eo Smithsonian Institution Report of the Secretary and Financial Report of the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents For the year ended June 30 1956 Smithsonian Publication 4268 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1956 CONTENTS a Page List of officials. _______ Unfair EAS NA aA SION BS A Pr @eneralystatemmen tise oie lle | MAE A eR a ial le el Nay elle foiralt ie 1 hesiistablishmentee 2a. 222 sale nee LeU sa A 6 sbheyBoardcofuRegentsucsgie vNkin cin Majic ini Me ALE inl pie ahmeh AMO A Git Vi 4 a VTECH SU NER ASI id UY apc UU a NS IS RN cy 8 RVASTCOTS 255 Maye Sey ohio NCOP LH PRI) 8 8 1 SEH EDT eS ESN ea a a UTA a HOES IN Yn So ak LU Meee 9 IBIO-Sclences) Int ormation Fixe lia rig ew Muy MeN ie ly Na Sy an ty 10 Junior League docent activities___________-_____-_ SIGNING ye AU MAY ANE Ve 11 Summary of the year’s activities of the Institution. __________ Baie ed ALL 13 Reports of branches of the Institution: United States National Museum____--________- SET TEEN a SME Aa RN 16 iBureaujof American Ethnology. 2202s Wee a Le ee ee 42 Astrophysical Obsenvatonya ee se ee ames ae ee eae 65 iINational), Collectionief; Kine Arts 2 Mu pe iii i Dy 75 VBA RELEH SLE Sem D YES whee ECO) Sipe le Kan ACORN RI a A Te a a 89 Neri aA cir SVE S © un n as ey oe EIA ied i eo Us SN el 101 Nation alyZoolo ci calle air keys las iaceigaie yaenl ya ee Aine 117 WanalsZONe BiGlOPICAL VAT EA 5 leat me NA ISI NL Lal) ag ne in de SAL 161 international xchange services. 1.1/4 ele ee a Sy ee 169 INationaliGallenvoneAnts sos. ieee ye vei Mar RU AMUN MUL ye i © 178 TBRCSY OOH EH CONDY AH] OWEN WU. SEE wa lo NaS I ES A A og ea ae 2 3 EVE POTUOME MUO] Ca tIOMs emai cui MMe NEI ied a NOE aw Reva LINN, SSN Hl 197 Report of the executive committee of the Board of Regents____________- 204 ath Mb AW oedhislage fino HOE REL, a . 4: Beata), PAR S Why THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION June 30, 1956 Presiding Officer ew oficio—Dwicut D. EIs—ENHOWER, President of the United States. Chancellor—EARrL WARREN, Chief Justice of the United States. Members of the Institution : DwicHt D. EISENHOWER, President of the United States. Ricuarp M. Nixon, Vice President of the United States. EARL WARREN, Chief Justice of the United States. JOHN Foster DULLES, Secretary of State. GEoRGE M. HUMPHREY, Secretary of the Treasury. CHARLES E. WILSON, Secretary of Defense. HERBERT BROWNELL, Jk., Attorney General. ARTHUE E. SUMMERFIELD, Postmaster General. Frep A. Seaton, Secretary of the Interior. Ezra Tart Benson, Secretary of Agriculture. SINCLAIR WEEKs, Secretary of Commerce. JAMES P. MITCHELL, Secretary of Labor. Marion B. Fousom, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Regents of the Institution: Hart WaAkREN, Chief Justice of the United States, Chancellor. RicHArpD M. Nixon, Vice President of the United States. CLINTON P. ANDERSON, Member of the Senate. LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, Member of the Senate. H. ALEXANDER SMITH, Member of the Senate. OVERTON Brooks, Member of the House of Representatives. CLARENCE CANNON, Member of the House of Representatives. JOHN M. Vorys, Member of the House of Representatives. ARTHUR H. Compton, citizen of Missouri. EVERETTE L. DEGOLYER, citizen of Texas. Rosert V. FLEMING, citizen of Washington, D. C. CRAWFORD H. GREENEWALT, Citizen of Delaware. CaRYL P. HAskKINs, citizen of Washington, D. C. JEROME C. HUNSAKER, citizen of Massachusetts. Herecutive Committee—RosBErt V. FLEMING, chairman, CLARENCE CANNON, CARYL P. HASKINS. Secretary. LEONARD CARMICHAEL. Assistant Secretaries.—J. E. Grar, J. L. KEppy. Administrative assistant to the Secretary.—Mrs. LOUISE M. PEARSON. Treasurer.—T. F. CLARK. Chief, editorial and publications division—Paut H. OEHSER. Librarian.—Mrs. LEILA F. CLark. Superintendent of buildings and grounds.—L. L. OLIVER. Chief, personnel division —J. B. NEWMAN. Chief, supply division—A. W. WILDING. Chief, photographic laboratory.—F. B. KESTNER. VI ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM Direcitor.—A. REMINGTON KELLOGG. Assistant Director.—l. A. Taytor. Planning officer.—J. C. WHweERs. Chief exhibits specialist —J. E. ANGLIM. Chief exhibits preparator.—W. L. Brown. Registrar.—HELENA M. WEISS. DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY : F. M. Setzler, head curator. Division of Archeology: W. R. Wedel, curator ; Clifford Evans, Jr., associate curator. Division of Ethnology: H. W. Krieger, curator; C. M. Watkins, associate curator; R. A. Elder, Jr., G. C. Lindsay, assistant curators. Division of Physical Anthropology: T. D. Stewart, curator; M. T. Newman, associate curator. DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY: W. L. Schmitt, head curator. Division of Mammals: D. H. Johnson, acting curator; H. W. Setzer, C. O. Handley, Jr., associate curators. Division of Birds: Herbert Friedmann, curator; H. G. Deignan, associate curator. Division of Reptiles and Amphibians: Doris M. Cochran, curator. Division of Fishes: L. P. Schultz, curator; E. A. Lachner, associate curator. Division of Insects: J. F. G. Clarke, curator; O. L. Cartwright, W. D. Field, Grace EK. Glance, associate curators. Division of Marine Invertebrates: F. A. Chace, Jr., curator; F'. M. Bayer, T. KE. Bowman, C. E. Cutress, Jr., associate curators. Division of Mollusks: H. A. Rehder, curator; J. P. H. Morrison, associate curator. DEPARTMENT OF BoTANy (NATIONAL HERBARIUM) : J. R. Swallen, head curator. Division of Phanerogams: A. C. Smith, curator; E. C. Leonard, L. B. Smith, E. H. Walker, Velva E. Rudd, associate curators. Division of Ferns: C. V. Morton, curator. Division of Grasses: Ernest R. Sohns, associate curator. Division of Cryptogams: C. V. Morton, acting curator; P. 8. Conger, asso- ciate curator. DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY: G. A. Cooper, acting head curator ; J. H. Benn, museum geologist. Division of Mineralogy and Petrology: G. S. Switzer, E. P. Henderson, associate curators. Division of Invertebrate Paleontology and Paleobotany: G. A. Cooper, ecura- tor; A. R. Loeblich, Jr., David Nicol, associate curators. Division of Vertebrate Paleontology: C. L. Gazin, curator; D. H. Dunkle, associate curator. DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIES : R. P. Multhauf, acting head curator. Division of Engineering: R. P. Multhauf, curator. Section of Civil and Mechanical Engineering: R. P. Multhauf, in charge. Section of Tools: R. P. Multhauf, in charge. SECRETARY’S REPORT VII DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIES—Continued Division of Engineering—Continued Section of Marine Transportation: K. M. Perry, associate curator. Section of Electricity: W. J. King, associate curator. Section of Physical Sciences and Measurement: R. P. Multhauf, in charge. Section of Horology: S. H. Oliver, associate curator. Section of Land Transportation: 8. H. Oliver, associate curator. Division of Crafts and Industries: W. N. Watkins, curator; KE. C. Kendall, associate curator. Section of Textiles: Grace L. Rogers, assistant curator. Section of Wood Technology: W. N. Watkins, in charge. Section of Manufactures: H. C. Kendall, associate curator. Section of Agricultural Industries: E. C. Kendall, associate curator. Division of Medicine and Publie Health: G. B. Griffenhagen, curator. Division of Graphic Arts: Jacob Kainen, curator. Section of Photography: A. J. Wedderburn, Jr., associate curator. DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY: M. L. Peterson, acting head curator. Division of Military History and Naval History: M. L. Peterson, curator ; J. R. Sirlouis, assistant curator. Division of Civil History: Mrs. Margaret W. Brown Klapthor, associate curator. Division of Numismatics: M. L. Peterson, acting curator. Division of Philately: ¥. R. Bruns, Jr., associate curator. BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY Director.—M. W. STIRLING. Associate Direcitor.—F. H. H. RoBerts, Jr. Anthropologist.—H. B. Cottins, Jr. Hthnologist.—W. C. STURTEVANT. River Bastin Surveys.—F.. H. H. Roperts, Jr., Director. ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY Director.—F. L. WHIPPLE. Assistant Director.—J. S. RINEHART. Table Mountain, Calif., field station—F. A. GREELEY, A. G. FRomanp, S. L. At- DRICH, physicists. DIVISION OF RADIATION AND ORGANISMS: Chief.—R. B. WiTHROW. Plant physiologists —W. H. Krein, Mrs. Atice P. WitHRow, LEoNARD PRICE, V. B. Evstap, C. C. Mon. Biochemist.—J. B. Wourr. NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS Director.—T. M. Brags. Curator of ceramics.—P. V. GARDNER. Chief, Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service—Mrs. ANNEMARIE H. POPE. VIII ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 FREER GALLERY OF ART Director.—A. G. WENLEY. Assistant Director.—J. A. POPE. Assistant to the Direcitor.—B. A. StTusBBs. Associate in Near Eastern art.—RicHarD ETTINGHAUSEN. Associate in technical research.—R. J. GETTENS. Assistant in research.—H. P. STERN. NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM Advisory Board: LEONARD CARMICHAEL, Chairman. Maj. Gen. JOHN P. Doyte, U. S. Air Force. Rear Adm. JAMES §. RUSSELL, U. S. Navy. GROVER LOENING. Head curator.—P. EH. GARBER. Associate curator.—W. M. MALE. NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK Director.—W. M. MAnn. Assistant Director.—E. P. WALKER. Veterinarian.—T. H. Reep. CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA Resident Naturalist. —C. B. Kororp. INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE Chief.—D. G. WILLIAMS. NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART Trustees: Hart WARREN, Chief Justice of the United States, Chairman. JOHN FOSTER DULLEs, Secretary of State. Grorce M. HoMPHREY, Necretary of the Treasury. LEONARD CARMICHAEL, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. F. LamMMot BELIN. DUNCAN PHILLIPS. CHESTER DALE. PauL MELLON. RusH H. Kress. President.—CHESTER DALE. Vice President.—F. LamMmMort BELIN. Secretary-Treasurer.—HuUNTINGTON CAIRNS. Director.—JOHN WALKER. Administrator.—ERNEST R. FEIDLER. General Counsel. HUNTINGTON CAIRNS. Chief Curator.—(vacancy). Assistant Director.—MacGILL JAMES. SECRETARY’S REPORT 1X Honorary Research Associates, Collaborators, and Fellows Mrs. Arthur M. Greenwood N. M. Judd T. W. McKern Paul Bartsch, Mollusks A. G. Boving L. L. Buchanan, Coleoptera M. A. Carriker, Insects R. 8. Clark, Zoology R. A. Cushman, Hymenoptera D. Graham, Biology C. Greene, Diptera Howell, Mammals Jellison, Insects C. au A.B. L. M. Mann, Hymenoptera 43 Mrs. Agnes Chase, Grasses K. P. Killip, Phanerogams R. S. Bassler, Paleontology R. W. Brown, Paleobotany Preston Cloud, Invertebrate Paleontology J. B. Knight, Invertebrate Paleontology Anthropology Betty J. Meggers W. W. Taylor, Jr. W. J. Tobin Zoology J. P. Moore, Marine Invertebrates Cc. F. W. Muesebeck, Insects Jenjamin Schwartz, Helminthology Mrs. Harriet Richardson Searle, Marine Invertebrates ©. R. Shoemaker Rt. E. Snodgrass, Insects Alexander Wetmore, Birds Mrs. Mildred S. Wilson, Copepod Crustacea Botany F. A. McClure, Grasses J. A. Stevenson, Fungi Geology Mrs. Helen N. Loeblich, Invertebrate Paleontology S. H. Perry, Mineralogy J. B. Reeside, Jr., Invertebrate Paleon- tology W. T. Schaller, Mineralogy Engineering and Industries F. L. Lewton, Crafts and Industries History P. A. Straub, Numismatics Bureau of American Ethnology Frances Densmore J. P. Harrington R. F. Heizer Sister M. Inez Hilger R. S. Solecki R. J. Squier J. R. Swanton A. J. Waring, Jr. Astrophysical Observatory Cc. G. Abbot Freer Gallery of Art Grace Dunham Guest Max Loehr Katherine N. Rhoades Canal Zone Biological Area C. C. Soper | James Zetek P\yuos natn on. ie | My eb nah Se mh My) iid 8 k he ve Report of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution LEONARD CARMICHAEL For the Year Ended June 30, 1956 To the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit a report showing the activities and condition of the Smithsonian Institution and its branches for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1956. GENERAL STATEMENT Botanists have learned in their study of the rings in the cross sec- tions of trees that all years are not equally favorable for growth. When sun and moisture are just right, development is best. In the life of the Smithsonian Institution, the one hundred and tenth ring, which is covered by this report, shows what is probably an unparal- leled period of healthy growth in this old and honored institution. Museum of History and Technology Assured Last year it was possible to report that $2,288,000 had been appro- priated to plan the already authorized new Museum of History and Technology building for the Smithsonian. This year the additional $33,712,000 has been appropriated to make possible the building of this great and most urgently needed new museum structure. The established site for this building is an admirable one. It is in the Mall area of the Capital, near other Smithsonian buildings, and is bounded on the north by Constitution Avenue, on the east by 12th Street, on the south by Madison Drive, and on the west by 14th Street. It is expected that the construction of the foundation of the building will begin in the spring of 1957, and it is hoped that the building will be completed in 1960. . The Smithsonian Regents selected the New York firm of McKim, Mead & White as architects for the building. Under its direction the development of the necessarily elaborate plans for the structure is progressing in a most promising manner. These plans are being worked out so as to meet the requirements for the new building that have been set by the staff of the Smithsonian Institution on the 1 2 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 