid-
eration:
Portrait of Hon. James R. Mann, ae Gari Melchers.
Three paintings, the gift of Miss Emily Tuckerman: Hindoo Merchants, by Edwin Lord Weeks; Landscape (on copper), by Herman Saftleven; and Refectory, by Eduardo Zamacois.
The personnel of the commission is as follows: Gari Melchers, chairman; Frank Jewett Mather, jr., vice chairman; William H. Holmes, secretary; Herbert Adams, W. K. Bixby, James E. Fraser, Daniel Chester French, Joseph H. Gest, John E. Lodge, Charles Moore, James Parmelee, A. Kingsley Porter, Herbert L. Pratt, Ed- ward W. Redfield, and Edmund C. Tarbell.
The executive committee was composed of Messrs. Moore, chair- man; Gest, Holmes, Mather, jr., Parmelee, and Walcott; and the advisory committee was composed of Messrs. Redfield, chairman; Holmes, secretary; Adams, Miss Mechlin, Messrs. Melchers, Platt,
and Volk. Subcommittees are as follows:
Committee on architecture, A. Kingsley Porter, chairman.
Committee on ancient Huropean paintings, Frank J. Mather, jr., chairman. Committee on prints, excepting the oriental, James Parmelee, chairman. Committee on sculpture, Herbert Adams, chairman.
Committee on American paintings, E. W. Redfield, chairman.
Committee on ceramics, Joseph H. Gest, chairman.
Committee on oriental art, John E. Lodge, chairman.
Committee on modern Huropean paintings, Gari Melchers, chairman. Committee on textiles, no chairman at present.
The personnel of special committee is as follows:
On National Portrait Gallery, Herbert L. Pratt, chairman.
On gallery building, Charles Moore, chairman.
On raising fund for preliminary building plans, James Parmelee, chair- man; Charles Moore, Charles D. Walcott.
On selection of architect for preliminary plans, Henry White, chairman ; Her- bert Adams, Frederic A. Delano, J. H. Gest, Gari Melchers, Charles D. Walcott, ex officio.
On department of architecture,
On preservation of architectural gems,
Ae eS act 4
‘°
ACTIVITIES OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF ARTS AND THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S CLUBS
The work of the American Federation of Arts, in promoting the development of the national gallery, deserves appreciative mention. At its 1923 convention in St. Louis the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Whereas the United States is the only civilized nation which has no national gallery of art; and whereas there is great need for a building to house our
52 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
national art collection which in the past few years has greatly increased in size and value through gifts and bequests of public-spirited collectors and . individuals; and whereas, on account of the lack of space in which to exhibit such gifts, this channel of beneficence is now checked ; Be it
Resolved, That the American Federation of Arts undertake a campaign of education and promotion throughout the United States, in order to acquaint the people of existing conditions, in the hope that it may be their will when the facts are known, that a sufficient sum be appropriated by Congress to erect a suitable building. at the National Capital to house the national col- lections and to evidence to the world that we, aS a people, recognize art to be a factor in our national life.
Miss Leila Mechlin, secretary of the American Federation of Arts, states that the federation has at present 375 chapters or affili- ated organizations in all parts of the United States. The intention of the federation is to secure the cooperation of these organizations, and to interest a membership numbering several hundred thousand individuals in the gallery movement.
Of like importance in the promotion of the national gallery are the activities of the Federation of Women’s Clubs under the ener- getic direction of Mrs. Rose V. S. Berry, chairman of the art de- partment of the federation. This great organization, whose activi- ties extend to every State in the Union, seeks as one of its primary responsibilities to promote the cause of art, and especially to fur- ther art education in the most comprehensive manner. It seeks to have the world realize that the place given the arts of taste in a nation is an infallible test of the place that nation holds in the scale of civilization; it maintains that the promotion of these arts is thus a national responsibility. In its lecture courses and publi- cations it utilizes the national collections, taking occasion to lay stress upon the humiliating fact that the American nation makes no adequate provision for the acquirement, care, and utilization of collections illustrating’ the world’s achievements in the many branches of art, ignoring the example of all other civilized nations.
SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS HELD IN THE GALLERY
An exhibit of exceptional interest held in the middle room of the gallery March 3 to April 13 comprised 19 miniatures by Mr. Alyn Williams and 34 works of sculpture by Mr. Cecil Thomas, both exhibitors being Englishmen, although Mr. Williams spends much of his time in the United States. The exhibitors very generously prepared and had printed at their own expense a catalogue of the exhibits, copies of which were freely distributed. During the exhibit and for a short period thereafter Mr. Thomas was permitted to occupy one of the gallery spare rooms as a studio where he modeled two figure groups, The Duet and The Spirit of the Dance, the inspiration for which had come to him while in Washington. While
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 53
thus engaged Mr. Thomas was fortunate in having sittings for a por- trait bust by Sir Esme Howard, British ambassador to the United States. This work met with gratifying approval and a replica in plaster was presented by the sculptor to the Smithsonian Institution at a dinner given in honor of Sir Esme by the Washington Branch of the English-Speaking Union, on May 13. Presentation was made by the presiding officer of the occasion, and it was accepted by Doctor Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with appropriate words of appreciation.
A collection of portraits in oil and various studies in other tech- niques by Leo Katz of Vienna, Austria, was shown in the two north rooms of the gallery January 10 to February 15, and the exhibit,
‘comprising 35 items, proved of very special interest to the people of Washington. - The gallery was fortunate in being permitted to place on view from December 16 to February 15 a collection of art works in bronze and terra cotta, nine in number, mainly busts of important person- ages, by Mrs. Nancy Cdx-McCormack. These were mounted on appropriate pedestals in the south room of the gallery and included busts of Benito Mussolini, Italian premier, in black marble, and Henry P. Fletcher, ambassador to Italy, in bronze.
A collection of 72 water-color paintings of the scenery of the national parks of the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast regions, by Gunnar Widforss, was exhibited in the middle room of the gallery December 10 to January 10. These paintings were vivid and highly realistic presentations of many remarkable subjects and attracted much favorable attention.
THE HENRY WARD RANGER FUND
As the paintings purchased during the year by the council of the National Academy of Design from the fund provided by the Henry Ward Ranger bequest are, under certain conditions, prospective additions to the national collection, the list, including the names of the institutions to which they have been assigned, is given here:
Title | Artist peepee Assignment
42. The Other Shore----_- Robert Spencer, N. A----- Dec. 1,1924 | The Newark Museum Association, Newark, N. J.
ASeE NAN Cy sean ee Lillian Wescott Hale____--|_.--- dosseee ss The Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colo.
44. Their Son_-__-------- Oscar E. Berninghaus-_-__-|-.-.-do-____-- The Art Club of Erie, Erie, Pa.
45. The Wood Cart_-____- Louis Paul Dessar, N. A--| Apr. —, 1925
46. A Reading_____._____ Thomas W. Dewing, N. A-|_----do_------
CI7UG, SD) eee Dwight W. Tryon, N. A-_-_|_---- (6 (pense
48. The Prodigal Son____| Horatio N. Walker, N. A__|_---- dom ap
49. Storm Birds-_-_______- Armin Hansen___---------|-----do-------
oO; Helen. 22222222 Jerry Farnsworth_-_-_-_--|_---- COE Ease
51. Across the Valley____| Hobart Nichols, N. A-_-_- June 9, 1925
54 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
The paintings purchased from the Ranger fund during the past fiscal year and unassigned at its close (1923-24) have subsequently been assigned as follows:
36. Midsummer, by William S. Robinson, N. A.; to the art gallery of Washburn
College, Topeka, Kans.
37. The Bathers, by Spencer Nichols, A. N. A.; to the Art Hall of Beloit College,
Beloit, Wis.
39. The Necklace, by Richard BE. Miller, N, A.; to the Butler Art Institute,
Youngstown, Ohio.
41, Clearing After September Gale—Maine Coast, by Howard Russell Butler,
N. A.; to the Art Association of Indianapolis, Ind.
ART WORKS ADDED DURING THE YEAR
Permanent accessions of art works for the year are as follows:
Three paintings, the gift of Miss Emily Tuckerman: Hindoo Mer- chants, by Edwin Lord Weeks; Landscape (on copper), by Herman Saftleven; and the Refectory, by Eduardo Zamacois.
Portrait of the late Hon. James R. Mann, member of the Board of Regents of the Institution from 1906 to 1911, by Gari Melchers; gift of Mrs. James R. Mann.
Entrance portal to the Benjamin H. Warder house, 1515 K Street NW., Washington, D. C., designed by the eminent architect, Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886), including the door, carved trim and voussoirs (Berea grit). Gift of the cooperating committee on architecture in the National Gallery of Art, through Mr. Horace W. Peaslee, acting chairman, and 13 subscribers.
A landscape in water color, The Patriarchs, Zion National Park, by Gunnar Widforss. Gift of the artist.
Portrait of Chauncey Mitchell Depew, by George Burroughs Tor- rey. Gift of the Hon. Chauncey M. Depew, for the National Por- trait Gallery.
Portrait bust in plaster (bronzed) of the Rt. Hon. Sir Esme William Howard, British ambassador to the United States, by Cecil Thomas. Presented by Mr. Cecil Thomas through the Washington branch of the English-Speaking Union.
The Libyan Sibyl, a statue in Carrara marble, heroic in size, by William Wetmore Story, and a portrait bust of Napoleon Bonaparte, in Carrara marble, by Raimondo Trentanove. Presented by the estate of Henry Cabot Lodge, through Mr. John E. Lodge.
Portrait of Dr. Samuel Pierpont Langley, by Mme. M. de Left- wich-Dodge. Gift to the Smithsonian Institution from Mme. A. Langley Ciocca, of Rome, Italy, sister of Doctor Langley.
Medallion portrait (in plaster) of Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president
emeritus of Harvard University, by W. Clark Noble. Gift of Mr.
W. Clark Noble.
|
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 55
Collection of French and other art objects, including silverware, furniture, porcelains, pottery, glassware, bronzes, etc. Bequest of the Rev. Alfred Duane Pell, D. D., not as yet fully received and recorded by the gallery.
LOANS ACCEPTED BY THE GALLERY
Portrait bust in marble of the late Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, by Moses Wainer Dykaar; lent by the American Federation of Labor.
Four paintings lent by the estate of Henry Cabot Lodge, through Mr. John E. Lodge, as follows: Portrait of Alexander Hamilton, by John Trumbull; portrait of Fisher Ames, by Gilbert Stuart; River Landscape with Cattle, by Constant Troyon; and Stable Interior _ with Horses and Groom, by John F. Herring.
A painting of large size, The Annunciation, attributed to Lo- renzo Sabbatini (or Lorenzino da Bologna), lent by the Misses McKey through Miss Laura M. McKey.
LOANS BY THE GALLERY
Paintings belonging to the gallery were lent for exhibition else- where, as follows:
The large painting entitled “'The Happy Mother,” by Max Bohm, lent to the Painters and Sculptors Association, Grand Central Art Galleries, to be included in an important memorial exhibition of the works of this artist in November, 1924. Returned to its place in the gallery at the close of the exhibition.
The painting entitled “June,” by John W. Alexander, lent to the American Federation of Arts for a special “ Alexander ex- hibit.” The collection was shown at Albany, N. Y., in the art department of the State Teachers College, and later at Easton, Pa., where it was used by the art supervisor of the Easton school district. The painting has been returned to its place in the gallery.
The three paintings, Birch Clad Hills, by Ben Foster, A Family of Birches, by Willard Metcalf, and The Island, by Edward W. Redfield, lent to the American Federation of Arts for the Interna- tional Exhibition of Paintings by American Artists held in Venice, Italy, during the summer of 1924, have been returned to the gallery.
One set of colored slides of works belonging to the gallery, lent to the American Federation of Arts, and a second set to the’ art department of the American Federation of Women’s Clubs, are retained for utilization by these organizations. In several instances selections from the gallery’s collection of slides have been lent to the normal schools of Washington and to the art department of Howard University.
56 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
DISTRIBUTIONS
Paintings lent to the gallery have been withdrawn by their owners during the year as follows:
Rosita, by I. Zuloaga; withdrawn by the Hon. John Cecil for Mrs. George W. Vanderbilt.
Portrait of His Daughter, by Titian (copy?) ; withdrawn by Mr. Joseph Stewart, who had purchased it from the former owner, Dr. Nathan Boyd.
Self Portrait by James Deveaux; withdrawn by Dr. Houston Mifflin, the owner, who had deposited it in the gallery through Dr. Porter F. Cope.
The Pickering Dodge Collection of seven cameos; withdrawn by Mrs Charles W. Rae.
Portrait of Chief Justice Joseph C. Hornblower and portrait of Mary B., his wife, artist unknown; portrait of Roderick Austin, ~ attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller; and a painting representing a sacrifice interrupted by soldiers, artist unknown; withdrawn by Mrs. Caroline B. Hornblower.
Klingle Ford, by Max Weyl]; withdrawn by Mrs. John W. Smith.
PUBLICATIONS
Holmes, W. H. Report on the National Gallery of Art for the year ending June 30, 1928. Appendix 2, Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ending June 30, 1923, pp. 45-58.
Report on the National Gallery of Art for the year ending June 30, 1924. Appendix 2, Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ending June 30, 1924, pp. 48-58.
Catalogue of a collection of water-color paintings of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite Valley, Zion National Park, Utah National Park, and the Monterey Coast of California. Of special inter- est to the Interior and Agriculture Departments. By Mr. Gunnar Widforss. On view in the central room of the National Gallery, Natural History Build- ing, United States National Museum, December 10 to January 10. Washing- ton, 1924, pp. 1-4.
Catalogue of a collection of busts of prominent personages in bronze and terra cotta, by Mrs. Nancy Cox-McCormack, on view in the south room of the National Gallery, Natural History Building, United States National Museum, December 16, 1924, to January 16, 1925. 1924, pp. 1-4.
Catalogue of a collection of portraits and studies in different techniques, by Leo Katz, of Vienna, Austria, on view in the north rooms of the National Gallery, Natural History Building, United States National Museum, January 16 to February 15, 1925. 1925, pp. 1-4.
Catalogue of recent miniature portraits by Alyn Williams, P. R. M. 8S. (Presi- dent, Royal Miniature Society), and portrait busts in bronze and plaster, relief portraits, medallions, carvings in precious and semiprecious stones, and some great seals, by Cecil Thomas, R. M. S8., on view in the National Gallery, Natural History Building, United States National Museum, March 3 to March 22, 1925. 1925, pp. 1-8.
Respectfully submitted. W. H. Hotes . . a) 5)
Director. Dr. CHartes W. Watcort,
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
APPENDIX 3 REPORT ON THE FREER GALLERY OF ART
Sir: I have the honor to submit the fifth annual report on the © Freer Gallery of Art for the year ending June 30, 1925:
THE COLLECTION
Work has been continued during the year in the preservation of the collection, and in the print collection a total of 1,056 objects have now been put in final condition. A complete list of the Freer Gallery collection of paintings, pastels, drawings, prints, and copper plates by and attributed to American and European artists, together with a list of original Whistleriana, has been prepared and is about to be published in pamphlet form. This pamphlet will be placed on sale with the the other publications issued by the gallery.
Changes in exhibition during the year involved 46 oil paintings, 2 water colors, 12 pastels, 30 etchings and dry points, 38 lithographs, 2 Japanese screens, 3 Japanese panels, 1 Japanese makimono, 4 Chinese panels, 2 Chinese scrolls, 11 Chinese bronzes, 1 Indian bronze, and 2 Chinese textiles.
Additions to the collections have been as follows:
By gift of Charles A. Platt: AMERICAN PASTEL
25.1. Whistler, James McNeill; portrait of Miss Hmily Tuckerman.
By purchase: INDIAN BRONZE
24.10. Buddhist statuette: Sarthvara (Yi-dam, tutelary divinity). Nepal, fif- teenth century. INDIAN PAINTING
24.4, Laila Majnun. Mughal, time of Jahangir (1606-1628).
24.5. Adil Shih. Mughal, time of Jahangir (1606-1628).
24.6. Fireworks. Illuminated manuscript on the reverse. Mughal-Rajput, time of Shah Jahan (1628-1658). By Muhammad Afzal.
24.7. Malasri Ragini (a musical mode). Rajput, about 1600.
24.8. Bhairavi Ragini (4 musical mode). Rajput, about 1675.
24.9. A visit to a temple. Rajput-Mughal, about 1675.
CHINESE BRONZE
25.2. Ceremonial vessel of the type tsun. Early Chou dynasty (1122 to 255 B. C.). 25.3. Ceremonial wine vessel of the type chio. Chou dynasty (1122 to 255
BC): 57
58 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
CHINESE PAINTING
24.3. Landscape: Breaking waves and autumn winds, A scroll. By Tai Chin. Ming, middle fifteenth century.
NEAR EASTERN POTTERY
25.4. Bowl with painted decoration. Persian, Rhages. Twelfth-thirteenth
century. 25.5. Bowl with painted decoration. Persian, Rhages. Twelfth-thirteenth
century. 25.6. Bowl with decoration in gold luster. Persian. Eighth century.
25.7. A small dish with painted decoration under glaze. Arab. Tenth-
eleventh century. 25.8. Bowl with engraved decoration under glaze. Persian. Ninth century.
25.9. Bowl with decoration engraved and painted under glaze. Persian. Ninth
century. 25.10. Bowl with decoration engraved and painted under glaze. Persian.
Ninth century. 25.11. Bowl with decoration engraved and painted under glaze. Persian.
Ninth century. 25.12. Bowl with decoration painted in black over glaze. Persian. Ninth
century.
Additions to the library by gift and purchase comprise 90 books and periodicals and 127 pamphlets. A list of these accompanies this report as Appendix A (not printed). Forty-six volumes have been rebound.
