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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington, D.C. 20560 U.S.A. UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS FREER GALLERY OF ART CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY March 31, 1965 Mr. Lawrence A. Fleischman, President Detroit Institute of Arts 19655 Grand River Avenue Detroit 23, Michigan Dear Mr. Fleischman: On behalf of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, I should like to invite you to attend the Bicentennial Celebration of the birth of James Smithson, in Washington, on September 17 and 18 of this year. James Smithson's bequest of his fortune to the United States for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge among men" made possible the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution and the development of its programs of research and interpretation in science, history and the arts. We are planning an outstanding program of addresses, papers and discussions which will consider areas of knowledge pertinent to man's understanding of himself and of his environment and culture. The Chief Justice of the United States, as Chancellor of the Smithsonian Institution, will participate in the ceremonies, and hopefully both the President and Vice-President will speak. A detailed program will be sent to you at a later date. Since the dates of this observance have been established, however, I hasten to inform you of them in the hope that we may be honored with your presence at an event which we believe will make a major contribution to the intellectual and cultural life of our society. Sincerely yours, [[signature]] S. Dillon Ripley Secretary