basis of detailed study of similar buildings and especially on the basis of the knowledge of the objects to be displayed in it. The Joint Committee on Construction of a Building for the Museum of History and Technology for the Smithsonian Institution, of which our Regent Senator Clinton P. Anderson is chairman, and our Regent John M. Vorys, House of Representatives, is secretary, has devoted much careful attention to the architectural problems presented by the building. When the new structure becomes a reality, the Nation will owe a deep debt of gratitude to the wisdom and effective assistance that this committee has provided in the development of the new museum. The full membership of the committee is as follows: Clinton P. Anderson, Senator from New Mexico. Leverett Saltonstall, Senator from Massachusetts. H. Alexander Smith, Senator from New Jersey. Stuart Symington, Senator from Missouri. Edward Martin, Senator from Pennsylvania. Clarence Cannon, Representative from Missouri. Overton Brooks, Representative from Louisiana. Robert E. Jones, Jr., Representative from Alabama. John M. Vorys, Representative from Ohio. Laurence Curtis, Representative from Massachusetts. Now that the Museum of History and Technology building is becom- ing a reality, we must remember that even this great structure is but one step, although a very important one, in providing our Nation with suitable modern buildings in which to house and display its unequaled collections that tell the story of the rise to greatness of the United States of America. Other Buildings Needed Of all the urgent additional building needs of the Smithsonian, that which has highest priority is the expansion of the Natural History Museum. In 1930 the two wings needed for this building were au- thorized by the Congress. This was done because at that time—a quarter of a century ago—the crowding of the Nation’s great Natural History Museum had come to seem intolerable. In the intervening years, conditions in this building have become progressively worse. Now world-famous study collections must be piled to the ceiling in the hallways of certain parts of this building. It is most sincerely to be hoped that during the present year funds may be appropriated for this long-delayed, although already authorized, addition to the plant of the Institution. As indicated in my report a year ago, by a special gift of private funds an architectural study of an adequate building for the National Air Museum was made last year. The site that had been tentatively allocated to the Smithsonian for this building, on Independence Avenue at 10th Street, near other Smithsonian structures, now has SECRETARY’S REPORT 3 been declared unavailable to the Institution. Other promising loca- tions, however, are ready for consideration. The National Air Museum today maintains, mostly in storage for the future, effective displays of the world’s most comprehensive collection of historic air- craft, including innumerable devices and pieces of scientific apparatus that are related to this important phase of modern life. It is hoped that funds may soon be provided to make possible a suitable building for the National Air Museum in close proximity to the other units of the Smithsonian. The Congress, in 1846, authorized the establishment, within the Smithsonian organization, of an art gallery, which later was desig- nated as the National Collection of Fine Arts. The important works of art in the custody of this bureau are now inappropriately housed in the Natural History Museum. A new and proper building to ac- commodate this notable collection and to make possible the acceptance of other available collections in the fine and decorative arts was authorized by the Congress in 1938. In spite of many efforts, however, the private funds that were expected to finance the planning and erection of this building have not been secured. Each year pressure from the public to make this building a reality becomes greater. Soon some positive action in regard to this problem must be taken. Congressional proposal has been discussed in the public press for the establishment, possibly as a new and separate bureau of the Smith- sonian Institution, of a National Portrait Gallery. It has been sug- gested that this collection be housed in the old Patent Office Building. This handsome building is now occupied by offices of the Civil Service Commission, but it is not too well suited for a modern office building. It is believed that this architectural monument of early Washington could be transformed without too great cost into an admirable gallery to house collections of portraits of Americans who have contributed importantly to our country. The possibility that the National Col- lection of Fine Arts could also be housed in this building deserves study. Besides the buildings mentioned above, additional structures are urgently needed by the Smithsonian Institution at the National Zoological Park. There is also continued discussion by interested members of the public of the need for the erection of a National Planetarium in connection with the Smithsonian’s Astrophysical Observatory. Such a building would have great educational value for the millions of citizens who come each year to Washington. Rebuilding of Exhibits Continues The program for the renovation of the exhibits in the old existing Smithsonian buildings, which has been discussed previously, continued 4 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 during the period covered by this report. On March 22, 1956, the new Bird Hall of the Natural History Museum was opened to the public. It has been described by one internationally known ornitho- logical expert as the most effective and most instructive museum display of birds in the world. Dr. Herbert Friedmann, curator of birds in the United States National Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, is an artist as well as a scientist, and he and his associates developed this hall in such a way as to make it not only beautiful and eye-arresting but also instructive. The notable success of this hall, with its many new display features, illustrates a function of the Smithsonian Institution that is not always remembered. ‘This is an age in which museums are becoming very common throughout the country. Leadership at the Smithsonian in the development of effec- tive museum displays is thus especially important because, as the world’s largest museum in number of cataloged objects, it almost auto- matically sets for many other museums a pattern for guidance in developing new and small museums throughout the country. There is broad advantage, therefore, when the Smithsonian leads the way in new museum display ideas as it has done in the Bird Hall and in the other recently opened halls that are transforming the old exhibitions of the