A Bill to establish the Smithsonian Institution for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men

Summary

This is a bill for the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution. It establishes a board of managers and states how they are to be appointed. The initial duties of the board are to find a location for the Smithsonian Institution and plan for the erection of the building. The building shall contain a library, space for the display of objects of natural history, plants and geological and mineralogical specimens, a geological and mineralogical cabinet, a chemistry lab and lecture rooms. It instructs the board to have all objects of natural history, plants and geological and mineralogical specimens belonging to the United States delivered to the Institution. The managers are also instructed to appoint a superintendent to care for the building and grounds, to be secretary of the board of managers and to perform the duties of the professor of agriculture.

Subject

• Smithson, James 1765-1829
• Tappan, Benjamin
• United States Congress
• Board of Regents
• National Institute

Category

Smithsonian Legal Documents

Legal document information

• S. 18
• Title 20, Education
• Bill

Notes

for other bills relating to the act establishing the Smithsonian Institution see S. 245, S. 259, S. 293, S. 292, H. R. 5, H.R. 863, H.R. 386, H.R. 418, H.R. 1, H.R. 1160, H.R. 1161

Contained within

(Book)

Contact information

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

Date

01/16/1845

Topic

• Smithson Bequest
• Architecture
• Board of Managers
• Act to establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men
• SI, Early History
• Libraries
• Museums
• Management
• National Collections
• Buildings
• Management--Museums

Place

Mall, The (Washington, D.C.)

Form/Genre

Bill

Physical description

Number of pages: 12; Page Numbers: 1-12

Full Record

View Full Record