The work of making identification photographs for use in the card catalogue continues, and in addition, several hundred photo- graphs and a number of lantern slides have been made to order and delivered to purchasers. Of the publications issued by the gallery, there have been sold during the year, 538 copies of gallery books, 429 copies of the Synopsis of History, and 682 copies of the descrip- tive pamphlet.
During the past year there has been an increasing demand upon the gallery for translations of Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan in- scriptions, and for information concerning various objects. One hundred and five such objects, consisting, for the most part, of © Chinese, Tibetan, Japanese, and Korean paintings, Japanese prints, and articles of pottery and jade, have been submitted for exam- ination. ;
The usual work in repairing and making exhibition cases, picture frames, stretchers, and other equipment has been done in the gallery shop, and the necessary minor repairs to the building, as well as certain improvements such as the construction of a photographic dark room in the attic, were made by the employees of the shop.
The Freer Gallery begs to acknowledge its indebtedness to the Department of Agriculture for its aid in exterminating the boxwood pest, “the leaf miner,” and to thank the Fish Commission for its gift of goldfish for the fountain basin.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 59 ATTENDANCE
The gallery has been open every day with the exception of Mon- day from 9 until 4.30. The total attendance for the year was 109,862. The aggregate Sunday attendance was 28,172, making an average of 541; the week-day attendance amounted to 81,690, with an aver- age of 313. Of these visitors, 431 came to the study rooms to see objects not on exhibition or to consult books in the library; 4 to make copies or photographs, 72 to examine the building and equip- ment, while 27 brought objects in their possession for examination and information.
PERSONNEL
Mr. Y. Kinoshita, of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, worked at the gallery during the winter months on the preservation of oriental paintings.
Mr. Herbert E. Thompson worked on the preservation of oil paintings.
FIELD WORK
A detailed account of the activities of the gallery’s expedition in China is contained in Appendix B (not printed) accompanying this report, and will be condensed for publication in Explorations and Field Work of the Smithsonian Institution in 1925.
Respectfully submitted.
J. EH. Lover, Curator.
Dr. Cuarites D. Watcort,
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 66999—25 5
APPENDIX 4 REPORT ON THE BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the re- searches, office work, and other activities of the Bureau of Ameri- can Ethnology during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1925, conducted in accordance with the act of Congress approved June 7, 1924. ‘The act referred to contains the following item:
American ethnology: For continuing ethnological researches among the American Indians and the natives of Hawaii, including the excavation and preservation of archeologic remains, under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution, including the necessary employees and the purchase of necessary books and periodicals, $57,160.
The policy of the Bureau of American Ethnology in the past has been that of a pioneer, but from necessity the field work of the staff has been both intensive and extensive, mainly reconnaissance. As a pioneer, the bureau has opened up new lines of research in the study of the ethnology of the American Indians and has blazed a trail for others in several fields. While contributing to science tech- nical monographs on certain Indian tribes, it has at the same — time prepared and circulated, through publication, articles of a pop- ular character covering the whole subject. The object has been to. furnish reliable data for students wishing accurate knowledge of the American Indians.
The aboriginal culture of our Indians is rapidly disappearing and being replaced by the white man’s civilization. Certain tribes have already lost almost all their native customs, and others will follow rapidly until little of scientific value remains for ethnologi- cal field work. The older men among them, who in their prime knew the native cults and rituals, are passing away, and the younger generation of Indians who are taking their places are almost en- tirely ignorant of the significance of the rituals or ceremonials. Current fables and metaphoric stories, mainly explaining the char- acteristics of animals, are now often claimed to be mythologic, al- though many of them have value as tales, not as myths. The In- dian culture is passing away and soon will be lost. It is the inten- tion of the Bureau of American Ethnology to record it before its extinction.
The excavation and preservation of archeologic remains, from which much valuable scientific material may be obtained, constitute
60
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 61
a task which is only just begun. The bureau has for many years been a pioneer in this work, and in many areas it has been the only investigator. The first publication of the Smithsonian Institution was on an archeological subject, and with the passing years the bureau has followed this line of work with vigor.
It is a traditional, sound policy of the Institution, as a result of the relatively small allowance for the field study of the Indians, to cooperate, rather than to attempt to compete with those who have a much larger income. This policy has been pursued by the bureau during the past year.
The chronicles of De Soto’s wonderful trip through our south- eastern States introduced to the attention of historians a remark- able aboriginal American culture, one of the most advanced in North America outside of Mexico. It was, as has generally been the case, built on agriculture, and the dominant tribal religion of its civilization was a complex of Sun, Fire, and Great Serpent’ cults. From Tampa Bay to the Mississippi River, De Soto en- countered numerous tribes differing in language and in minor eth- nological features, but all belonging to the same culture with a worship characteristic wherever agriculture served as a source of food. As time went by and renewed exploration brought Europeans into more intimate contact with the Indians of the Gulf States, his- torians and others published many articles on their ethnology, but as the tribes were moved west of the Mississippi and the oppor- tunities for the field worker were diminished, the time came for the ethnologist to yield to the archeologist to make his contribution to the subject. Here lies a great field for further studies, with ample work for both the historian and the archeologist.
The two areas in aboriginal America north of Mexico in which agriculture reached its highest development were the Southwest, or that part of our domain bordering on Old Mexico, and those States bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, including the mound builders from the Ohio River to the Gulf. The investigation of the south- western or pueblo region is at present attracting many archeologists amply furnished with funds, but the Southeastern or Gulf States have been more or less overlooked. The bureau has begun an archeological reconnaissance, as far as its resources will allow, in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Last year special attention was given to the Indian mounds at Muscle Shoals in Alabama. The work in Tennessee, southern Florida, and Missis- sippi, so auspiciously begun by the late Mr. W. E. Myer, has been continued by Mr. P. E. Cox, State archeologist of Tennessee. Mr. Collins, assistant curator, division of ethnology, United States Na- tional Museum, was allotted a small appropriation for preliminary
«
62 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
investigations and reconnaissance along the Pearl River in Missis- sippi, the prehistoric home of the Choctaw Tribe. The results of this work were very satisfactory.
Work on the Muskhogean culture, or the antiquities of the Gulf States, promises important results in comparative ways, and will, it is hoped, shed light on the religion of aboriginal tribes of North America. We are able to reconstruct, in a way, from historical sources, the main outlines of the Gulf culture, but the documentary references to the material culture of the Muskhogean tribes are incomplete. More information is needed regarding the ritualistic sacra, idols, ceremonial objects, and symbolism on pottery, before we can reconstruct the cultus. The material for this study is now buried in the soil, but intensive archeological work will bring it to light. In essentials, the culture of the prehistoric people of the Gulf States is such as we find universal among agricultural people in America emerging from savagery into barbarism, and the religion has much in common with that of the pueblos.
SYSTEMATIC RESEARCHES
The chief spent several weeks in reconnaissance near Florence, Ala., making excursions to several mounds in that vicinity, espe- cially those that will be submerged when the Wilson Dam at Muscle Shoals is flooded. Mr. Gerard Fowke, who had immediate charge of the excavations in two of these mounds, obtained a considerable collection containing unique objects, among which are three rare copper ornaments, the largest ever found in the valley of the Ten- nessee. His report will be published later.
The chief at that time visited Montgomery, Ala., where he was most hospitably received. . While there he made an examination of the Graves collection, one of the most remarkable in the State.
The chief has given advice to the National Park Service of the Interior Department on the new National Monument near Flagstaff, Ariz., which is now called by the Hopi name Wupatki. This monu- ment includes the well preserved buildings near Black Falls on the Little Colorado, first described and figured by the writer a quarter of a century ago, at which time he recommended that they be made a National Monument, and this has now been done by proclamation of the President.
The most important collection of archeological objects received dur- ing the past year was contributed by Mr. J. C. Clarke, of Flagstaff, Ariz., custodian of the Wupatki ruin. It consists of about a hun- dred specimens of pottery, shell and bone implements, and other arti- facts from a burial mound at Youngs Canyon excavated by work- men in the course of construction of a road near the city. These
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 63
objects were received at a time when material from that region of the Southwest was particularly desirable. The chief has prepared an illustrated report on this collection in which he calls attention to its importance. The collection contains unique specimens and is accompanied by a good catalogue by Mr. Clarke. One of the most interesting of these is a black and white pottery ladle, the handle of which is molded into a cradle containing a clay figure. There is also a finely incised head-ornament of bone, recalling those worn by the Bow priesthood at Zuni, and suggesting similar ornaments of the Hopi idol of the war god. The collection shows evidence of cremation and urn burial.
_ The pottery objects are archaic, and the interiors of certain black and white food bowls are decorated with artistic figures similar to those on polychrome ware from Tokonabi, near Marsh Pass, in northern Arizona. It is probable from the pottery that the people who buried their dead at Youngs Canyon were related to a population antedating pueblos, which was scattered over a great area in Arizona from the Little Colorado north to the San Juan, and from the west- ern boundary of the state into New Mexico. This people had no circular kivas or ceremonial rooms like those at the Mesa Verde, or the San Juan area, but they were fine potters who decorated their ware with artistic geometrical designs.
