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commented that few people would be aware of the great diversity and huge volume of what goes on at the Institution. It is unrealistic, he suggested, for central management to be able to be fully informed about every one of these activities.

AFRICAN AMERICAN INSTITUTIONAL STUDY: AN ANALYSIS OF COLLECTIONS

Mr. Adams reminded the Regents that at their meeting of May 6, 1991, they approved in principle the establishment of a National African-American Museum within the Smithsonian, to be housed in the Arts and Industries Building, and called for a study during the summer, which Claudine Brown has undertaken, of what the potential is for forming a national collection in this area. In the Secretary's view, the study was remarkably rewarding and successful in discovering a genuine possibility of quickly bringing a major collection forward. How fast the Smithsonian moves forward with this in a time of severe fiscal constraints is a matter that really rests upon interactions with the Office of Management and Budget, the Congress, and other concerned constituencies. Nonetheless, thanks to Ms. Brown's efforts, the question of whether a potential exists to form collections has been answered with a resounding affirmative.

Ms. Brown commented that she was able to identify some 15,000 objects that were available and a good number of potential donors, including at least four collectors who each had in excess of 1,000 objects. But it has also been encouraging to receive calls and letters from the general public as well as other museums that have African-American collections that have not been on view because they are often not necessarily a part of their mandate. Because this is a Smithsonian endeavor they feel comfortable about long-term loans and the possibility of key accessions.