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The Genesis of the United States National Museum

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The Genesis of the United States National Museum THE GENESIS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM GEORGE BROWN GOODE, Assistaiil Secretary, Siiii/Iisoiiiaii /nsti/ii/ioii , in cliarge of the 17. S. A'utioiial iMuxeum. «3 ' IIIE GENESIS OF THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEl'M By George Brown Goode, Assistant Secretary, Sinithsonian Institution , in charge of the U. S. National Museum. When, in 1826, James Sniithson bequeathed his estate to the United ' States of America ' to found at Washington , under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an estabhshment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," he placed at the disposal of our nation two valuable collections—one of books and one of minerals. In the schedule of Sniithson' s personal effects, as brought to America in 1838, occurs the following entry : Two large boxes filled with specimens of minerals and manuscript treatises, apparently in the testator's handwriting, on various philosophical subjects, particu- larly chemistry and mineralogy. Eight cases and one trunk filled with the like. This collection and the books and pamphlets mentioned in the same schedule formed the beginnings, respecti\-ely, of the Smithsonian library and the Smithsonian museum. The minerals constituted, so far as the writer has l)een able to learn, the first scientific cabinet owned by the Government of the United States. Their destruction in the Smithsonian fire of 1865 was a serious loss. Our only knowledge of their character is derived from the report of a comniittee of the National Institution, which in 1841 reported upon it as follows : Among the effects of the late ]Mr. Sniithson, is a Cabinet which, so far as it has been examined, proves to consist of a choice and beautiful collection of Minerals, comprising, probably, eight or ten thousand specimens. The specimens, though generally small, are extremely perfect, and constitute a very complete Geological • and Mineralogical series embracing the finest varieties of crystallization ; rendered more valuable by accompanying figures and descriptions by Mr. Smithson, and in 'Proceedings of the National Institution, July, 1841, 2d Bull., p. 95. Francis Markoe, jr., secretary of the National Institution, in a letter written to the Amer- ican Philosophical Society in 1841, described as a part of this cabinet "a superb collection, and very large, of precious stones and exquLsite crystallized minerals . decidedly the richest and rarest collection ill the country." For a catalogue in general terms see Alfred Hunter, Popular Catalogue of the Extraordinary Curiosities in the National Institute, etc., published in 1855, and William J. Rhees, Account of the Smithsonian Institution, etc., 1859. 85 86 Memorial of George Brozvn Goode. his own hand-writing. The cabinet also contains a valuable suite of meteoric stones, which appear to be specimens of most of the meteorites which have fallen in Europe during several centuries. This report was made in July, 1841, at the time when, by order of the Secretary of the United States Treasury, the minerals, books, manu- scripts, and other articles forming part of the Smithson bequest, were deposited in the custody of the National Institution, where they remained until 1858. A room had been planned for their reception in the Smithsonian edi- fice, which was to be made fireproof,' but if this was ever constructed it was not occupied, and the collections having been displayed for some years in the Regents' room, were destroyed by fire January 24, 1865. The National Institution was for nearly eighteen years the official custodian of these and other museum materials belonging to the nation. This organization, ten years before the Smithsonian Institution was pre- pared to receive any collections whatever, fourteen years before its build- ings were ready for the exhibition of museum objects, and in after years, until its charter expired by limitation in 1862, held many objects whose proper place was in the National Museum. Indeed, the retention of many historical objects in the Patent Office hall until 1883, was an evi- dence of a lingering uncertainty as to the proper location of responsibility for the care of the national collections. In order to understand the genesis of the National Museum of the United States, it seems necessary to examine the history of this society, at one time so enterprising and influential. The National Institution for the Promotion of Science, organized in Washington, May 15, 1840, was for some years the most prominent exponent of the idea of a national museum.'' The establishment of this society was doubtless to a very great degree due to the stimulating and inspiring effects upon public opinion of the Smithson bequest. The germs of the idea which it represented seem, however, to have been existing in Washington at a much earlier period, for in 18 16, or before, a similar societ}^ had been organized in the capital under the name of The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences.^ The Columbian Institute received on May 20, i8i8, a charter from Congress which expired in 1838, after which its members "were invited ' Report of the building committee to December i, 1847, in Report of the Board of Regents, January 6, 1848, Thirtieth Congress, first session, Mis. Doc. 23, p. 8. ^ The National Institution was organized at the seat of Government on the 15th of May, 1840, by the adoption of a Constitution and the declaration of the objects of the Institution; which are to promote Science and the Useful Arts, and to establish a National Museum of Natural History, etc. —Proceedings of the National Insti- tution, 1841, 1st Bull., p. 3. 3 Before 1816 an organization known as The Metropolitan Society was in existence in Washington, and the Columbian Institute was an outgrowth of it or replaced it. The United States Military Philosophical Society met in Washington and New York as early as 1805. Report of U. 1 II. S. National Museum, 897. Part Plate 6. Spencer Fullerton Baird. The Genesis of fJic United States National Museiini. 87 to become members of the National Institution, and to deposit in its ' ' Cabinet their effects, books, and papers. ' This invitation was accepted July 17, i84i,"in a letter from Asbury Dickins, secretary, and althout^h no record of any transfer is to be found in the Bulletin of the National Institution, I have before me a letter from Messrs. John J. Abert, A. O. Dayton, and F. A. Markoe, com- mittee of that society, addressed to the vSecretaries of the War and Navy Departments, January i, 1842, in which, among the other collections in their custody, they mention "the books, minerals, and works of art belonging to the late Columbian Institute," and also the " books, papers, and proceedings of the late American Historical Societ}'," an organiza- tion to which also the National Institution stood in the position of an heir. To Doctor Edward Cutbush is due the preservation of the only state- ment extant of the objects of the Columbian Institute, embodied ap- parently in its constitution, and quoted as follows in his address as its president, delivered January 11, 18 17, in Congress Hall, Washington:^ To collect, cultivate, and distribute the various vegetable productions of this and other countries, whether medicinal or esculent, or for the promotion of arts and manfactures. To collect and examine the various mineral productions and natm-al curiosities of the United States, and to give pul^licity to every discovery that the institute may have been enabled to make. To obtain information respecting the mineral waters of the United States, their locality, analysis, and utility, together with such topographical remarks as may aid valetudinarians. To invite communications on agricultural sul)jects, on the management of stock, their diseases, and the remedies. To form a topographical and statistical hi.story of the different districts of the United States, noticing particularly the number and extent of .streams, how far navi- gable, the agricultural products, the imports and exports, the value of lands, the climate, the state of the thermometer and barometer, the disea.ses which prevail in the different seasons, the state of the arts and manufactures, and any other informa- tion which may be deemed of general utilit}'. To publish annually, or whenever the Institution shall have become possessed of a sufficient stock of important information, such communications as may be of public utility, and to give the earliest information in the public papers of all discoveries that may have been made b}- or communicated to the Institute. ' Proceedings of the National Institution, July 12, 1841, 2d Bull., p. 94. ^Idem., p. 113. 3 address | delivered before the Columbian Institute, Cutbush, | for Edward. An | Arts Sciences, at the City of Washington, on the the Promotion of and | | nth Janu- Cutbush, D., of the ary, 1S17. By Edward M. | Hon. Member Philadelphia I I Medical and Chemical Societies j Corresponding Member of the Linntean Society ; In,stitute. | President of the | Published by the request of Philadelphia j and ; | Washington. Printed by Institute, | Gales Seaton. | Six of the Columbian & | parts 181 7. Svo., pp. 1-29. I A copy of this rare pamphlet is in the library of the Surgeon-General's Office, as well as a nearly complete series of the publications of the two brothers Cutbush. ' ' 88 Memorial of George Brozvii Goode. A remark significant in this connection may be found in a letter written by Edward Cutbush, M, D. , dated Geneva, New York, January 20, 1842, accepting his election to corresponding membership in the National ' Institution. After thanking the institution ' for this memento of their friendship and recognition of past services in the cause which has been ' ' so honorably revived at the seat of Government, ' he continued thus: ' I most sincerely hope that all the objects which engaged the attention of Thomas Law, Esq.,^ and myself, in 1816, in establishing the Columbian Institute will 7iow meet the approbation and support of the Government, and of the scientific men of the District of Columbia.
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