The number of written requests for information on ethnological subjects the last few years has more than doubled, and the time of ‘the chief, as well as of the members of the staff, is correspondingly absorbed.
During the past year Mr. Earl H. Morris, under the direction of the chief of the bureau, did necessary repair work on the famous tower of the Mummy Cave House in the Canyon del Muerto, Ari- zona, which once contained three rooms. All woodwork on the first ceiling has been torn out; only the haggled ends of a few sup- ports remain embedded in the walls. The cleanly peeled poles which supported the second ceiling are in place, and the third ceiling, or original roof, is still intact. It is probably the most beautiful ceiling remaining in any ruin in the Southwest, its only rivals being the coverings of one or two rooms in the north side of Pueblo Bonito, and in Spruce Tree House, Mesa Verde. ,
This tower has been in a dangerous condition for a long time. There was originally a retaining wall below it, rising from the very brink of the ledge, which held in place the fill of loose rock and refuse upon which the House of the Tower stands. Eventually, through erosion, all but the eastern end of this wall collapsed, prob- ably because of the insecure foundation afforded by the abruptly sloping rock, and much of the material behind it washed over the
64 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
cliff. Later, the not infrequent winds which sweep over the cave with unbelievable force, blew out the dust and rock pebbles until the southwest corner of the tower was undermined more than 3 feet and the wall eastward weakened almost to the opposite corner.
The cracks in the west wall were wider in November, 1924, than they were a year previous. A removal of half a dozen shovelfuls from the unconsolidated mass of earth beneath the front would have loosened the large block just beyond its western end, which pre- vented the entire collapse of the masonry. In addition to the periodic action of the wind, each visitor who passed from the eastern to the western part of the cave trod his portion of the loose mass below the wall farther down the slope, and sent clods and pebbles rattling over the cliff. Before many years this block would have been loosened and the tower would have fallen.
During the. repair work buttresses were built beneath and in- closing the large blocks under the west end of the tower and under the undermined portion of the tower, continuing back to the lmit of undermining, and extending well forward of the masonry. At the junction of the two, wedges were driven to knit the new work firmly to the old. From the east end of the buttress a retaining wall was built to connect with the remnant of the old one on the brink of the ledge, and the space behind it was filled, thus providing a platform instead of the former steep slope at the southeast corner of the tower. This repair work will temporarily preserve one of the finest gems of aboriginal architecture in the entire Southwest, but it should be supplemented by the addition of “ turnbuckles” an- chored to the cliff and by the rebuilding of the southeast corner, which should be bonded to the east and front wall to preserve it for centuries to come.
During the fiscal year Dr. John R. Beieals ethnologist, dis- covered further material bearing on the social and religious life of the Creek Indians, and this was extracted and incorporated into his papers on those subjects which are now being prepared for pub- lication by the editor. A study also was made of the various smaller culture centers within the region covered by our present Gulf States, and a paper on the “Culture of the Southeast ” was pre- pared as a result of this work. A short paper on the “ Ethnology of the Chickasaw ” was begun and carried nearly to completion, and the work of carding references to all words from the publica- tions of early Florida missionaries in the now extinct Timucua language has been continued, and all of the words from three of the five texts and from more than half of the fourth had been ex- tracted by the end of the year. An abbreviated handbook of the Indian tribes in the United States and Alaska was prepared to ac- company a map of the same section.
)
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 65
Dr. Truman Michelson, ethnologist, prepared for publication a manuscript entitled “A Sauk and Fox Sacred Pack.” He also wrote the Indian text of one of the great sacred packs of the Thunder gens of the Fox Indians and worked out the English version thereof. Doctor Michelson also prepared an Indian text, with English ver- sion, of the Owl dance which belongs to the Bear gens. He began translating a Fox text on the sacred pack named “ Sakimage ” which belongs to the Bear gens of the Fox Indians and which was taken care of by Pushetonequa, the last chief recognized by the Govern- ment. He corrected the galley proofs and the first page proofs of the fortieth annual report of the bureau, which made it possible to incorporate some additional material appurtenant to the White Buffalo Dance and Fox mortuary customs and beliefs. Doctor Michelson employed Horace Powesheik to translate 1,000 pages of Fox text which contains additional information on the Fox society known as “Those Who Worship the Little Spotted Buffalo.” In June Doctor Michelson went to Tama, Iowa, to renew his researches among the Algonquian Tribe of that State. He verified the new data on the Fox society named above, and some Fox texts on the Buffalo Head Dance of the Thunder gens, obtaining much additional information of this dance and other information on the Thunder gens. A translation of the Fox text on the Sturgeon was obtained, as well as certain information on the Wolf gens.
During the fiscal year Mr. John P. Harrington, ethnologist, was engaged in the preparation for publication of his material on the excavation and early history of the Burton Mound Indian village situated at Santa Barbara, Calif., the principal rancheria of the Santa Barbara Indians. The Ambassador Hotel, which had stood on the mound for many years, and had completely barred it to scien- tific investigation, was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1921. By joint arrangement with the Museum of the American Indian, a thorough excavation of this mound was made, and a large and attrac- tive collection of artifacts was obtained, as well as a mass of archeo- logical and historical material. Mr. Harrington completed the elaboration of this material and it was submitted for publication, including maps and numerous photographs.
The old Indian name for the Burton Mound village was Syujtun. Mr. Harrington’s work revealed the interesting fact, not previously pointed out, that this rancheria is mentioned four times in the “ Relacion” of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who discovered Alta Cali- fornia in 1542. Father Crespi, who kept the diary of the Portola expedition, writing in 1769, describes this village in some detail. Other early accounts tell that Yanonalit, its chief, had under him 12 other villages beside the Burton Mound. After the Indian popu-
! 66 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
lation was removed to the near-by Santa Barbara Mission, which was accomplished gradually after the establishment of the mission in 1782, the Franciscans erected a massive adobe warehouse on the mound, the old Indian canoe landing place in front of the mound ae become “el puerto de Santa Barbara,” the port of Santa Barbara. Ships visiting Santa Barbara used to get water from the large spring on the southern slope of the mound. Joseph Chapman, a young Englishman who had been captured when pirates made a raid on the California coast, purchased the mound from the Fran- ciscans in the early twenties and started a flour mill there. In the forties the mound became the property of George Nidiver, famous otter hunter and friend of General Fremont. In the sixties the mound property was owned by Lewis T. Burton, whose name it still bears. The hotel was erected on the site in 1901. The shape and extent of the Indian village and graveyards was laboriously worked out by excavation and successive cultures traced, for the site proved to be very ancient.
In the cemetery plots, most of the bodies were buried in hunched- up positions with the head to the north, that is, in the direction of the mountain range. Many of.the graves had been lined with whale- bone slabs, some fine specimens of which were obtained. A great variety of belongings, large and small, had been stowed away with the bodies, and traces of matting, basketry, and wooden utensils in- dicated that the archeologist had been deprived of the richest treas- ures through decomposition in the ground. One complete wooden awl for basketry, such as is described by the early fathers, was re- covered. Several of the graves contained caches of large and beau- tifully finished steatite bowls; these were manufactured at the stea- tite quarries on Santa Catalina Island and were brought up the channel for barter in Indian canoes. Screening the earth brought a surprising variety of shell and glass beads. The shell beads have been sorted and classified, and the kind of native shell used for each variety has been determined. i
In 1924 the Burton Mound property was sold and subdivided. Extensive grading of the property for new streets and trenching for pipe lines of various kinds was carefully watched and reported on by Prof. D. B. Rogers, who has cooperated with Mr. Harrington in this work, and yielded new information about the stratification of the mound and a good sized additional collection of artifacts. A new hotel with large cellar excavations is about to be built on the crest of the mound and observation of these operations will doubtless add still further data to that already presented in the report.
On completing the Burton Mound paper, Mr. Harrington prepared a report on the archeology of the Santa Barbara region, dealing with
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 67
°
the sites adjacent to the Burton Mound along both historical and archeological lines. This is a virgin field of research and has al- ready yielded important contributions to our knowledge of the cul- ture sequences of the ancient California Indians of this region, which: had the most specialized and highly developed culture of the State. This work illumines the fact that the early population of the chan- nel was dense and that there were numerous wars and tribal shift- ings. The section of the coast from which the islands were popu- lated and the comparative ages of rancheria sites are also apparent from this work.
In October, 1924, Mr. R. O. Marsh brought to Washington a party of eight Tulé Indians from Panama, who remained in the city until January, 1925. This afforded opportunity for studying the language, which is a peculiarly interesting one. Possessing only 18 letters and employing them both short and long, it sounds to the ear more like Finnish than like the average American Indian language. The language may be described as melodious, simple and flexible in structure, yet very rich and extensive in vocabulary. It is spoken, with slight dialectic differences only, by a very large body of Indians, who formerly held a strip of Carribbean coast more than 240 miles long between the Canal Zone and the south of the Rio Atrato, together with the numerous fertile keys off the coast. Lists were obtained of sociological terms, names of places, plants and animals, and designations of material culture objects. Songs and speech were recorded on the dictaphone.