Institution. During the year progress was made in the renovation of the second section of the American Indian Hall, the Engineering Power Hall, and the Health Hall. The notable artistic work required for the back- grounds of the new North American Mammal Hall was produced under special contracts. Part of the Printing Art Hall in the old Smithsonian Building was renovated and is now open to the public. The lights that have been installed in this hall are, so far as is known, the first artificial illumination of any kind ever to be used in this section of the Institution. Progress was also made in preparing a hall displaying the style of life of the early American colonies. Under the difficult conditions already referred to, improvements in displays were made both in the National Collection of Fine Arts and in the National Air Museum. Many of the plaster casts, which were in far too great a variety of scales and which have long confused the visitor on entering the Rotunda of the Natural History Museum, have been placed on exhibit elsewhere or are in storage. Rehabilitation of the structures of the older Smithsonian buildings went on during the year covered by this report. Painting of the re- maining halls and courts in the Arts and Industries Building, started last year, was completed. It is believed that some of this painting, such as that on the underportions of the roofs, is possibly the first since the building was completed in 1878. New and safer entrance and exit doors were installed in this building. SECRETARY'S REPORT 5 Nine halls of the Natural History Building were also repainted, and a contract was let for the urgently needed repair of the roof of this great structure. The ancient so-called “converter” heating system of this building was modernized and made more economical. Steam lines in various buildings, which were in a dangerous condition, were replaced. Work on the air-conditioning of the Freer Gallery of Art was begun. The air-conditioning of this building will protect the price- less objects of art contained in the Freer collections which were deteri- orating under the extremes of temperature and humidity of Washing- ton. Also, possibly for the first time since this building was opened, the gallery has been completely repainted, and its library has been renovated and provided with adequate lighting fixtures. Modern rest rooms for the public were opened in the Natural History Building and in the old Smithsonian Building. Research in Astrophysics It is always important to remember that Smithson, in establishing his institution, and the Congress, in founding it, directed that it should not only “diffuse knowledge” but also “increase knowledge.” During the current year, effective research has continued in all the scientific and artistic departments of the Institution. A particularly notable development, as in indicated in the detailed report that follows (p. 65) has taken place in the program of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Astrophysics has long been one of the principal research activities of the Institution. With the retirement a year ago of Loyal B. Aldrich as head of this bureau, it became clear that, because of the growing importance of astrophysics in national defense as well as in pure science, the future program of this bureau required careful study. With the assistance of Mr. Aldrich, authorities in this field were con- sulted and it was agreed that the time was ripe to expand both the bureau’s facilities and programs. The Smithsonian was fortunate in securing as director Dr. Fred L. Whipple, then chairman of the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University. The scientific headquarters of the Observatory have been moved from temporary buildings behind the old Smithsonian Building to more adequate quarters in immediate association with the Harvard College Observa- tory in Cambridge, Mass. By this physical change, the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution, without compromising its independence, has gained the advantage of close association with an active group of scientists in the mathematical and physical as well as astronomical sciences. Without such association, modern advances in astrophysics are severely handicapped. 4) ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 Dr. Finley Retires The National Gallery of Art, a bureau of the Smithsonian, has had a notable year. The art world has been saddened by the fact that at the close of June, the Director of the National Gallery, Dr. David E. Finley, whose unremitting labor has done so much to make this insti- tution world famous, reached retirement age. It is most gratifying to announce, however, that this important post has been filled by the promotion of John Walker, Chief Curator of the Gallery, to the post of Director. Mr. Walker has been connected with the Gallery from its beginning and brings te his new post an outstanding international reputation as a student of art. Financial Support Grants continue to be made to the Smithsonian by private founda- tions, by individuals, and by other agencies in support of specific service functions, such as the Bio-Sciences Information Exchange, and many research projects. One of the most interesting of these grants names the Smithsonian Institution as the agency to organize throughout the world the program of observing the artificial earth satellites that are to be launched under the auspices of the International Geophysical Year. The fact that the Smithsonian Institution was selected for this important function attests the recognition accorded to it by the scientists who are responsible for this great and novel project. Detailed reports of all the ten bureaus under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution follow. In addition, there are included a report on the Smithsonian Library (p. 193) and a report of the Edi- torial and Publications Division (p. 197) with a complete list of the publications issued during the year. These publications have had a most enthusiastic reception by the scientific and learned world. In concluding this general introduction to the 1956 Smithsonian Annual Report, it is impossible to resist an expression of deep appre- ciaton to the Regents of the Institution for all that they have done during the current year to advance the welfare of the Smithsonian. The executive committee of the Board of Regents has been most active and effective in the difficult tasks of managing the details of the private funds of the Institution. In many other ways the Regents, not only as a corporate body but also as individuals, have made possible the really memorable advances in the Smithsonian that are recorded in this report of the operations of its one-hundred and tenth year. THE ESTABLISHMENT The Smithsonian Institution was created by act of Congress in 1846, in accordance with the terms of the will of James Smithson, of Eng- SECRETARY’S REPORT 7 land, who in 1826 bequeathed his property to the United States of America “to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowl- edge among men.” In receiving the property and accepting the trust, Congress determined that the Federal Government was without au- thority 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.” 