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Smithsonian Institution 1290

The memorandum from Mrs. Powel was considered by the Executive Committee at a meeting on December 29 last. The Executive Committee has recommended to the Board of Regents that the request be refused for the following reasons:

1. The materials are national property, acquired through purchase by government funds, and are the most important part of our collections relating to George and Martha Washington.

2. The articles may be viewed in their present location freely, without charge, and in a place easily accessible to all visitors to the City of Washington, whereas at Mount Vernon there is a fee for entrance and the materials there are available only after a special journey for which many may not have time or money.

It was regularly moved and seconded that the recommendation made by the Executive Committee be approved. The Secretary was instructed to notify Mrs. Powel of this action.

THE GELLATLY ART COLLECTION

At the Annual Meeting last year, it was reported that on June 18, 1947 attorneys representing Mrs. Charlayne Gellatly had filed action in the District Court of the United States for the District of Columbia, in an attempt to recover the Gellatly collection from the Secretary in his status of a private individual, though acting as custodian under the Smithsonian Institution. Under date of June 17, 1948, Judge J. McGuire rendered a decision that, in the opinion of the Court, there was no merit in Mrs. Gellatly's claims, since it was found that there was a valid gift to the United States by the deceased, John Gellatly, before his death and before his marriage. On July 19, 1948, the attorney for Mrs. Gellatly filed notice of appeal, which is now before the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

A.W