The Indians have been called Tulés, Cunas, Comogres, and San Blasenos. Of these names the first is preferable because it is the native name of the tribe. The word Tulé means merely “ Indian,” it being understood that it refers to Indians of that peculiar kind and language. It is related to the word tula, meaning 20, that is, all fingers and toes, an entire Indian.
The collection of Tulé ethnological objects donated by Mr. Marsh to the National Museum was examined with the Indian informants and the native names of the objects were recorded, together with in- formation about their use.
The best informant in the party was Chief Igwa, who is “ capitan ” over some 10 keys, and is one of the leading men in the councils of the tribe. He has traveled much about the Tulé country and knows hundreds of places by name, being a good ethnogeographical in- formant. The chief prepared a large map showing these places.
Mr. J. N. B. Hewitt, ethnologist, left Washington, in May, 1925, for Brantford, Canada, to resume his researches among the Six (originally Five) Nations, or Tribes, of the Iroquois, the Mohawk, the Seneca, the Onondaga, the Oneida, the Cayuga, and the Tus-
66999—25 6
68 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
carora, and also among the Munsee of the Delaware Algonquian group of languages who dwell on the Haldimand grant on the Grand River in Ontario, Canada.
Here Mr. Hewitt took up the literary interpretation, revision, and textual criticism of previously recorded voluminous Iroquoian texts: relating to the Constitution of the League or Confederation of the Iroquois tribes, embodying its laws and ordinances and the rituals of the council of condolence for the deceased, and the installation of new members of the Federal and the tribal councils.
With the aid of the two best Mohawk informants available who still retain some definite knowledge of portions of the ancient institutions. of the league of the Iroquois, Mr. Hewitt made a free English trans- lation of an important one of these rituals, in addition to the free rendering of the chant of “ The seven songs of farewell,” and thereby recovered the symbolic reason for the very peculiar name of the former. This ritual is called Ka‘rhaw陓hra’to™, in Mohawk, and Ga‘haw陓hi’di’, in Onondaga, meaning, “Cast or thrown over the grand forest.” When used ceremonially both these chants are sep- arated into two portions, and the four portions alternate in their rendition in such manner that part one of the one chant is followed by part one of the other; and part two of the first is followed by part two of the second chant. But when chanted “a veil of skins” (shawls or blankets serve in modern times) must be hung across the place of assembly in such wise as to divide the mourning from the other side of the league.
Ceremonial or legislative action by the tribe or by the league is taken only through the orderly cooperation of the two sisterhoods: of clans for the former, or of two sisterhoods of tribes for the latter. This dualism in the highest organic units of organization was origi-
nally based on definite mythic concepts. In either organization one’
sisterhood represented the female principle or the motherhood in nature, and the other sisterhood the male principle, or the father- hood in nature. This dualism is thought to be so important that the language of the rituals and of official courtesy employ terms embody- ing the ethnic and mythic significance of it.
By a searching study of all symbolic terms and phrases occurring in the chants of these rituals, which impliedly might refer to the highest dramatized situation revealed by these two divided chants, the parts of which are recombined as described above, Mr. Hewitt was able to identify beyond all reasonable question the phrase “ the veil of skins” with the other phrase “the grand forest.” The “ orand forest” represents ritualistically the totality of the forests which intervene between the lands of the mourning side of the league and those of the other side, represented as symbolically intact in
anion
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 69
mind. It must not be overlooked that either the mother side or the father side may be the “ mourning side”; the designation, of course, alternates between the two sides, depending on the fact of the loss of one or more of the members of the Federal council belonging to it at any given time.
The sisterhood of tribes Finca ued by the independent action of its constituent institutional units—every several tribe. In turn every tribe functioned through the organic units of its own internal organization—each several clan, to execute its prescribed part in the . larger Federal action, which otherwise would not be authentic or authoritative; so that a clan or an individual in a clan, in special cases involving personal rights, might prevent vital Federal action. So personal rights were abundantly safeguarded.
Mr. Hewitt purchased a very fine specimen husk mask of the Corn Mother, with a short explanatory text.
Mr. Hewitt also made a reconnaissance trip to the Chippewa of Garden River, Canada, for the purpose of expanding and deepening his knowledge of certain Chippewa texts, recorded in 1921 by him from the dictation of Mr. George Gabaoosa, of Garden River, and also to obtain data in regard to the derivation of two very important proper names, Chippewa and Nanabozho (appearing in literature also as Neabojo, Menaboju, and Wenaboju), and also to inform himself as to the ethnologic value to be placed on the fast-fading remains of the ethnic culture of this and cognate tribes in like situa- tions and antecedents. The myth of Mudjikewis, “The First-Born (on EHarth),”’ commonly called the story of Nanabozho (i. e Inabi‘ojvo‘), remarkable for beauty and comprehensiveness, details the circumstances which gave rise to the name “ Nanabozho.” In that recital the name appears as /ndabé‘ojt‘o' and means, “ Created, or formed, by the look (of the Great Father spirit) .”
The name Chippewa appears in literature in no less than 97 variant spellings, with a half dozen or more unsatisfactory defini- tions. But to those who first gave the name Chippewa (in its native, not Europeanized, form) to these people picture-writing was ethni- cally distinctive and characteristic of them as the well-known birch- bark records of these people amply testify. So the name Chippewa signifies literally, “Those who make pictographs,” and thus empha- sizes one of the distinctive arts of these peoples.
The Seneca in Missouri and Oklahoma were visited for the express purpose of identifying them tribally, if the available information made this possible. Since the middle of the eighteenth century these Seneca have not been closely affiliated with the Seneca Tribe of New York State and Canada. There has been expressed doubt that these western Seneca had the right to this name. But after
70 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
visiting and interviewing many families of these western Seneca dwelling about Seneca, Mo., and Miami and Picher, Okla., Mr. Hewitt was convinced that they are mainly emigrants from the parent Seneca Tribe of New York and Canada and from the Cayuga of these last-named places; naturally, there are also some families of other TIroquoian Tribes, such as the Wyandot and possibly the Conestoga. A porcupine clan and a fox clan were reported. The last was a Conestoga clan.
Mr. Francis La Flesche, ethnologist, completed his paper on two versions of the child-naming rite of the Osage Tribe. The first ver- sion belongs to the In-gthon-ga or Puma gens, and the second to the Tsi-zhu Wa-shta-ge or Tsi-zhu Peacemaker gens. Each gens has its own version of the rite and no other gens can use it without per- mission. This paper contains 201 typewritten pages and 20 illus- trations. Mr. La Flesche spent a part of the month of May and all of June, 1925, among the Osages. In the early part of this visit he and his assistant, Ku-zhi-si-e, a full-blood Osage, undertook the la- borious task of properly recording the gentile personal names used by the full-blood members of the tribe and by some of the mixed bloods. Superintendent J. George Wright, of the Osage Agency, kindly permitted them to use as a guide in doing this work an annu- ity pay roll of the third and fourth quarters of the year 1877, which was found in the files of his office. This roll contains about 1,900 Indian names, most of them misspelled. Besides correcting the spelling of the names, Mr. La Flesche and his assistant added to the name of each annuitant the name of his or her gens. Ku-zhi-si-e was much amused to learn that his boy name, “ I-tse-tha-gthin-zhi,” was carried on the pay roll as “ E-stah-o-gra-she,” and that the boy name of his friend Wa-non-she-zhin-ga was put on the rolls as Me-pah-scah, instead of “ In-bae-sca,” the correct name.
When the work of revising the names on the annuity roll was concluded, Ku-zhi-si-e drove over the hills on his farm with Mr. La Flesche and showed him many wild plants which were useful to the Indians as medicine or food. Some of these plants were woven into large mats for house covering, and into rugs to spread on the floor of the house to sit upon.
Wo-non-she-zthin-ga (the chief of the tribe) also took tramps among the trees on his farm with Mr. La Flesche, and showed him a number of trees and explained to him their uses, and gave to him their native names, which he recorded. This man pointed out a tree which he called “ Zhon-sa-gi,’ hard wood. The saplings of this tree he said were used for the frames of the houses. When green the wood was easily cut with a knife or ax, but when sea-
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 71
soned it was very hard to cut. The chief cut a branch from a small tree and carried it with him when he and Mr. La Flesche ‘returned to the house. The chief whittled off some of the bark from the branch and dipped the shavings in a glass of water and the water quickly became blue like indigo. Mr. Paul C. Standley identified this tree as the blue ash, or Hrawinus quadrangulata.
