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[[underlined]] The Order of James Smithson [[/underlined]]

Mr. Griffin recalled that at the May 9, 1983 meeting of the Board of Regents, he introduced the idea of establishing a special Order to recognize and encourage extraordinarily important contributions to the work of the Smithsonian Institution.

Inspired by the splendid gifts of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler and Mrs. Enid A. Haupt, the Order of James Smithson would of necessity be conferred upon a relatively small number of individuals over time. The Order, would, therefore, transcend the existing Founder Medal of the James Smithson Society, which will remain available for a broader range of significant yet comparatively less magnificent services to the Institution.

Nominees for the Order of James Smithson will be proposed to the Secretary by the National Board of the Smithsonian Associates. With the approval of the Board of Regents, recipients will be officially notified by the Secretary of their election, and their formal investiture will take place at the dinner before the next appropriate Board of Regents' meeting. 

Each member of the Order of James Smithson will become a Life Member of the James Smithson Society, and his or her presence at Smithson Society annual banquets will be recognized by the Chancellor and/or the Secretary.

Designs for the Order's Medal, both for men and for women, together with a miniature and a rosette, have been prepared and received unanimous acclaim at the Spring Meeting of the National Board of the Smithsonian Associated last April in Chicago.