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 of the United States, and 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 resi- dent 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 of the Board. In the past the selection has fallen upon the Vice President or the Chief Justice. The past year brought the resignation of a highly valued member of the Board, Dr. Vannevar Bush, who had been a Regent since April 5, 1940. He was also a member of the executive committee of the Board and in this capacity, too, rendered distinguished and outstand- ing service to the Institution. The Board is honored to welcome as new members the following: Everette Lee DeGolyer, to succeed Harvey N. Davis, deceased ; Craw- ford Hallock Greenewalt, to succeed Vannevar Bush, resigned; and Caryl Parker Haskins, to succeed Owen Josephus Roberts, deceased. The annual informal dinner meeting of the Board was held in the main hall of the Smithsonian Building on the evening of January 12, 1956, amid various exhibits showing phases of the work being carried on at present. Brief talks on their special fields of research and ac- tivities were made by two staff members: Dr. T. Dale Stewart and Dr. Fred L. Whipple. The regular annual meeting of the Board was held on January 13, 1956. At this meeting the Secretary presented his published annual report on the activities of the Institution and its bureaus; and Robert V. Fleming, chairman of the executive and permanent committees of the Board, presented the financial report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1955. The roll of Regents at the close of the fiscal year was as follows: Chief Justice of the United States Karl Warren, Chancellor; Vice President Richard Nixon; members from the Senate: Clinton P. An- derson, Leverett Saltonstall, H. Alexander Smith; members from 397948—56——2 8 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 the House of Representatives: Overton Brooks, Clarence Cannon, John M. Vorys; citizen members: Arthur H. Compton, Everette Lee DeGolyer, Robert V. Fleming, Crawford H. Greenewalt, Caryl P. Haskins, and Jerome C. Hunsaker. FINANCES A statement on finances, dealing particularly with Smithsonian pri- vate funds, will be found in the report of the executive committee of the Board of Regents, page 204. APPROPRIATIONS Funds appropriated to the Institution for its regular operations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1956, total $4,166,000, obligated as follows: Milam cig ere et 22 01 ap gn aN A NG OS 2 A $77, 806 United) States National MuseumZ oe 22 2a 20 ae eee a 1, 386, 023 Bureauot American Hthnology.2o0 2a eae 59, 248 Astrophysical) Observatory ose) Be OA 121, 102 National Collection) of Hine Arts_i1) ss) Ges a 47, 635 National Air Museum2t S22 Aon) 2 eee SF ey ode Leal ib 120, 384 International Wxchange Service_______________-___=_____~_________ 90, 946 Canal Zone Biological vA re ese NUE aT DTI ROU TE A a 14, 326 Maintenance and operation of buildings_______________________+____ 1, 826, 376 Other'generalservices (2 2001) SARA Oe EA EEUU ke ERO ieee A ee 422, 104 Do Gea eh ee TT LAST Sop ee ea IS aS aco 4, 166, 000 In addition, the Institution received an appropriation of $2,288,000 for the preparation of plans and specifications for the new Museum of History and Technology. Besides these direct appropriations, the Institution received funds by transfer from other Government agencies as follows: From the District of Columbia for the National Zoological Park______ $690, 900 From the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, for the River) Basin Surveys22h Win ieyohs Pe hae he a Oe Yea eae 92,360 VISITORS Visitors to the Smithsonian group of buildings during the year reached an all-time high of 4,145,591, which was approximately a quarter of a million more than the previous year. April 1956 was the month of largest attendance, with 667,752; May 1956 second, with 597,566; June 1956 third, with 489,999. Largest attendance for a single day was 54,466 for March 31,1956. Table 1 gives a summary of the attendance records for the five buildings. These figures, when added to the 3,788,229 estimated visitors at the National Zoological Park and 1,013 AG recorded at the National Gallery of Art, make a total te Bf visitors at the Smithsonian of 8,947,066. SECRETARY’S REPORT TABLE 1.—Visitors to certain Smithsonian buildings during the year ended June 30, 1956 Smithso- rts and Natural Aircraft Freer Year and month nian Build-| Industries | History Building Building Total ing Building Building 1956 OT A 5 ee a OE 72, 782 191, 975 93, 645 62, 162 10, 392 430, 956 INGE EN 79, 521 195, 036 100, 443 62, 002 11, 021 448, 023 September_______.._____-------. 47, 146 110, 582 64, 918 37, 020 7, 914 267, 580 October ates sab eune | NL 39, 978 107, 259 70, 290 29, 331 6, 553 253, 411 INGVEMDCGe sce te a eee 33, 959 76, 639 59, 150 26, 801 5,371 201, 920 MD) OCOD OTe reesei 20, 632 44, 485 40, 088 20, 058 38, 209 128, 472 1956 Januanyeye see Ek Pe ea 22, 059 54, 566 43, 515 21, 325 3, 604 145, 069 IBD) ORE EIA a Bes Se ee 30, 761 66, 471 58, 645 26, 793 4,756 187, 426 SAE) 01 oa ee IR ei he 52, 088 148, 340 84, 211 36, 145 6, 633 327, 417 UNG) US id 1) BOS We MS RR 6 ee 132, 642 284, 232 155, 494 82, 412 12, 972 667, 752 TViteyy Ate Meee a Nel La S| 101, 112 281, 049 135, 286 69, 102 11,017 | 597, 566 Rae) svan St ue ral gia ar a 83, 368 235, 846 101, 839 58, 058 10, 834 489, 999 PROG a Eee tee aes ah 716,048 | 1,796,480 | 1,007,578 531, 209 94,276 | 4,145, 591 A special record was kept during the year of groups of school children visiting the Institution. These figures are given in table 2: TABLE 2.—Groups of school children visiting the Smithsonian Institution, 1955-1956 Year and month Wumber of | Number of groups children 1955 TIO yg is SR ENS A eee ue NY URN OP 37 1, 054 JN CONES S ish A a al a a Nol Sage eeu cd eta 139 4, 379 Septembentahipe kh sien oan ib vali aie rye 94. 