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[[underline]] Award of Smithsonian Medals during the Bicentennial Year [[/underline]]

The Smithsonian Institution awards a number of medals from time to time for distinguished achievement in areas of Institutional interest.

We believe that in commemoration of the Bicentennial of this country it would be entirely appropriate to confer a number of these medals in 1976 to worthy recipients.

The various awards are described on the following pages, which include a list of the previous recipients of each of the medals.

The Executive Committee considered the advisability of presenting an unusual number of medals as proposed, and upon reflection agreed that it would be quite proper to do so during the Bicentennial year without precedent towards succeeding years. It is anticipated that the presentation of these medals will take place at appropriate ceremonies, perhaps at luncheons or dinners during the year or at dinner following Regents meetings, and that the members of the Board of Regents who find it convenient to be present would participate in the programs. It was suggested that a presentation might be made at the Regents dinner to be held on May 10 in the Arts and Industries Building, when the exhibit titled "1876: A Centennial Exhibition" will be previewed for its opening to the public on May 11. A variety of historical events will be staged, such as driving in Grant's carriage, and original objects from the 1876 Philadelphia Fairmount Park Centennial Exhibition will be shown.