Viewing page 6 of 91

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-v-

VOTED that the Board of Regents authorizes the Secretary to negotiate terms of an agreement on conditions set forth above, which agreement may be signed by the Secretary with the approval of the Board.

[[underlined]] Museum Support Center, Inventory, and Collections Management [[/underlined]]

Acknowledging Dr. Gell-Mann's observation that plans have yet to be fully developed for the appropriate emphasis of archeometry, Mr. Ripley informed the Regents that the Museum Support Center was 65% complete on April 22, 1982.  Landscaping began in April with the planting of some trees and the demolition of two remaining block buildings.  Design documents for the "wet" storage equipment are under review and a bid invitation is scheduled for May 5.  Procedures are being developed to facilitate a complex and multi-stage move to the MSC.

The inventory effort continues to make progress through improved techniques for collecting and recording inventory data and additional funds reallocated to those museums facing the most difficult inventory tasks.  The baseline inventory is still targeted for completion by June 1983.

Collections management policies for the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American Art have been approved by the Secretary.  Others are nearing completion.  Major museums are exploring possible deaccessions of extraneous collections to save space and other resources.

[[underlined]] Probate Proceedings of the Estate of Joseph H. Hirshhorn [[/underlined]]

Mr. Hirshhorn made three bequests to the Smithsonian for the use and benefit of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden:  (1) all works of art which he owned at the time of his death--approximately 6,000 works in all, in various locations, now being inventoried; (2) five millions dollars--providing four million dollars remain in the residuary estate; and (3) royalty interest in petroleum products from certain lands in Canada to establish and maintain a separate fund for acquisitions--under Canadian law a tax of 15% of the appraised value [$1,544,000 (Canadian)], or approximately $185,328 in U.S. dollars, is an obligation of the Estate, but will be charged to the Smithsonian legacy upon acceptance of this bequest.  The Trustees of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden will discuss this matter and advise the Board of Regents.

[[underlined]] Honor for the Secretary [[/underlined]]

The Secretary has received the rank of Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau just prior to the visit of the Queen of the Netherlands, in recognition of the work culminating in the Queen's opening of the De Stijl exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden as well as, more generally, the Smithsonian's work over the years.  The Regents offered their approval and congratulations.

[[underlined]] Status Reports [[/underlined]]

The Secretary discussed each of the following status reports which had been distributed in advance of the meeting: