Smithsonian Institution, Board of Regents, Minutes, 1847

Summary

Present: George M. Dallas, William W. Seaton, William J. Hough, Robert Dale Owen, Henry W. Hilliard, Alexander Dallas Bache, Richard Rush, William C. Preston. Also Present: Joseph Henry. The members not present were Roger B. Taney, James A. Pearce, Lewis Cass, Sidney Breese, Joseph G. Totten, Rufus Choate, and Gideon Hawley.
The board resolved that it being understood that Mr. George Catlin would be returning to the country soon with his collection of Indian paintings, he be requested to "deposit" the collection in one of the Smithsonian's galleries as soon as the building was ready, provided that the Institution not be charged, and the collection would then be arranged for exhibit. The board also resolved that the secretary inform Mr. Catlin of this resolution and a "probable time" when the building would be ready. The secretary presented a memoir from Mr. Alexander Berry on "the atmospheric refraction of light as connected with terrestrial electro-magnetism" to be published in the "Transactions of the Smithsonian Institution." The board then resolved that the chancellor and secretary be authorized to sign the Report of the Proceedings of the Board of Regents to the Senate and the House of Representatives, prepared by the committee charged with that duty. The board then adjourned.

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

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Board of Regents

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