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[[underline]]Gifts to the Smithsonian Institution[[/underline]]

Mr. Ripley was pleased to announce the following gifts to the Institution:

[[underline]]GIFT OF MR. WILLIAM A.M. BURDEN[[/underline]]

Mr. William A.M. Burden has very generously donated his valuable collection of ballooning artifacts and books to the National Air and Space Museum.  The collection includes many fine pieces of 18th century French furniture with a balloon motif, as well as many works of 18th century French art, also in the balloon motif.

This balloon furniture and art was displayed in the Balloon Room, a very popular and effective unit of the Ballooning Exhibit, which was on display for two years in the Arts & Industries Building.  It will form an important part of our Balloons and Airships Exhibit planned for the new National Air and Space Museum building.

The books and periodicals donated by Mr. Burden form a major portion of the historical collection of the NASM Library.  The collection includes rare and scarce aeronautica.

[[underline]]Gift from Continental Oil Company[[/underline]]

Negotiations are continuing between the Continental Oil Company (Conoco), the Smithsonian, and the Francis Thompson organization leading to the creation of a twenty-five minute Super 70 mm film for the Theatre in the new National Air and Space Museum.  Conoco will pay Francis Thompson $750,000 to produce the film which will be shown in the Museum from July 4, 1976 and for at least a year thereafter.