2, 585 CONS OV Oar E a ie EN gr a Rd a Ele 313 10, 559 INO SIM e researc era nek in ars dU ANERSGE At nade ae Aen ARRAN 8 389 12, 392 Decembersy ar crane ot ie ta aa ele kg Si 167 4,717 1956 Jamuanyannrorys Peahaalwtouo Pipe bulouie ol 190 5, 086 TNS) STUNT Gy NN ay EAN RD SMSO YOM Mb SO GeO RN Nao 369 10, 621 March PERRET AEREE AERA EL ERA VARA AD Bt iey eH AER oh, 1) 231 41, 655 Ap Tileeeanela Pyiys Gaba ee Pua thirl lh gel hot way bhi 2, 501 94, 569 INV Area yypepeneme ee wRRIEAENS Yer NN UN NE RN SG Ti 3, 833 152, 961 UTC RN eSNG er NE EARS AD gk INA ple k ASA AMIR UGE, 1, 194 44, 609 PRO eve ELM NAN LU diem) eka ctl a mba Lh 10, 457 385, 187 LECTURES In 1931 the Institution received a bequest from James Arthur, of New York City, a part of the income from which was to be used for an annual lecture on some aspect of the study of the sun. The twenty- third Arthur lecture was delivered in the auditorium of the Natural History Building on the evening of April 26, 1956, by Dr. Donald H. 10 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 Menzel, director of the Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge, Mass. This illustrated lecture, on the subject “The Edge of the Sun,” will be published in full in the general appendix of the Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for 1956. John K. Marshall, of the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Mass., showed his color film “The Hunters—African Bushmen” before a large audience in the Natural History Building auditorium on the evening of February 9, 1956. This showing was under the joint sponsorship of the Smithsonian Institution and the Anthropological Society of Washington. Prof. Millar Burrows, chairman of the Department of Near Eastern Languages, Yale University Graduate School, delivered his lecture on “The Dead Sea Scrolls” before an overflow audience in the Natural History Building on the evening of February 29, 1956. This lecture was sponsored jointly with the Archaeological Institute of America. Dr. Gunnar Thorson, of the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, Den- mark, on the evening of May 10, 1956, lectured on the subject “The Relationship Between Prey and Predator on the Sea Bottom” in the auditorium of the Natural History Building. This was one of a series of lectures that this distinguished foreign scientist delivered in America that season. Several lectures were also sponsored by the Freer Gallery of Art and the National Gallery of Art. These are listed in the reports of these bureaus. BIO-SCIENCES INFORMATION EXCHANGE The Bio-Sciences Information Exchange continued during the year under the directorship of Dr. Stella L. Deignan. This agency operates within the Smithsonian Institution under funds made available to the Institution by other governmental agencies. By performing the unique function of effecting an exchange of information on work just beginning or not yet published, it serves as a clearinghouse for current research in the biological, medical, and psychological sciences. Its services are provided, free of charge, to investigators associated with recognized research institutions in the United States and abroad. The body of information within the Exchange now consists of brief abstracts of over 10,000 active research projects and of a somewhat greater number of summary statements on investigations which are no longer current. The studies registered with the Exchange are for the most part being carried out in laboratories in the United States. Requests for information on work in scientific fields come to the Exchange from granting agencies, committees, and from individual investigators. For the first two groups, detailed surveys of current work in broad fields are provided ; for the individual investigator the service is limited to information on work on one or a series of specifi- SECRETARY’S REPORT 11 cally defined problems. The purpose is not that of a reference library to provide guidance to publications, but to place investigators in contact with others having immediate and similar interests. During the fiscal year 1956 replies to over 900 requests for subject information were supplied by the Exchange. Among these were requests for rosters of scientists to be used in planning symposia, con- ferences, and international scientific meetings, and calls from scientists abroad who were planning itineraries for visiting United States laboratories, as well as from investigators planning problems and wishing to know of others in related fields. A primary purpose of the Exchange is to prevent the inadvertent duplication of support by granting agencies of a field of research or of an investigator. To carry out this responsibility, the Exchange prepares, at the request of government and nongovernment granting agencies, résumés of the support of men, research institutions, and departments of such institutions. Approximately 7,500 such reports were prepared during the year. Because a large proportion of the research registered is supported by grants and contracts, the Exchange prepares for its cooperating agencies and, within the limits of its charter, for other qualified groups, statistical information on the amount and distribution of research support. As a correlation to liaisons with granting agencies, it pro- vides also a considerable body of information on the general policies of granting agencies. As staff and time permit, this information is employed to aid scientists in locating possible sources of support. JUNIOR LEAGUE DOCENT ACTIVITIES In the fall of 1955, through the cooperative assistance of the Junior League of Washington, a program was inaugurated for a volunteer docent or educational guide service in Smithsonian exhibition halls for elementary school children in the Greater Washington area. Such a service has long been needed at the Institution. The project is one of many voluntary programs undertaken by members of the Junior League. This program is under the immediate supervision of Frank M. Setzler, head curator of the National Museum’s department of anthro- pology, who undertook the task in addition to his regular duties. Representing the Junior League are Mrs. Robert Nelson, Jr., chair- man of the project, and Mrs. Alexander Chilton, vice chairman. They organized the volunteers and met frequently with the Secretary, Mr. Setzler, and other Museum officials concerned with procedures and scripts. To begin the program, two of the recently modernized exhibition halls were selected—the Hall of American Indians and the First 12 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 Ladies Hall. The professional staff of the Smithsonian Institution prepared the scripts used by the docents. All the drudgery of organ- izing the tours, notifying the various elementary school systems in the District and those in the adjoining counties of Maryland and Virginia, and making all tour arrangements with the school teacher and respective docent, was graciously assumed by Mrs. Nelson and Mrs. Chilton. On January 25, 1956, the first trial was held in the American Indian Hall, and the first official scheduled tours began February 20. The following Junior Leaguers served as docents in the American Indian Hall: Mrs. George Goodrich, Mrs. William McClure, Mrs. Robert McCormick, Miss Mary McNeil, Mrs. John Manfuso, Mrs. John Mash- burn, Mrs. Robert