Smithsonian Institution, Board of Regents, Minutes, 1854

Summary

Present: Roger B. Taney, John W. Maury, James A. Pearce, Stephen A. Douglas, James C. Meacham, Alexander Dallas Bache, and Gideon Hawley. Also present: Joseph Henry. The members not present were James M. Mason, William H. English, David Stuart, Joseph G. Totten, Rufus Choate, Richard Rush, and John M. Berrien.
A special meeting of the Board of Regents called by the Secretary at the request of Messrs. Meacham, English, and Stuart. Mr. Pearce, on behalf of the the Executive Committee presented an estimate of appropriations for the year 1854. The Executive Committee did not recommend an equal distribution between the "active operations" and the museum and library construction because the compromise resolutions of 1847 that required this did not go into effect until after the completion of the building. This report was laid on the table. The Secretary presented a letter to the board by which Messrs. Meacham, English, and Stuart requested this meeting. Mr. Meacham stated the reasons why he had requested the special meeting. Mr. Pearce stated the subject brought before the board by Mr. Meacham was under consideration by a special committee which would report at the next meeting. The subject was postponed till the next meeting of the board. The board the adjourned to meet on Saturday, May 13, at 10:00 am.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 1, Board of Regents Vol. 1 (Bound volume)

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Board of Regents

Number of pages: 2; Page Numbers: 99-100