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13.

4. Cataloguing

Soon after the section of Aeronautics separated from the division of Engineering and was established as a separate division, an inventory of aeronautical accessions and catalogued entries was made from the records of the division of Engineering. It was noted that the first entry of an aeronautical object occurred in 1889 when Professor S. P. Langley had purchased from J. F. Stringfellow of Crewkerne, England an engine and framework. This had been used by his father, the renowned James Stringfellow who in 1848 had produced as a continuation of his partnership work with W. S. Henson, a steam-powered model airplane which accomplished the first demonstration of dynamic flight. When this engine had been exhibited by James Stringfellow in 1868 at the First Aeronautical Exposition ever held it was awarded a prize for its outstanding design and efficiency. Dr. Langley obtained the engine primarily in order to study it for features which might be embodied in his own aerodromes. In transferring in to the Museum, Langley 
established a high standard and worthy foundation for the present collection.

Regarding primary date of receipt by the Museum, the oldest aeronautical objects are a group of Chinese kites which were sent by the Chinese Imperial Commission to the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876; but they were originally received by the Museum's division of Ethnology and were not transferred to Aeronautics until 1932.

The inventory shows that a total of 3,579 objects had been acquired at the close of this fiscal year, This figure is subject to a second check which is now in progress. It may be further corrected by a physical inventory of actual specimens, which will be one of the first projects undertaken after the necessary personnel have been added to the division's staff.