Nelson, Mrs. Bolling Powell, Mrs. Walter Slowin- ski, and Mrs. George Wyeth. During the final stages of completing the First Ladies Hall, a script was prepared emphasizing in this unique display graphic por- trayals of interesting episodes in our American history. The program for fifth- and sixth-grade pupils was inaugurated on March 29, 1956. The following served as docents in the First Ladies Hall: Mrs. Alex- ander Chilton, Mrs. William Evers, Mrs. Walter Graves, Mrs. Harold Hull, Mrs. John W. Kern, III, Miss Mary lL. Krayenbuhl, Mrs. Peter MacDonald, Mrs. Jay B. L. Reeves, and Mrs. John Schoenfeld. In reviewing the number of tours and children accommodated in this short period, I am extremely pleased with the response and yet somewhat chagrined that the Institution has not been able in the past to offer more of this kind of service. The numerous requests for it only accentuate the acute need for this type of educational pro- gram. Moreover, it becomes especially desirable as we continue to modernize our exhibition halls. During the 3-month period in the American Indian Hall the Junior League completed 58 tours, escort- ing over 3,000 third- and fourth-grade pupils. During the 21%4- month period in the First Ladies of the White House Hall, 44 tours guided over 1,500 elementary school classes. One of the most encouraging features resulting from a final con- ference before the summer vacation period began was the manifest enthusiasm on the part of the Junior Leaguers to continue this school guide service in the aforementioned two halls and to extend the pro- gram to other new halls as they are completed and opened to the public. _ In many ways the project has been the culmination of several years of hopes, desires, and plans for assisting school children in under- standing the Smithsonian’s new and modernized exhibition ‘halls. I feel confident that the members of the Board of Regents join with me in expressing gratitude to the members of the Junior League SECRETARY’S REPORT 13 Docent Service and those members of our professional staff who par- ticipated in the establishment of one more educational program within the Smithsonian Institution. SUMMARY OF THE YEAR’S ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTION National Museum.—Accessions to the national collections showed a normal growth, slightly more than 900,000 specimens being added during the year. The total catalog entries in all departments now number 43,756,010. Some of the year’s outstanding accessions in- cluded : In anthropology, collections of ethnological material from the Sudan, Peru, and New Zealand, fine lots of pottery and ceramic tiles, a collection of Mexican jadeite, a series of pathological human bones from Illinois, and a group of early Eskimo skeletons; in zoology, valu- able coilections of mammals from Siam and Africa, a Ross seal from the Antarctic, a giant sea bass from the Marshall Islands, a collection of over 230,000 termites, and more than 10,000 invertebrates from the Antarctic; in botany, the James Smith Memorial Collection of fossil diatoms from the Philippines and important lots of plants from Brazil, New Guinea, Australia, Idaho, and Alaska; in geology, an exhibit of synthetic diamonds, 11 meteorites new to the Museum, sev- eral thousand miscellaneous but important invertebrate fossils in- cluding many type specimens, a notable collection of fossil fishes and reptiles from Kansas, and an example of a very rare Middle Eocene bowfin from Wyoming; in engineering and industries, an unusual number of turbine and other power machines; and in history, additions to the collection of White House state china, more than 30,000 phila- telic specimens lent by former Postmaster General James A. Farley, including original, autographed sketches of stamps made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Members of the staff conducted fieldwork in Peru, Europe, Canada, Palau Archipelago, Libya, West Indies, Panama, and many parts of the United States. The exhibits-modernization program was successfully continued, and the new Bird Hall was opened to the public. Bureau of American Ethnology.—The staff members of the Bureau continued their researches and publication in ethnology and arche- ology: Dr. Stirling his Panamanian studies, Dr. Roberts his work as Director of the River Basin Surveys, Dr. Collins his archeological fieldwork in the Hudson Bay area, and Dr. Drucker his Mexican studies. Astrophysical Observatory.—Scientific headquarters of the Observ- atory were moved to Cambridge, Mass., at the beginning of the year. Broadened research programs of the agency now include not only strictly solar research but also meteoritie studies and studies of the 14 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 higher atmosphere. The Observatory is also participating in the new Satellite Tracking Program of the International Geophysical Year. The division of radiation and organisms continued its research on the role of light in regulating growth in higher plants. National Collection of Fine Arts—The Smithsonian Art Commis- sion accepted for the Gallery 1 oil painting, 3 miniatures, a German antique cabinet, a collection of 31 pieces of glassware, 2 ceramic pieces, and 3 bronze busts. The Gallery held 13 special exhibits during the year, while the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service circulated 72 exhibitions, 71 in the United States and 1 abroad. Freer Gallery of Art—Purchases for the collections of the Freer Gallery included Chinese bronzes, paintings, and pottery; Japanese lacquer work, metalwork, and painting; Indian and Syrian metal- work; Coptic painting; and Persian pottery. The Gallery continued its program of illustrated lectures in the auditorium by distinguished scholars in Eastern art. National Air Museum.—All the Museum’s stored materials have now been moved to the storage facility at Suitland, Md. During the year 118 specimens in 45 separate accessions were added to the aero- nautical collections, including the first Pitcairn autogiro constructed in America, a Stearman-Hammond airplane of the 1930’s, the Curtiss Robin monoplane Ole Miss, which established an endurance record in 1935, an original amphibious aircraft of 1909-12, and a Bell P-39 Airacobra, besides many scale models and other aeronautical acces- sories and equipment. National Zoological Park.