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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 1507

Zoological Park or to the National Gallery of Art.

The Secretary continued with his report by pointing out that the scientific research of the Smithsonian this year as in recent years is complex and important and is progressing in a satisfactory way.  As has been true each year for over a century, the Institution is now participating in a number of scientific expeditions, almost all of which are financed by individuals or organizations external to the Institution itself.  One especially interesting collecting expedition is at present in the field.  It is the Bredin Expedition to the Caribbean.  This expedition, under purely Smithsonian auspices, is made possible by a generous gift of Mr. J. Bruce Bredin of Wilmington, Delaware.  This is the fifth Bredin Expedition.  As a result of these field trips the Smithsonian now has one of the best collections of the flora and fauna of the Caribbean in the world.  Over 94,000 specimens have been added to the Institution's scientific collections as a result of these expeditions in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959.

Noteworthy progress is being made in research work in the fields of anthropology, in archaeology, botany, geology, zoology, astrophysics, radiation and organisms as well as in other scientific disciplines.

There is a new enthusiasm for scholarly research in the Smithsonian departments dealing with history and technology.  It is hoped that the members of the Board found the recent publication, Contributions from the Museum of History and Technology, an interesting volume.  This book contains original articles dealing with the collections in history and technology of the Smithsonian and sets forth newly presented facts in these fields.  It has been favorably received by scholars throughout the world.

The Secretary mentioned the fact that he had been appointed to the chairmanship of