The New International Encyclopædia/United States National Museum

UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. A national depository at Washington, D. C., under the control of the Smithsonian Institution (q.v.). The collections of the Smithsonian Institution, beginning with the private cabinet of James Smithson, and added to by the material deposited by various exploring expeditions, increased rapidly and soon filled the Smithsonian Building. When the Centennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia in 1876, was first considered, it was decided to make extensive exhibits, showing the development of the various governmental departments, and large collections were made for that purpose, which at the close of the Exposition were turned over to the National Museum, together with the choicest of the exhibits from 34 foreign governments. A building for the exhibition of these collections was authorized by Congress in 1879 and completed in 1881, and in 1903 Congress again authorized the construction of a building to cost $3,500,000. As at present organized, the National Museum is under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution as keeper ex officio, and in the direct charge of an assistant secretary, under whom are 18 curators in charge of special branches of science. A series of publications are issued by the National Museum, and include: (1) Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution, part ii. begun in 1884; (2) Bulletin of the United States National Museum, begun in 1875 and now numbering 52; with these should be included the series of Special Bulletins, four in number; (3) Proceedings of the United States National Museum, which were begun in 1878 and now include 26 volumes. These were intended primarily as a medium of publication for newly acquired facts in science, descriptions of new forms of animals and plants acquired by the museum, etc. A complete list of these publications with index to titles was issued as Bulletin No. 51, in 1902. The National Museum is supported by an annual appropriation from Congress.