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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION    1512

REPORT OF DR. JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS COMMITTEE ON THE PROPOSED NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Dr. Brown reported that a recent meeting his committee had considered in some detail the problem of organizing a national portrait gallery, but that at the present time he was merely making a report of progress with no recommendation for immediate action. The Secretary pointed out that as Senator Anderson had done so much to secure the passage of legislation transferring the old Patent Office Building to the Smithsonian, and as the Senator had so much interest in this matter, he hoped before any action was taken on the proposed portrait gallery that Senator Anderson could be consulted. There was full discussion, and the fact was emphasized that at present there was no urgency in time about the matter as the Government is still using the Patent Office Building, and as long as this condition obtains the Building will not be transferred to the Institution. It was the consensus that Dr. Brown should consult Senator Anderson in a personal Conference and on the basis of this discussion make a report at a later meeting of the Board.

The Secretary indicated that a report should be made on S. 2975 and offered a suggested letter to Senator Hennings (See Appendix I). On motion by Senator Fulbright, seconded by Dr. Brown, and carried it was: 

VOTED to authorize the Secretary to send the letter (Appendix I) to Senator Thomas C. Hennings, Jr., Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the United States Senate, after clearance by the Bureau of the Budget.

After brief discussion, on motion by Dr. Brown, seconded by Dr. Hunsaker, and carried it was:

VOTED that the Board of Regents authorizes the request to the Bureau of the Budget and to the Congress for planning funds for the renovation of the Old Patent Office Building to make it appropriate to house the National Collection of Fine Arts and national portrait gallery.

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