SPECIAL RESEARCHES
The following manuscripts of Indian music have been purchased during the fiscal year from Miss Francis Densmore: “ War, wed- ding and social songs of the Makah Indians,” “Songs connected with Makah feasts and dances,” “Music and customs of the Tulé Indians of Panama,” “Songs and instrumental music of the Tulé Indians of Panama,” “Songs for children and material culture of the Makah Indians,” and 17 mathematical group analyses of 167 Papago songs, according to the method of such analyses in previous work. This material (apart from the group analyses) comprises 150 pages of text, numerous photographic illustrations, and the transcriptions of 69 songs, together with the original phono- graph records and descriptive and tabulated analyses of individual songs. The last named are the analyses from which the mathe- matical analyses are made, these showing the peculiarities of the songs of an entire tribe with results expressed in percentages. These in turn form the basis for comparative tables, which show the characteristics of the music of different tribes. Such tables of comparison in “ Mandan and Hidatsa Music” comprise 820 songs collected among six tribes, and material awaiting publication will add more than 500 songs to this number, including songs of widely separated tribes. It seems possible that these tables may show a connection between the physical environment of the Indians and the form assumed by their songs, as interesting contrasts appear in the songs of different tribes.
The final paper on the Makah Indians included a description of the uses of 26 plants in food, medicine, and dye. Specimens of the plants had been obtained on the reservation, and their botanical indentification was made by Mr. Paul C. Standley, of the United States National Museum. The Makah were head hunters and a detailed account of their war customs was presented. The caste system prevailed in former days and families of the upper class had wealth and leisure. The wedding customs were marked by festivity and by physical contests, the songs of which were submitted.
The presence in Washington of a group of Tulé Indians from the Province of Colon, Panama, made possible a study of forms of primi-
72 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
tive music which, it is believed, have not hitherto been described. The Tulé Indians are unique in that they do not pound on a drum, a pole, or any other object. Their favorite musical instrument is the “pan pipe” of reeds. Two men usually play these pipes, sound- ing alternate tones. The music of these pan pipes was phonograph- ically recorded and transcribed as nearly as is possible in musical notation. An instrument which, as far as known, has not been pre- viously observed, is a reed flute having two finger holes but no “whistle opening.” The upper end of the reed is held inside the mouth, possibly touching the roof of the mouth, and for this reason the instrument is designated as a “mouth flute.” A gourd rattle, conch shell horn, and bone whistle complete the musical instruments of these Indians.
The words of the songs narrate a series of events, such as the preparation for a wedding and a description of the festivity, or the illness and death of a man, followed by “talking to his spirit.” Chief Igwa Nigidibippi, who recorded the songs, was a trained singer.
EDITORIAL WORK AND PUBLICATIONS
The editing of the publications of the bureau was continued through the year by Mr. Stanley Searles, editor, assisted by Mrs. Frances Nichols, editorial assistant. The status of the publications is presented in the following summary.
PUBLICATIONS ISSUED
Thirty-eighth Annual Report. Accompanying paper: An Introductory Study of the Arts, Crafts, and Customs of the Guiana Indians, by Walter HE. Roth. 745 pp., 1838 pls., 341 figs.
Thirty-ninth Annual Report. Accompanying paper: The Osage Tribe; The Rite of Vigil, by Francis La Flesche. 636 pp., 17 pls., 4 figs. (Received July 13, 1925.)
Bulletin 78. Handbook of the Indians of California, by A. L. Kroeber. x, 995 pp., 83 pls., 78 figs. (Received July 17, 1925.)
PUBLICATIONS IN PRESS OR IN PREPARATION
Fortieth Annual Report. Accompanying papers: The Mythical Origin of the White Buffalo Dance of the Fox Indians; The Autobiography of a Fox Indian Woman; Notes on Fox Mortuary Customs and Beliefs; Notes on the Fox Society Known as “Those Who Worship the Little Spotted Buffalo”; The Traditional Origin of the Fox Society Known as “The Singing Around Rite’ (Michelson).
Forty-first Annual Report. Accompanying papers: Coiled Basketry in Brit- ish Columbia and Surrounding Region (Boas, assisted by Haeberlin, Roberts, and Teit) ; Two Prehistoric Villages in Middle Tennessee (Myer).
Forty-second Annual Report. Accompanying papers: Social Organization and Social Usages of the Indians of the Creek Confederacy; Religious Beliefs and Medical Practices of the Creek Indians; The Culture of the Southeast (Swanton).
_ REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 13 DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLICATIONS
The distribution of the publications of the bureau has been con- tinued under the immediate charge of Miss Helen Munroe, assisted by Miss Emma Powers. Publications were distributed as follows:
Report, velumes and separates.2 22-2 le 8, 426 IBWletins and. Separates! io. .33 et Se) eo ee 3, 458 Contributions to North American ethnology___________-________________ 38 Dar LURE ELO TA Stet Ew teed Wee ds Seely 2 phy a eee A a i et 5 Miscellaneous! publications) 6)26 2) ost) fel ste ol bee 427
7, 354
As compared with the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, there was a decrease of 6,609 publications distributed. This was undoubtedly due not to a decrease in applications, but to the fact that only one publication was distributed during the year just ended, whereas four publications were issued in the preceding fiscal year and distributed
to the mailing list. ILLUSTRATIONS
Mr. DeLancey Gill, illustrator, with the assistance of Mr. Albert Sweeney, continued the preparation of the illustrations of the bureau. A summary of the work follows:
Illustrations mounted, retouched, and made ready for engraving________ 927 Drawing of objects, maps, etc., prepared____________________ 38 Portraits of visiting Indians (2 Kiowa, 8 Tulé) -_---_--__-_____________ Ai Negative films from field exposures_______________-_-___ 54 Photostat prints from books and manuscripts_______________________ 178 Negatives of ethnologic and archeologic subjects________ im ae 273 Photographic prints for distribution and office use______________-_______ 1, 649
On account of the large amount of illustrative work, reclassifica- tion of the large collection of negatives has not progressed as rapidly as last year. About 7,000 negatives have so far been catalogued.
LIBRARY
The reference library has continued under the immediate care of Miss Ella Leary, librarian, assisted by Mr. Thomas Blackwell. During the year 480 books were accessioned. Of these 100 were acquired by purchase, 280 by gift and exchange, and 100 by binding of periodicals. The periodicals currently received number about 975, of which 40 are by subscription, the remainder through ex- change. The library has also received 187 pamphlets. The aggre- gate number of volumes in the library at the close of the year was 26,101; of pamphlets, 15,512; also several thousand unbound peri- odicals. The Library of Congress, officers of the executive depart- ments, and out-of-town students have made use of the library through frequent loans during the year.
74 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
COLLECTIONS
The following collections, purchased or acquired by members of the bureau or by those detailed in connection with its researches, have been transferred to the United States National Museum:
83522. Small collection of ethnologia purchased by the bureau from Miss Emily 8. Cook.
84260. Collection of archeological material secured by Mr. D. L. Reichard for the bureau, from Berryville, Va.
84444. Small stone celt, and a lot of pottery bowl ornaments from Bont Rico, presented to the bureau by Mrs. Alice de Santiago, Barceloneta, P. R.
85018. Collection of archeological material collected for the bureau by Gerard Fowke from mounds near Town Creek, Ala.
85019. Archeological material collected for the bureau by Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, from mounds near St. Petersburg, Fla.
85319. Archeological material collected for the bureau by Gerard Fowke, from mounds near Town Creek, Ala., on the site of the Wilson Dam, Muscle Shoals.
85343. Stone bird pipe found near Hydes Ferry, on the Cumberland River, about 7 miles below Nashville, Tenn.
85344. Five complete skulls and fragmentary remains of about twelve crania collected by Gerard Fowke from Hog Island Mound, near Town Creek, Ala.
Five skulls collected by Earle O. Roberts, Harrah, Wash. :
85780. Collection of skeletal material secured by Gerard Fowke at the Alex- ander Mound near Courtland, Ala.
85781. Collection of skeletal material which was unearthed 114 miles north of Boynton, Fla., and sent to the bureau by Mr. E. S. Jackson, of Palm Beach, Fla.
85824. Collection of archeological objects secured by Mr. J. O. Sanderson, of Courtland, Ala., and purchased by the bureau.
85856. Two pipes, one of steatite and the other of marble, collected for the bureau by Gerard Fowke from the Aléxander Mound in Lawrence County, Ala.
87297. Collection of archeological material secured for the bureau at Youngs Canyon, about 18% miles east of Bite Ariz., by Mr. J. C. Clarke, of Flagstaff.
83949. Human remains from Weeden Island, St. Petersburg, Fla., secured by the chief of the bureau during the winter of 1923-24.
MISCELLANEOUS
Clerical: The correspondence and other clerical work of the office has been conducted by Miss May S. Clark, clerk to the chief. Mr. Anthony W. Wilding, typist, has Been engaged in copying manu- scripts and in various duties connected with the office of the chief. Miss Julia Atkins, stenographer and typist, resigned October 15, 1924. Mrs. A. H. Kitchen was appointed temporarily December 18, 1924, for the three months, the appointment terminating March 18, 1925. Miss Mae W. Tucker was appointed temporarily May 1, 1925, as stenographer and typist.
