Smithsonian Institution, Board of Regents, Minutes, 1852

Summary

Present: Roger B. Taney, Walter Lenox, James M. Mason, James A. Pearce, Graham N. Fitch, Alexander Dallas Bache, Richard Rush, Joseph G. Totten. Also present: Joseph Henry. The members not present were William F. Colcock, James Meacham, Rufus Choate, Gideon Hawley, and William C. Preston.
The report of the Executive Committee was presented by the committee's chairmen, Mr. Bache. The report of the Building Committee was presented by the committee's chairmen, Mr. Lenox. Both reports were approved. The annual report of the Secretary was presented. "Copies of the memoirs and reports published" by the Institution during the previous year were presented for "inspection of the Board." A letter from Gilbert Cameron, the building's contractor, was presented asking for "an advance of money from the fund withheld as security for the proper performance of his contract." A letter from James Renwick, Jr., the building's architect, approving this payment, was also presented. The board then resolved that the chancellor fill the places in the Building Committee held by Jefferson Davis and Henry W. Hilliard, after which the chancellor appointed Richard Rush and Graham N. Fitch.
The board also resolved that the Secretary be added as a member of the Building Committee. The letters of Renwick and Cameron were referred to the Building Committee who was assigned to report on them at the next meeting. The board then adjourned to meet Saturday the 24th at 11:00 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

Number of pages: 2; Page numbers: 75-76