This legislation and the accompanying appropriation reaffirmed the unique nature of the Smithsonian as a non-governmental institution created by the Congress to which additional public responsibilities within the mandate for the increase and diffusion of knowledge have, with the consent of the Board of Regents, been legislated and supported in substantial part by appropriated funds. SUBSEQUENT GROWTH AND LEGISLATION (1) National Zoological Park The National Zoological Park had its origin in the National Museum as a department of living animals, literally "in the backyards" of the Smithsonian Institution Building. The naturalist William Hornaday's concern for preserving bison and other North American big game species and educating the public about them led Secretary Langley to consider a "zoological garden" in Rock Creek Valley. Congress authorized the National Zoological Park in 1889 and then in 1890 appropriated $200,000 for the purchase of land. This Act placed the National Zoological Park under the direction of the Regents of the Smithsonian, who were authorized to transfer to it any living specimens of animals or plants, to accept gifts, to make exchanges of species, and, generally, to improve the Park "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation of the people." Initially, the maintenance and operation of the Zoo were attached to the District of Columbia appropriations bills. Beginning in 1962, however, the Smithsonian has been allotted increasing funds by the Congress for construction and finally, in the current fiscal year, for the operations and maintenance budget. (2) Astrophysical Observatory In 1890, Secretary Langley rekindled John Quincy Adams' idea of an observatory and sought to give the Smithsonian more balance in the physical sciences, as opposed to natural history. With contributions from James Kidder and Alexander Graham Bell, he started a modest observatory in the Smithsonian's back yard. The next year Congress appropriated $10,000 "for the maintenance of the Astrophysical Observatory and the making of solar observations at high altitudes". Annual federal support has continued ever since. For many years Mr. John A. Roebling directly supported the research of Secretary Abbott in the Astrophysical Observatory. (3) New National Musem In 1903, the Congress authorized funds, not to exceed $3,500,000, for a new National Museum building. This structure eventually came to house the Museum of Natural History. (4) Freer Gallery During the winter of 1905-1906, Charles Lang Freer offered the Smithsonian his collection of Oriental art and $5,000,000 for a building to house it, in trust. The Regents accepted the offer, and in 1915 Freer waived the condition that the collection was to remain in his possession during his lifetime and offered $1,000,000 if the Smithsonan would go ahead with construction of the Freer Gallery of Art. I should like to note at this point, Mr. Chairman, that the foregoing outline has focused almost entirely on the public responsibilities and federal financing of the Institution's development. All through this time, of course, the Smithsonian was receiving many significant gifts and building up its private endowment. The Freer Gallery is the outstanding example. (5) National Gallery of Art On January 24, 1865, a fire in the Smithsonian Building destroyed our original art gallery. Thereafter, the Smithsonian turned over works of art given it to either the Library of Congress or the Corcoran Gallery of Art, for safekeeping. But the Philadelphia Centennial brought much new art material. The Corcoran and Library of Congress deposits were recalled in 1896 and the east wing of the original Smithsonian Building was made an art gallery. This gallery's existence was officially recognized through a gift of Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston, President Buchanan's niece. When Mrs. Johnston died in 1903, she left her valuable private collection to the Corcoran Gallery but with the stipulation that should the United States Government ever establish a national gallery of art, her collection should be transferred to it and become its absolute property. The Corcoran Gallery declined the gift under such conditions and thereby created a dilemma. In 1906, after two years of deliberation, the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia decided that the Smithsonian's gallery was in effect a national gallery of art and the Johnston collection came to the Smithsonian Building. In 1937, Andrew Mellon made his remarkable gift to the nation. By act of Congress, the designation of National Gallery of Art was transferred to the building which was to house the Mellon collection. The National Gallery of Art was established as a bureau of the Smithsonian, but with its direction given to a Board of Trustees, to include ex officio the Chief Justice, the Secretaries of State and Treasury and the Secretary of the Smithsonian, plus five general or citizen members. During approximately the same time (1938) a companion piece of legislation was enacted to take care of the art collections of the Smithsonian itself, (now known as the National Collection of Fine Arts) and authorized a commission to search for a suitable building for it. It provided that the National Collection of Fine Arts "display (ing) the national collections of fine arts, comprising painting, sculptures, bronzes, glass, porcelain, tapestry, furniture, jewelry, and other types of art; to display portraits of eminent American men and women, and to exhibit the works of artists deserving of recognition". The act thus gave to the National Collection of Fine Arts a preeminently national or American character, as opposed to the universal values of the Mellon collection. It also contained some far-sighted provisions to foster a growing appreciation of both past and contemporary art "by public exhibitions from time to time in Washington and other parts of the United States" and by award of scholarships and staff positions to artists. (6) National Advisory Council on Aeronautics It should be mentioned for the historical record that the enabling act of this progenitor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in