Respectfully submitted. J. Waren Fowkus, fees
Dr. Cuartes D. Watcort, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
APPENDIX 5 REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
Str: I have the honor to submit the following report on the operations of the International Exchange Service during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925:
The congressional appropriation allowed for the support of the exchange service during the year 1925 was $49,550, $6,550 more than the amount granted for the fiscal year 1924. Of this increase about half was to cover the extra amount necessary for reclassification of salaries. The usual appropriation of $200 for printing and binding was granted by Congress. There was collected by the Institution on account of repayment from departmental and other establish- ments $4,900.22, making the total resources available for carrying on the Smithsonian system of exchanges for the fiscal year 1925 $54,650.22.
During the year the total number of packages handled was 468,731, an increase over the number for the preceding year of 8,073. These packages weighed a total of 506,164 pounds, a loss of 60,948 pounds. This decrease in weight is due to the smaller size of packages of publications received for transmission through the service.
The number and weight of the packages ae different classes are indicated in the ie table:
Packages Weight Sent |Received| Sent Received Pounds | Pounds
United States parliamentary documents sent abroad ----.------ 1985862) S-Seaae wee SGoonl|oe sean
Publications received in return for parliamentary documents---|---------- Chi) eee 12, 851
United States departmental documents sent abroad-_----------- 142, QI |Saeeeeee 1585029) | Bese eer ee
Publications received in return for departmental documents---.|---------- OF aaa ees 20, 377
Miscellaneous scientific and literary publications sent abroad--| 90,797 |---------- 164,018! 2222222 == Miscellaneous scientific and literary publications received from
abroad for distribution in the United States__.___-..---------|---------- Do a0 |saaee cass 64, 552
432,570 | 36,161 | 408, 384 97, 780
| Gergana a) (ane eNO ed 468, 731 506, 164
The value of the material passing through the International Ex- change Service cannot be estimated by the mere number of packages handled. Many of the packages each contain a number of valuable scientific publications. It may be estimated that annually there pass through the service both to and from foreign countries, considerably more than a million publications.
Although the United States Government sends abroad more publi- cations than it receives in exchange, the disparity is not so great as appears in the above table, for many foreign publications are received direct. by mail by correspondents in this country.
75
76 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
Latvia, which joined both conventions in 1924, has established a service of international exchanges under the state library at Riga.
The total number of boxes used in despatching consignments was 2,325. This was a decrease of 139 from the preceding year and is accounted for by the smaller size of the packages received for trans- mission abroad, as referred to above. Of the total number of boxes shipped abroad, 268 were for the foreign depositories of full sets of United States governmental documents, and the remainder (2,057) was for distribution to miscellaneous establishments and indi- viduals. While the Smithsonian Exchange Service, as a rule, trans- mits its consignments to other countries in boxes, sometimes the pack- ages that accumulate for a particular country are not of sufficient bulk to warrant their transmission by freight, and they are mailed directly to their destinations. In addition, quite a number of pack- ages are forwarded by mail to remote places which cannot be reached through the existing exchange agencies. During the year the number of packages sent abroad in this manner was 39,499.
The number of boxes sent to each country is given in the following table:
Consignments of exchanges for foreign countries
Country Naber Country pe Argentine Republic... 222 22.-2 2225228 43 Latvia.<..2 252... 22.22.23 6 ACIS GOLA ee a ae Sits ea eater 54 ||) Lithuania. 2 ee oS Belpiinrns e.sees Mie oes oe Se es a8 58) || (Mexico. 42222041)... 5 Olivia Se a ee So aan. 2\|| Netherlands’.2<:-:o._.. 232 eee 86 Brazil soe nie ie ene eee hea 34°|| New South ‘Wiales-s:-----_- 2232s 29 British Colomiesse=-2 tC oem rea ee 11.) NewZealand =). 222. 2 22 IBulpariaevek ea ee ea een 1°|| Nicarapia: 2c to eo: t.! See eee 1 Canadas 822 seb kl Sala See ad 20°) Norwayl22 ee eee ee 33 (CMG ies Ae EN Se ge 22-)|' Palestine: 22222 S22 eee 4 Ona 2? 4 eds oe ee ae ee eee 50 | Paraguay 2 2) leic ts ee 2 CHOSCT sab he ern aor ee ee 6); Peru eee 19 Colombigi2 8 Paes Bs eee sek 18"): Poland. .202 2. S20 eee 38 CostaiRicata 2h start it eae eee 12°)|) Portugal. 222222222 eee l 19 GB eel ae nies Do tat al et ele 5 Queensland... -2...2_. 16 Ozechoslovakidotect: so See ie 80:4) Roumanlass. -. 12.202 5 ee 14 Darn ps yates Fe ae eae eae oe 3) || Russiaz 222-22... i 222.2 er 98 Denmarkewsoe eee ehh 41) || Salvador 22.2.5.) 5. 5. 22") 2 eee 2 Revador is.) Se oo) 4 eee 2.|) Stam. _3. 0.920. 2u2. 3 BEV Dte Sok see ene ne Sans eee ae eee 12'4“South Australia:i*= 022 25) eee 20 Mesthonis- air cE) eae elegy tes el es 10) |fWSpain : to) 28. be =e oe 36 Minlande <1) 200 5 gee oe a ae 20°|| ‘Sweden 2.---2......22s02-. 70 TANCE Soe eta cop tne ene ee eae a Ry 174" || Switzerland: :..2122- 6." Sp eee 68 Germanyier Lees ek alee re 289) -Tasmania--b)_.. S252 30 2 eee ll Great Britain and Ireland____.___..____- 308||, Turkey: 2. S245. 2.2002. 2: SS 8 Greecos.. = bao Ra ce ee os ee 12"||' Union of South Africa_<2- "= 2 = aes 37 Guatemalazs 32) ere BAe Ot eee 2: Wruguayest tsi fch See eee eves eee 14 Onid tits -42) 2 aire Ab eh ea 2: Wenezuela ce 221... 4 sae ee ee 10 OUI Palys. 5 i eee ee nee ed ees 395) Wictorla.= =~ 2-202 2 40 Tria <8 $2 Ui BR RP EES sae PP 42!) Westenn A ustralid )£220°%_-25. {ee ehee ll Ttalivs 23355: b eyo Pattee. Dee Se Sulit Vuposlavia-. odo. a ee ee 17 FAM CA eo RA ek Ae 2 == Japan... 22502 th ee VR ee eae a) Seis 116 Totals. SiS). 200) eee ee 2, 325
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY ne
FOREIGN DEPOSITORIES OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTAL DOCUMENTS
In accordance with the terms of a convention concluded at Brus- sels March 15, 1886, and under authority granted by Congress in resolutions approved March 2, 1867, and March 2, 1901, 58 full sets of United States official documents and 40 partial sets are now sent through the exchange service regularly to depositories abroad. This is a reduction of one full set from last year and an addition of two partial sets. New Zealand requested that a partial set be sent to the General Assembly Library instead of a full set. The Stadt- bibliothek of the Free City of Danzig was added to the lst of those receiving partial sets. The number of full and partial sets of governmental documents forwarded to foreign depositories there- fore is 98. The total number provided by law for this purpose and, for the use of the Library of Congress has been increased by act of Congress approved March 3, 1925, from 100 to 125.
The convention referred to above, which was the first of two con- ventions concluded at Brussels March 15, 1886, and is referred to as Convention A, provides for the international exchange of of- ficial documents and scientific and literary publications. The sec- ond convention, referred to as Convention B, provides for the interparlamentary exchange of the official journal as well as of the parliamentary annals and documents. Convention A was rati- fied by the United States, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, Serbia (now Yugoslavia), Spain and Switzerland. Convention B was rati- fied by the same countries except Switzerland. Since the ratifica- tion of the Brussels conventions the following countries have signi- fied their adherence thereto in the order in which they are listed:
1. Uruguay—both conventions, 1889.
2. Argentine Republic—convention A, 1889.
. Paraguay—conyention A, 1889.
. Czechoslovakia—both conventions, 1919. Poland—convention A, 1920; convention B, 1921. Roumania—both conventions, 1923.
. Hungary—both conventions, 1923.
. Dominican Republic—both conventions, 1923.
. Latvia—both conventions, 1924.
10. Free City of Danzig—both conventions, 1924.
It therefore will be seen that 18 countries have thus far joined the Brussels conventions of 1886. Im order to give consideration to the question of having a larger number of countries adhere to the exchange conventions, the committee on intellectual cooperation of the League of Nations called together at Geneva in the summer of 1924 a committee of experts on the international exchange of publications, a brief report of which is given elsewhere.
WCMOARD AB w
78 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
At the request of the Governments of Finland and the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, the depositories of partial sets of official documents have been changed from the Central Library of the State to the Parliamentary Library, and from the Colonial Secretary’s office to the University of Allahabad, respectively.
The names of the depositories in foreign countries are given in
the following list:
DEPOSITORIES OF FULL SETS
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Buenos Aires.
AUSTRALIA: Library of the Commonwealth Parliament, Melbourne.
AUSTRIA: Bundesamt fiir Statistik, Schwarzenbergstrasse 5, Vienna I.
BapDEN: Universitits-Bibliothek, Freiburg. (Depository of the State of Baden.)
Bavagia: Staats-Bibliothek, Munich.
BELGIuM: Bibliothéque Royale, Brussels.