—The Zoo accessioned 1,710 individual animals during the year, and 2,155 were removed by death, exchange, or return to depositors. The net count at the close of the year was 2,965. Noteworthy among the additions were a pair of European wisents, a rare dwarf Bolivian armadillo, an olingo from Colombia, fine examples of gelada baboons, and a Guianan crested eagle. In all, 252 creatures were born or hatched at the Zoo during the year—77 mammals, 43 birds, and 132 reptiles. Visitors totaled 3,788,229. Canal Zone Biological Area—Mr. Zetek, longtime resident man- ager, retired at the end of May. He is succeeded by Dr. Carl B. Koford. The year’s visitors to the island totaled 440, of whom about 50 were scientists using the station’s facilities for special researches. International Eachange Service——As the official United States agency for the exchange of governmental, scientific, and literary publications between this country and other nations, the International Exchange Service handled during the year 1,161,855 packages of such publications, weighing 803,056 pounds, about the same as last year. Consignments were made to all countries except China, North Korea, SECRETARY'S REPORT _ 15 Outer Mongolia, Communist-controlled areas of Viet-Nam and Laos, and the Haiphong Enclave. National Gallery of Art.—The Gallery received 477 accessions dur- ing the year, by gift, loan, or deposit. Ten special exhibits were held, and 23 traveling exhibitions of prints from the Rosenwald Collection were circulated to other galleries and museums. Exhibitions from the “Index of American Design” were given 42 bookings in 20 States and the District of Columbia. Nearly 46,000 persons attended the various tours conducted by Gallery personnel, and the 42 Sunday-afternoon lectures in the auditorium attracted 9,470. The Sunday-evening concerts in the east garden court were continued. Library —A total of 78,715 publications were received by the Smith- sonian library during the year. In all, 237 new exchanges were ar- ranged. Among the gifts were several private collections of valuable material, both of books and periodicals. At the close of the year the holdings of the library and all its branches aggregated 956,157 vol- umes, including 586,447 in the Smithsonian Deposit in the Library of Congress but excluding unbound periodicals and reprints and sepa- rates from serial publications. Publications.—Seventy-tour new publications appeared under the Smithsonian imprint during the year (see Report on Publications, p. 197, for full list). Outstanding among these were “The Brome- haceae of Brazil,” by Lyman B. Smith; “The Last Cruise of H. M.S. Loo,” by Mendel L. Peterson; “Chazyan and Related Brachiopods” (2 vols.), by G. Arthur Cooper; “The Honey-Guides,” by Herbert Fried- mann; “The Diné: Origin Myths of the Navaho Indians,” by Aileen O’Bryan; and “Chinese Porcelains from the Ardebil Shrine,” by John Alexander Pope. In all, 424,389 copies of printed matter were dis- tributed during the year. Report on the United States National Museum Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the condi- tion and operations of the United States National Museum for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1956: COLLECTIONS During the year 905,473 specimens were added to the national col- lections and distributed among the six departments as follows: An- thropology, 19,371; zoology, 409,127; botany, 32,616; geology, 48,900; engineering and industries, 4,292; history, 391,167. This increase is smaller than last year, when the unusual increase resulted from the accession of several million small fossils. This year’s total is a more normal annual accretion. Most of the accessions were received as gifts from individuals or as transfers from Government departments and agencies. The Annual Report of the Museum, published as a separate document, contains a detailed list of the year’s accessions, of which the more important are summarized below. Catalog entries in all departments now total 43,756,010. Anthropology—Among the outstanding accessions received in the division of ethnology is a collection of specimens from the environs of Nasir on the Sabat River in South Sudan, East Africa, presented by Rev. A. MacRoy, an American missionary. These come from an area hitherto unrepresented in the national collections. An interest- ing object is a much-worn leopard skin, a traditional court accessory, on which the witness sits while giving evidence during a trial. A perjurer would be subject to dire consequences if he gave false evi- dence while sitting on this leopard skin. Rings perforating one cor- ner indicate the number of occasions the skin has been used by wit- nesses. Another item, significant of the culture of the Nuer, is a fight- ing bracelet of brass, generally worn on the right wrist by men and women alike. While building a railroad in about 1910, Alexander J. Norris col- lected objects used in the daily life of the Arawak Indians living in the colony of Perené in the watershed of the Rio Perené (upper Uca- yali River), and from the Quechua Indians in the vicinity of Cuzco, Peru. These ethnological specimens consist of hunting and fishing weapons, woven ponchos, and various objects of personal adornment, 16 SECRETARY'S REPORT ez presented by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Green. Another acquisition of note, a stylistically carved wooden treasure box, “waka,” originally presented to President Calvin Coolidge by the assembled chiefs of the Arawa, was transferred from the Department of State. The Arawa, a federation of Maori tribes living on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, claim descent from members of the Arawa, the legend- ary voyaging canoe that brought the Maori to New Zealand. A notable collection of ceramic tiles given to the division by E. Stanley Wires, ranges from early Moorish, Spanish, and Dutch tiles to Amer- ican types of recent manufacthure, They are the result of Mr. Wires’s lifetime interest in the history of tile manufacturing. Through the efforts of Mr. Wires, the tile collection was further enhanced by a pair of ceramic tile panels with animal designs in relief, sculptured by the late Frederick G. R. Roth and presented by his widow. Other donations to the ethnological collections include a total of 170 examples of Rockwood and other late nineteenth century and early twentieth century pottery assembled by the late Dr. Edwin Kirk and presented by his widow, Mrs. Page Kirk; 17 examples of stoneware and pottery made by country potters in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, given by Clyde N. Fahrney; and numerous glass and ceramic specimens together with documented papers and account books presented by Miss Madeleine Wilkinson. The division of archeology received a collection of 187 polished jadeite and other stone objects from La Venta, Tabasco, Mexico, as a permanent loan from the Museo Nacional, Mexico. These include beads, celts, figurines, ear-spool parts, and other objects representing the prehistoric Olmec culture of southeastern Mexico. A group of conch-shell segments elaborately carved with anthropomorphic and ceremonial art motifs in the style of the late prehistoric Southern Cult, from the Spiro Mound, near Spiro, Okla., was received as an indefinite loan from the Lightner Museum of Hobbies, St. Augustine, Fla.