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of material in the possession of the institution. They include personal relics of the men and women who have made America famous, objects connected with events of historical interest, particularly with the past wars of the United States, and objects representing the development of American science and art along certain lines, including notably large collections of military and civil costumes, coins, medals and stamps. To elaborate this collection to include all available material connected with the present war would be to accomplish the aims outlined in the first part of the present statement. This elaboration could be accomplished by the Museum as in the case of the assembling of the original collections, by and with the aid of the other government departments, notably that of the War and Navy Departments, and by the aid of patriotic societies and individuals who have made large contributions to the historical collections. The newly proposed collected could undoubtedly be made an even greater success should it be feasible to secure even a small sum from Congress for its development.

III

CHARACTER OF THE MATERIAL TO BE ASSEMBLED.

It seems clear that at this time no specific lines can be laid down as to the character of the material to be collected in connection with the present scheme. The scope of the collection will naturally develop as the objects are assembled and in general it would seem that any and all objects bearing upon the history of the war would have a place in the collection. It is equally clear, however, that certain classes of material would form the natural basis of the collection and serve as a nucleus about which other