BRAZIL: Bibliotheca Nacional, Rio de Janeiro.
Buenos Aires: Biblioteca de la Universidad Nacional de la Plata. (Deposi- tory of the Province of Buenos Aires.)
CANADA: Library of Parliament, Ottawa.
CHILE: Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional, Santiago.
CuinA: American-Chinese Publication Exchange Department, Shanghai Bureau of Foreign Affairs, Shanghai.
CoLoMBIA: Biblioteca Nacional, Bogota.
Costa Rica: Oficina de Depésito y Canje Internacional de Publicaciones, San José.
Cuspa: Secretaria de Estado (Asuntos Generales y Canje Internacional), Habana.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Bibliothéque de l’Assemblée Nationale, Prague.
DENMARK: Kongelige Bibliotheket, Copenhagen.
ENGLAND: British Museum, London.
EstHoniIA: Riigiraamatukogu (State Library), Reval.
FRANCE: Bibliothéque Nationale, Paris.
GERMANY: Deutsche Reichstags-Bibliothek, Berlin.
GuLascow: City Librarian, Mitchell Library, Glasgow.
GREECE: Bibliothéque Nationale, Athens.
Huneary: Hungarian House of Delegates, Budapest.
InpIA: Imperial Library, Calcutta.
IrgIsH FREE STATE: National Library of Ireland, Dublin.
ItaLy: Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele, Rome.
JAPAN: Imperial Library of Japan, Tokyo.
Lonpon: London School of Economics and Political Science. (Depository of the London County Council.)
MANITOBA :Provincial Library, Winnipeg.
Mexico: Biblioteca Nacional, Mexico.
NETHERLANDS: Bibliotheek van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, The Hague.
New SoutH WALEs: Public Library of New South Wales, Sydney.
NORTHERN IRELAND: Ministry of Finance, Belfast.
Norway: Universitets-Bibliotek, Oslo. (Depository of the Government of Norway.
OnTARIO: Legislative Library, Toronto.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 79
Paris: Préfecture de la Seine.
Peru: Biblioteca Nacional, Lima.
‘PoLAND: Bibliothéque du Ministére des Affaires Etrangéres, Warsaw.
PorTUGAL: Bibliotheca Nacional, Lisbon.
Prussia: Preussische Staatsbibliothek, Berlin, N. W. 7.
QuEBEC: Library of the Legislature of the Province of Quebec, Quebec.
QUEENSLAND: Parliamentary Library, Brisbane.
Russta: Shipments temporarily suspended.
Saxony: Sdchsische Landesbibliothek, Dresden—-N. 6.
SoutH AUSTRALIA: Parliamentary Library, Adelaide.
Spain: Servicio del Cambio Internacional de Publicaciones, Cuerpo Faculta- tivo de Archiveros, Bibliotecarios y Arquedlogos, Madrid.
SwEDEN: Kungliga Biblioteket, Stockholm.
SWITZERLAND: Bibliothéque Centrale Fédérale, Berne.
SWITZERLAND: Library of the League of Nations, Palace of Nations, Quai de Leman, Geneva.
TASMANIA: Parliamentary Library, Hobart.
TurRKEY: Shipments temporarily suspended.
Union or SouruH Arrica: State Library, Pretoria, Transvaal.
Urucuay: Oficina de Canje Internacional de Publicaciones, Montevideo.
VENEZUELA: Biblioteca Nacional, Caracas.
VictortiA: Public Library of Victoria, Melbourne.
WesTERN AUSTRALIA: Public Library of Western Australia, Perth.
WURTTEMBERG: Landesbibliothek, Stuttgart.
YueostaviA: Ministére des Affaires Etrangéres, Belgrade.
DEPOSITORIES OF PARTIAL SETS
ALBERTA: Provincial Library, Edmonton.
ALSACE-LORRAINE: Bibliothéque Universitaire et Régionale de Strasbourg, Stras:: bourg.
BoxiviA : Ministerio de Colonizacién y Agricultura, La Paz.
BRAZIL: Bibliotheca da Assemblea Legislativa do Hstado do Rio de Janeiro, Nictheroy.
Bremen: Senatskommission fiir Reichs- und Auswirtige Angelegenheiten.
BritisH CoLtumMsBiA: Legislative Library, Victoria.
BriITIsH GUIANA: Government Secretary’s Office, Georgetown, Demerara.
BULGARIA: Ministére des Affaires Etrangéres, Sofia.
Crrton: Colonial Secretary’s Office (Record Department of the Library), Colombo.
Danzic: Stadtbibliothek, Free City of Danzig.
EcuaApoR: Biblioteca Nacional, Quito.
Heyet: Bibliothéque Khédiviale, Cairo.
FINLAND: Parliamentary Library, Helsingfors.
GUATEMALA: Secretary of the Government, Guatemala.
Harti: Secrétaire d’Htat des Relations Extérieures, Port-au-Prince.
Hamsure: Senatskommission fiir die Reichs- und Auswirtigen Angelegen- heiten.
Hesse: Landesbibliothek, Darmstadt.
HONDURAS: Secretary of the Government, Tegucigalpa.
JAMAICA: Colonial Secretary, Kingston.
LAtviA: Bibliothéque d’Htat, Riga.
LiseriA: Department of State, Monrovia.
80 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925
LovurENcO Marquez: Government Library, Lourengo Marquez.
Luseck: President of the Senate.
MaprAs, Province or: Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras, Public Department, Madras.
Matta: Minister for the Treasury, Valetta.
New Brunswick: Legislative Library, Fredericton.
NEWFOUNDLAND: Colonial Secretary, St. John’s.
New ZEALAND: General Assembly Library, Wellington.
Nicaragua: Superintendente de Archivos Nacionales, Managua.
Nova Scorra: Provincial Secretary of Nova Scotia, Halifax.
PANAMA: Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, Panama.
Paracuay: Seccioén Canje Internacional de Publicaciones del Ministerio de Re- laciones Exteriores, Estrella 563, Asuncién.
PRINCE EpWARD ISLAND: Legislative Library, Charlottetown.
RouMANIA: Academia Romana, Bukharest.
SaLvapor: Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, San Salvador.
SASKATCHEWAN: Government Library, Regina.
Sram: Department of Foreign Affairs, Bangkok.
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS: Colonial Secretary, Singapore.
UNITED PROVINCES OF AGRA AND OupDH: University of Allahabad, Allahabad.
VIENNA: Buirgermeister-Amt der Stadt Wien.
INTERPARLIAMENTARY EXCHANGE OF OFFICIAL JOURNAL
The interparliamentary exchange is conducted by the Smith- sonian Institution in behalf of the United States Government under the authority granted in a congressional resolution approved March 4, 1909, the object of that resolution being to carry into effect the provisions of the second convention concluded at Brussels in 1886, providing for the immediate exchange of the Official Journal, the United States being one of the signatories to that convention.
The immediate exchange has been entered into during the year with India and the Free City of Danzig. The names of the estab- lishments to which the daily issue of the Congressional Record is mailed are given below:
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC: Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional, Buenos Aires. AUSTRALIA : Library of the Commonwealth Parliament, Melbourne. AUSTRIA: Bibliothek des Nationalrates, Wien I. BADEN: Universitits-Bibiliothek, Heidelberg. BetciumM: Bibliotheque de la Chambre des Représentants, Brussels. Bouivia: Camara de Diputados, Congreso Nacional, La Paz. BraAzi_: Bibliotheca do Congresso Nacional, Rio de Janeiro. Buenos Aires: Biblioteca del Senado de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. La Plata. CANADA: Library of Parliament, Ottawa. Clerk of the Senate, Houses of Parliament. Ottawa. Costa Rica: Oficina: de Depdsito y Canje Internacional de Publicaciones, San José,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 81
CUBA: Biblioteca de la Camara de Representantes, Habana. Biblioteca del Senado, Habana. CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Bibliothéque de l’Assemblée Nationale, Prague. Danzig: Stadtbibliothek, Danzig. : DENMARK: Rigsdagens Bureau, Copenhagen. EstHontsA: Riigiraamatukogu (State Library), Reval. FRANCE: Bibliothéque de la Chambre des Députés, au Palais Bourbon, Paris. Bibliothéque du Sénat, au Palais du Luxembourg, Paris. GREAT Britain: Library of the Foreign Office, Downing Street, London, S. W. 1. GREECE: Library of Parliament, Athens. GUATEMALA: Biblioteca de la Oficina Internacional Centro-Americana, 8a Calle Poniente No. 1, Ciudad de Guatemala. Hartr: Secrétaire d’Etat des Relations Extérieures, Port-au-Prince. Honpuras: Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional, Tegucigalpa. Huneary: Bibliothek des Abgeordnetenhauses, Budapest. InpiA: Legislative Library, Simla. ITALY: Biblioteca della Camera dei Deputati, Palazzo di Monte Citorio, Rome. Biblioteca del Senato del Regno, Palazzo Madama. Rome. Latvia: Library of the Saeima, Riga. Liseria: Department of State, Monrovia. NEw SoutH WaAtzEs: Library of