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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 1418

RESOLUTIONS ON DEATH OF REGENT OWEN JOSEPHUS ROBERTS

The Secretary offered the following resolutions to be recorded in the minutes: 

RESOLVED: That since the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution has learned with deep sorrow of the announcement of the death on May 17, 1955 of the Honorable Owen Josephus Roberts, Regent of the Institution since July 23, 1953:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That in Justice Roberts's death the country has lost one of its outstanding citizens and the Smithsonian Institution a distinguished Regent. Justice Roberts was born in Philadelphia on May 2, 1875. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, held honorary degrees from many institutions including Oxford University. He served with distinction as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1930 to 1945. He was Dean of the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania from 1948 to 1951. From 1952 until his death he was President of the American Philosophical Society, our Nation's oldest learned society. Through his work as a Smithsonian Regent, Justice Roberts cemented ever more closely the association between the Institution and the American Philosophical Society, founded by Benjamin Franklin. Through the years these two organizations have cooperated in many ways in carrying on basic work in support of the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. As a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents he succeeded the Honorable Roland S. Morris who at the time of his death was also serving as President of the American Philosophical Society. Even in the relatively brief period of his service on this Board, Justice Roberts demonstrated deep interest and enthusiasm for the work of the Smithsonian. He gave especial help to the Institution in its search for additional funds to be used in the furtherance of fundamental scientific research: 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That these resolutions be entered in the minutes of the Board; That a copy be sent to Mrs. Roberts with an expression of the personal sense of loss felt by the Regents at the death of Justice Roberts. 

On motion, the above resolutions were adopted. The members of the Board of Regents stood in silent tribute in voting these resolutions. 

RESIGNATION OF REGENT VANNEVAR BUSH

Mr. Fleming announced that the resignation of Dr. Vannevar Bush had been received. The Secretary explained that Dr. Bush was resigning from his commitments in Washington and that in spite of all efforts to have him reconsider his resignation Dr. Bush had persisted in insisting that his decision was final. The following resolutions were offered: