THE SMITHSONIAN ~ ORCH

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON, D. C. NO. 17 (NEW SERIES), JUNE 1966

HIRSH HORN ART COLLECTION ARTIST IN RESIDENCE TO BE UNDER SMITHSONIAN CHOSEN FOR SMITHSONIAN ADMINISTRATION Saul Steinberg has been chosen to be the Joseph H . Hirshhorn and Mrs. Hirshhorn first occupant in a new position established were the luncheon guests of Mrs. Lyndon at the Smithsonian, artist in residence. Mr. Johnson at the Museum of History and Steinberg, the brilliant New York painter Technology on May 17. Later, it was and cartoonist, is often characterized as officially announced that the United States, being as "delightful, charming, and in­ with the Smithsonian Institution as admin­ teresting" as his provocative cartoons and istrator, has acquired the Hirshhorn water colors. A friend once remarked: famed art collection. Included are 5,600 " Steinberg enjoys talking about his work paintings, drawings, and sculptures repre­ and is not at all loath to explain what he senting one of the largest private art col­ means to say." lections in the world . The present-day Mrs. S. Dillon Ripley, Mr. Joseph H . Hirsh­ " Within an informal framework, the value has been estimated at $25 million to horn, Mrs. Hirshhorn, and Sec. Ripley. $50 million. artist in residence would be available for talks, avail himself to the staff and the The collection will be housed in a new people who drop in on him, and, hope­ museum with an outdoor sculpture garden SPENCER BAIRD'S BIRTHPLACE fully, would show his own works while which will be built on the Mall site of the REDEDICATED IN READING, PA . here," said Charles Blitzer, Director of Medical Muse um of the Armed Forces Education and Training. The tenure of Institute of Pathology. Abram Lerner, Paul H. Oehser, Research Associate, rep­ the position will be one year, as is that of the present curator of the Hirshhorn col­ resented the Smithsonian on April 30 at the Library of Congress consultant in lection, will become the first director of ceremonies held in Reading, Pa., rededi­ poetry. The artist will have an office in the new structure to be named the Joseph cating a plaque marking the birthplace of the National Collection of Fine Arts but H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Gar­ Spencer Fullerton Baird, second Smith­ will be free to allocate his talents as he den . The bill forwarded to Congress by sonian Secretary. The house where Baird sees fit. This position also further estab­ President Johnson authorizing construc­ was born in 1823 , in downtown Reading, lishes one of Secretary Ripley's goals of a tion of this museum provides for a special has been torn down, and on its site a lively university atmosphere within the Board of Trustees, four to be nominated modern bank building was recently erected. Smithsonian complex. by Mr. Hirshhorn and four by the Smith­ Through the good offices of members of Mr. Steinberg has been generally ele­ sonian Board of Regents. The Chief J us­ the Historical Society of Berks County, vated by the critics to lofty heights. Re­ tice and the Secretary of the Smithsonian the plaque was rescued and now occupies cently the London Times rated him as one will be ex officio members. a prominent place on the new building. of the greatest draftsmen of all time. In addition to the collection, Mr. Hirsh­ Mr. Oehser spoke briefly at the unveiling The artist is a Rumanian-born naturalized horn is also giving a million-dollar endow­ and also gave a talk on Spencer F. Baird American citizen with a unique back­ ment for the purchase of works of con­ at a luncheon held at the headquarters ground including studies in sociology, temporary art. and museum of the Society. The Museum has on display an exhibit of Baird mem­ psychology, and architecture at Milan; The collection contains probably the orabilia and an exhibit of recent Smithso­ service in the U. S. Navy instructing Chi­ world's largest single assembly of Amer­ nian publications in history and technology. nese guerrillas in blowing up bridges and ican art, with examples ranging from transporting explosives and later with the Thomas Eakins of the mid-19th century Office of Strategic Services in Africa. to Willem de Kooning, the great con­ At the present time M r. Steinberg is in temporary abstractionist. Works of the Europe, where an exhibition of his work 1930's by such artists of later prominence is running in Paris. His first tour of duty as Milton Avery, Franz Kline, Ben Shahn, with the Smithsonian will begin next Philip Evergood, and Stuart Davis are January. included. The sculpture collection is international EWERS GIVEN HONORAR Y in scope, encom'passing the Hittite culture, DEGREE BY U. OF MONTANA Greece's Golden Age, and late 19th- and early 20th-century masters. The contem­ John C . Ewers, Senior Scientist, Smith­ porary collection includes such greats as sonian Office of Anthropology, received Jacques Lipchitz, Marino Marini, Henry an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws Moore, Picasso, and Giacometti. (LL.D.) on June 5 at the University of Secretary Ripley said of the collection in Smithsonian Regents st udy the model of the Montana commencement exercises at new Air and Space Muse um at the recent regard to making Washington the number dinner when Dr. Robert Multhauf and Dr. Missoula, Mont. The sponsoring depart­ two art center in the country: "We are big Richard S. Cowan were sworn in as Di­ ments of the University were the Depart­ enough now to be able to have Washing­ rectors of the Muse um of History and Tech­ ment of Sociology, Anthropology, and So­ ton as a foil to New York. This is what nology and the Museum of Natural History, cial Welfare, and the Department of His­ is so very exciting about this gift." respecti vely. tory within the College of Arts and Sciences. TEN-YEAR PROJECT BY SAO ESTABLISHES THE SMITHSONIAN TORCH "STANDARD EARTH" SAO has completed a ten-year program to establish a "Standard Earth," one of the most precise representations of the AN EMPLOYEES' NEWSPAPER, PUBLISHED MONTHLY earth's geometric figure and gravitational EDITORIAL BOARD: S. PAUL JOHNSTON, PAUL H. OEHSER, WILLIAM WARNER potential ever made. EDITOR: ELIZABETH BEVERLEY PHOTOS: ALBERT J. ROBINSON The Smithsonian " Standard Earth" es­ timates intercontinental distances to an accuracy of less than 50 feet, as compared SMITHSONIAN REGENT HAMARNEH RECEIVES AWARD to previous errors of hundreds of feet. FROM AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF This milestone in geodetic research, based THE HISTORY OF PHARMACY on more than 40,000 observations of ar­ tificial satellites, was announced at the Sami K. Hamarneh, Curator, D ivision of Seventh Annual International Space Medical Sciences, has received the Edward Sciences Symposi um (May 11-17) at Kremers Award for distinguished pharmaco­ Vienna, Austria. Five scientists presented historical writing by an American at the individual papers describing different as­ American Institute of the History of Phar­ pects of the " Standard Earth" in detail. macy's 25th anni versary luncheon at the Three papers were presented by Smith­ annual mee ting of the American Pharma­ sonian Observatory scientists-Dr. F . L. ceutical Association at Dallas, Tex. The Whipple, Dr. Walter Kohnlein, and E . M. award was made " for hi s meticulous Gaposchkin, and two were presented by scholarship and important revisionary in­ men close ly associated with the Observa­ terpretations concerning the hi story of tory-Dr. George Veis of the National pharmacy in Islamic culture," specifically, Technical University, Athens, Greece, and as stated by the American Institute of the Dr. William E. Strange of the University of Hawaii. History of Pharmacy's Committee, for his publication "The Rise of Professional The "Standard Earth" will provide ref­ Pharmacy in Islam," in M edical History erence data for future investigations of 1962 and hi s steadily growing contribution distances between points on the surface to the history of pharmacy in the form of of the earth and determinations of small numerous bibliographical and historical irregularities in the earth's gravitational George Herman Mahon, member of the articles of high merit relating to Islamic field. Speaking for the Smithsonian staff, Smithsonian Board of Regents, was born pharmacy, including his book (with Glenn Dr. Whipple said: "This milestone in on September 22, 1900, in Mahon, La. Sonnedecker as co-author) A Pharmaceu­ satellite tracking and analysis culminates The family of eight children moved to tical View of A bulcasis A /-Zahrawi in a decade of world-wide scientific coopera­ Loraine in Western Texas in 1908 . He was Moorish Spain (Leiden, 1963). tion which has produced gratifying results. The potential of artificial satellites as reared on a cotton farm and has been Dr. Hamarneh is an American, born in engaged in farming all his life. He attend­ powerful and penetrating tools for geo­ Jordan, and earned his B.S. degree in physical research is now generally recog­ ed a rural school and graduated from pharmacy in Jordan. He subsequently re­ nized. The next decade will see them Loraine High School, where he met his ceived his M.S. degree from the School integrated completely with earthbound wife. In 1924 he received a B. A. degree of Pharmacy at North Dakota Agricul­ methodology to produce even more strik­ from Simmons College, now Hardin­ tural College, and his Ph.D. (with a joint ing progress in understanding our earth Simmons University, Abilene, Tex., and in major in history of pharmacy and the and its past." 1925 he received a law degree from the history of science) at the University of University of Texas Law School. Wisconsin. He joined the Smithsonian The following papers were also pre­ In 1925 Mr. Mahon began the practice Institution in 1959 . sented by members of the SAO staff at of law in Colorado City, Tex. A year later this Seventh Annual International Space he was appointed District Attorney and Sciences Symposium: "An Inorganic Model was subsequently elected to that office of Martian Phenomena," Drs. Carl Sagan three times. He was elected as U. S. and James B. Pollack; "The Shape and Lo­ Representative from the 19th Congression­ cation of the Diurnal Bulge in the Upper al District of Texas in 1934. He has been Atmosphere," Dr. L. G. Jacchia and J. re-elected at two-year intervals since that Slowey; "Satellite Range Measurements time. with a Laser at an Astrophysical Observa­ In 1939 Congressman Mahon became a tory," C. G . Lehr, L. A. Maestre, and member of the House Appropriations P. H. Anderson; "On the Nature of Committee. He was elected to the position Clouds and the Origin of Surface Tem­ of Chairman of the Committee on Appro­ perature of Venus," Drs. Carl Sagan priations on May 18 , 1964. and James B. Pollack. He has received honorary degrees from Wayensburg College, Pa., Wayland Bap­ tist College, Plainview, Tex.; Texas Tech­ nological College, Lubbock, Tex.; Hardin­ DEPUTY CONTRA CTS Simmons University, Abilene, Tex.; and COMPLIANCE OFFICER Pepperdine College, Los Angeles. In 1963 APPOINTED he was presented with the Congressional Distinguished Service Award of the Amer­ James M . Murphy, BMD, has been desig­ ican Political Science Association. nated as Deputy Contracts Compliance He and his wife have two married Officer, where he will assist Dr. T. W. Col. John Glenn pays his first VISIt as a daughters and three grandchildren. When member of the National Advisory Board to Taylor in seeking compliance with the Congress is not in session, the Mahons the National Air Museum. Left to right: provisions of the Executive Order pertain­ live in Lubbock, Tex . While in Washing­ Frederick Durant, Asst. Dir., NAM; James ing to nondiscrimination in employment ton, they live in an apartment in Arlington, Bradley, Asst. Sec. ; Col. Glenn; and S. by Government contractors and subcon­ Va. Paul Johnston, Dir., NAM. tractors.

2 MEGGERS' BOOK ON EC UA DOR J UST OFF PR ESS

Betty J . Meggers' book Ecuador was pub­ li shed on May 23 by Praeger in the" An­ cien t Peoples and Places" se ries . It will be sold from the Smithsonian shop desks and will cost, as all books in this se ries, $7.50. D r. Meggers and her h usband, D r. Clifford Evans, left on June 3 for Brazil where they will sy nchronize the fie ld st udies of nine Brazilian archeologists just com­ pleting their first year of field work under the grant given to Meggers and Evans by the Smithsonian for work in Brazilian archeology. The visit of the two Smith­ sonian researchers will help to keep the Brazilian group working in the same par­ all el manner, so that at the close of the project they will have aimed for the same goal.

Anders Richter, Director of the Smithsonian The Society of Associates was treated to Press, reported for duty May 2. He is di­ some cartoon chalk-talk capers by Milton Sum mer is coming, and so are vacations. Here is a reminder to those holding park­ recting the wide-ranging editorial and pub­ Caniff, creator of Col. Steve Canyon, who is li shing activi ti es of the Sm ith so ni an Institu­ seen above with hi s original character. ing permits. It is requested you advise tio n. The former Ed ito ri al and Publications M rs. Pflieger, extension 5258, when you Divisio n has been re named th e Smithsonian plan to ta ke leave in order that your Press. parking space may be assigned to the next MUSEUM SER VICE HAS NEW person o n the pending point li st fo r that ACTING DIRECTOR period of time. Your cooperation will be PHILADELPHIA VICTORIA N appreciated in complying with this regula­ MA NSION LIBRAR Y M eredith Johnson has become Acting Di­ tion so that others may have the privi lege REMOVED TO SMITHSONIA N rector of the Smithsonian Museum Service of using your space while you are away. with responsibility for special eve nts, visi­ A room from a Philadelphia Victorian tor se rvices, orientation programs, and ma nsion has been reconstructed in the arranging for Smithsonian social activities. DIRECTOR OF u.s. NATIONAL Museum of History and Technology. It is MUSEUM MOVES OFFICE the library of the Benjamin B. Comegys mansion, built about 1870 and demolished SOCIETY OF ASSOCIATES GAINS Frank A . Taylor, Director of the United in 1959. Before demolition, the library was ACTING EXECUTIVE SECRETARY States National Muse um , now has offic e~ removed piece by piece by the Smithso­ located on the East Gallery of the A & 1 nian, which regards it " as one of the most authentic period rooms in any museum." G . Carroll Lindsay has become the Acting Bldg., Rooms 56 and 57. His extension C. Malcolm Watkins, Curator of Cultural Executive Secretary of the Smithsonian is 5452. History, said that the library symbolized Society of Associates. He will continue to " the literary orientation of the well-read plan and develop this important program 19th-century gentleman." founded to stim ulate interest and active PERSONNEL INTERESTED IN participation in the Smithsonian's work RIFLE TEAM among the millions of people who visit the Institution and others in this country All personnel interested in JOIllJng the ZOO ACQUIRES FOSSA and abroad. Mr. Lindsay continues to Smithsonian small-bore 22 cal. or 30 cal. retain supervision over the Smithsonian's rifle team, call Joseph M . Young, ext. The National Zoo now has one of the Museum Shops. His new telephone exten­ 5502 . Leave name and extension number. rarest of captive animals, a fo ssa, which sionsare 5156 and 5157. looks like a long-tailed cat. It is described, however, as a "large, brown, unstriped carnivorous mammal of Madagascar which has the form of a huge weasel (twice the ZOO MA Y HAVE PART OF size of a house cat), and like a weasel BELMONT FARM PROPERTY is lithe, active and bloodthirsty." Fossas, about three feet long with tails as long as The 340-acre Belmont Farm property near their bodies, li ve in the wild only on the Baltimore, recently acq uired by the Smith­ island of Madagascar. Because they raid sonian, is being deve loped as a conference henhouses and even carry off small goats center. The National Zoo, however, has they are not particularl y popular. been granted permission to use part of Nevertheless, zoos have not found it a this property- the two barns and a large simple matter to obtain fo ssas for their part of the pastures and woodlands-as collections. The National Zoo had one a re search and experiment station. They from 1954 until its death in 1962. Early will es tablish herds of about six species in the century a few we re found in the of hoofed animals. A house is available London, Paris, and Bronx zoos, but none for a resident farm manager. Estimates has been seen recently. have been prepared of the costs of fencing, The National Zoo's new acquisition Lodge 2463, Federation of Government Em­ water supply, barn repairs, and other im­ ployees, is shown purchasing a $500 bond (a male) is credited to John Eisenberg, provements. The Zoo is seeking a founda­ as th e rirst co ntribution in the new bond a new resident scientist who is winding tion grant to support it and, if received , dri ve at th e Smithsonian. Albert Robinson, up a study mission to Madagascar. While will take only a few months to arrange president, is showing the bond to James there he obtained from the government the the animals on the land . Bradley, Asst. Sec. fossa now on ex hibit at the Zoo.