March 1915 was an outgrowth of the work of Langley's Aerodynamical Laboratory and the work of the Smithsonian's fourth Secretary, Charles D. Walcott. (7) Canal Zone Biological Area In 1940 the Congress authorized and directed the President to set aside within the Panama Canal Zone an area in Gatun Lake known as Barro Colorado Island which should be left as nearly as possible, in "a natural state for scientific observtion and investigation". The following year additional legislation made more specific the purpose of this natural reserve as "a place where duly qualified students can make observations and scientific investigations for increase of knowledge, under such conditions and regulations as may be prescribed by the Smithsonian Institution". The act provided further that the Smithsonian should "be responsible for the construction and maintenance of laboratory and other facilities" and, at its discretion, fix charges for the use of the facilities. (8) National Air and Space Museum This Smithsonian bureau was established as the National Air Museum by act of Congress in August 1946 to "memorialize the national development of aviation and space flight; collect, preserve, and display aeronautical and space flight equipment of historical interest and significance; serve as a repository for scientific equipment and data pertaining to the development of aviation and space flight; and provide educational material for the historic study of aviation and space flight." (The act was amended in 1966 to include references to "space flight" and "space flight equipment".) (9) John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the National Cultural Center) was established as a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution to be directed by a Board of Trustees by legislation enacted in September 1962 (and later amended), which provides for construction of a cultural center on the banks of the Potomac River as the "sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald Kennedy. . . ." Funds for the Center are to be raised by voluntary contributions and by Congress. Construction began in the spring of 1966. The duties of the Board of Trustees are to: (a) Present classical and contemporary music, opera, drama, dance, and poetry from this and other countries, (b) Present lectures and other programs, (c) Develop programs for children and youth and the elderly (and for other age groups as well) in such arts designed specifically for their participation, education, and recreation, (d) Provide facilities for other civic activities at the Center, (e) Provide within the Center a suitable memorial in honor of the late President, John F. Kennedy. The Board of Trustees is composed of ex officio trustees designated by the act and thirty general trustees who are appointed by the President of the United States and serve for 10-year overlapping terms. (10) National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board The National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board, established by the act of August 30, 1961, advises and assists the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution on matters concerned with portraying the contributions which the Armed Forces of the United States have made to American society and culture. The Board conducts studies of lands and buildings suitable for a proposed National Armed Forces Historical Museum Park and Study Center; plans the concept of the Park; performs research on the contributions of the Armed Forces ; and collects and preserves materials for exhibition and study. (11) National Portrait Gallery In April 1962 the National Portrait Gallery was established by the Congress to "function as a free public museum for the exhibition and study of portraiture and statuary depicting men and women who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the people of the United States and of the artists who created such portraiture and statuary." (12) National Museum Act The National Museum Act of 1966, passed by the Congress and approved by the President in October 1966, reaffirmed the Smithsonian's role of assistance to museums and authorized appropriations to meet needs and to study problems common to all museums. In the Act, Congress recognized that museums are important elements of the cultural and educational development of the United States. The Act provides that the Director of the National Museum, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian, shall "cooperate with museums and their professional organizations in a continuing study of museum problems," conduct training programs for museum employees in museum publications, contribute to the development of museum techniques, cooperate with Federal organizations concerned with museums, and report annually to the Congress on progress in these activities. (13) Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden This public museum and sculpture garden was established within the Smithsonian by legislative act, approved November 7, 1966, and will upon completion house sculpture and painting and a program of exhibition, education, research and publication devoted principally to art of the twentieth century. The Act establishes a Board of Trustees, consisting of the Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of the Smithsonian, and eight members appointed by the President, which will advise and assist the Smithsonian Regents on matters concerning administration, operation, maintenance, and preservation of the museum and sculpture garden. (14) Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars The Center was established within the Smithsonian, by act of October 24, 1968, as a bureau of the Smithsonian under guidance of a Board of Trustees. The Center will serve as a living memorial to Woodrow Wilson, "symbolizing and strengthening the fruitful relation between the world of learning and the world of public affairs." Dr. RIPLEY. Also, we have recently issued a publication which actually lists comprehensively our subdivisions within the Smithsonian, and I would appreciate it very much if this could be incorporated in the record. Mr. THOMPSON. It will be so incorporated. (The publication follows:) |