Viewing page 64 of 150

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-62-

Mrs. Boggs stated that the Museum of African Art obviously needed to know the views of the Smithsonian and that we should proceed was expeditiously as possible.  She would hope that this Board could save this remarkable Museum and incorporate it into the Smithsonian because we do lack this particular part of history, art and culture that is so essential not only to this generation but to continuing generations of Americans.

Mr. Mahon said we would want to make sure that the right atmosphere exists in the House and Senate for the acceptance of this project and that we should be certain that the proposal would receive sympathetic consideration.  He did not know what the response would be at this time.  There was a general concurrence in this opinion.

Mr. Higginbotham reiterated that he hoped a satisfactory conclusion could be reached with the Congress and the Museum of African Art but, should not be possible, he wanted to recommend the sense of his footnote (page 58) as a consideration for the future. 

The Board concluded the discussion with the following motion which was approved:

VOTED that the Board of regents expresses its strong continuing interest in acquiring the Museum of African Art and remands to the [[underlined]]ad hoc[[/underlined]] Committee studying this matter under the Chairmanship of Dr. Haskins, authority to continue discussions with the officials of the Museum of African Art and interested Members of Congress which could lead to possible authorizing legislation for this purpose at an appropriate time.