3 .----- FOCUS : HOWARD I. CHAPELLE AND THE SANTA MARIA

the Santa Maria was being built at Bar­ celona at Mr. Hidalgo's model studio in the old arsenal, the model now on exhibi­ 1 tion in MHT was constructed with the very same plans (scale, 1/ 40 original size) . Jose Maria Martinez-Hidalgo y Teran, Curator of the Maritime Museum of Bar­ celona, Spain, was the naval architect for the Santa Maria. After nine years of re­ search in the museums and Naval archives of the world, Sr. Martinez-Hidalgo com­ pleted his plans. With Mr. Chapelle's help, a ship was constructed which was qualified to sail the Ocean and Seven Seas. Over-all, this 110 ton vessel is 80 feet in length, with a 25-foot beam. Her main mast is Model of Santa Maria in Museum of 80 feet tall. History and Technology. In the hold of the Santa Maria are 12 The Martin Behaim Globe of 1492. This dioramas depicting the events of Christo­ replica of the Behaim Globe, soon to be on pher Columbus's first voyage and return. exhibit in MHT, affords an idea of how Co­ The Smithsonian's employees can be per­ lumbus pictured the relation of Europe and sonally interested in the Santa Maria, These dioramas were specifically con­ Asia. The large isla nd in the lower left quad­ docked at Pier 3, Maine Avenue, South­ structed by the Scenic Department of the rant is Columbus's Xipangu (Japan). Spain is west, for one of their own employees, Barcelona Opera House under the direc­ clearly visible in the upper right quadrant. Howard 1. Chapelle, Curator in Charge, tion of Senor Cabanes, an outstanding It was while at Cuba that Columbus was Division of Transportation, Department Spanish artist. They are valued at over convinced he had reached Xipangu and that of Science and Technology, served as con­ $100,000 for they are the only three­ the Asia of the Khans was close at hand. sultant to Laurence H. M. Vineburgh, dimensional dioramas ever constructed de­ the ship's owner, on the design and con­ picting 12 historic events in the life of The 17th Cristobal Colon, Duque of struction of this ship. Columbus. Veragua, Admiral of the Indies, is alive Mr. Chapelle is one of the world's out­ The Santa Maria is outfitted in com­ today. He is an officer in the Spanish standing authorities on the history of plete detail and was built with 15th­ Navy and has inherited all the titles naval architecture. The present Santa Ma­ century tools and by 15th-century methods. granted his great ancestor by Ferdinand ria is the latest in a series of reconstruc­ Her sails were woven on 15th-century and Isabella. He is still called the Admiral tions. It incorporates the results of the looms and her iron wrought on a forge of the Indies. most recent research in Renaissance naval that had been in continuous use for over Columbus opened the New World ofthe architecture. Mr. Chapelle made four of­ 500 years. Western Hemisphere, the Unknown of ficial trips to Spain before the launching And now that a small taste of the edu­ that day. He was indeed the "Space of the Santa Maria in 1963. The ship at cational and cultural items for the ship Man" of 1492. The Smithsonian is grate­ the pier on Maine Avenue is acclaimed for which Mr. Chapelle did his research ful to Mr. Chapelle for his part in recre­ as the most satisfactory representation of has been given, here are a few reminders ating the Christopher Columbus Santa Columbus's original flagship which dis­ of facts concerning the historical captain Maria "Space" Ship of 1492 as a cultural, covered America in 1492. Into it went the of the Santa Maria's crew. Christopher educational, and historical display. finest of ed ucated reconstruction based on Columbus was born in Genoa in the year exhaustive research. 1451. He worked, as a young man, with The Smithsonian today has on exhibit his family who were weavers and wool a model of the Santa Maria in the section carders. In 1477 he was shipwrecked off of marine transportation in MHT. A~ the coast of Portugal. He swam ashore and arrived in Lisbon where he apprenticed himself as a map maker. Columbus's first voyage, financed partially by the Spanish court and given royal support, sailed on August 3, 1492, from Palos, Spain, to the Canary Islands and then due west to the Indies. His destination was Japan. Thirty­ three days later the island now known as Watling Island (San Salvador) was sighted. The winds had been favorable throughout the journey. There were no storms, and the voyage was completed with virtually no difficulties. Columbus made three other voyages to the New World, the last on May 11 , 1502, with four ships and 140 men. Accompanied by his son, Ferdinand, and his brother, Bartolome, they returned to Spain in No­ vember 1504 after exploring the coasts of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Looking toward the bow of the Santa Maria . The decks were used for the crew of 40 to Two years later Columbus died at the sleep at night. Pig iron dipped in hot tar Figures at the Rudder Tiller. Above on the age of 55, broken in spirit and out of provided ballast. right can be see n a bird cage. Sailors of the favor with the court, and never to know 15th century were known to have birds for he had discovered the American Con­ pets. tinent.

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