Smithsonian Act of Organization Passes

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Summary

By a vote of 26 to 13, the U.S. Senate passes the act organizing the Smithsonian Institution which is signed into law by President James K. Polk. Among its provisions, the Organic Act specifies: a Board of Regents, Chancellor, and Secretary; a "suitable" building with rooms for the "reception and arrangement" of objects of natural history, a chemical laboratory, a library, a gallery of art, and lecture rooms; the transfer to the Institution of all objects of art, natural history, etc., belonging to the United States in Washington; and the deposit in the Smithsonian of one copy of all publications copyrighted under the acts of Congress. The act stipulates that the original legacy of $515,169, plus interest accrued at the rate of 6% on loan to the U.S. Treasury, amounting to $242,129, shall be maintained as a trust fund, and all expenditures and appropriations must come from interest accrued in this fund.

Subject

  • Polk, James K (James Knox) 1795-1849
  • Board of Regents
  • Chancellor of the Smithsonian Board of Regents
  • United States Dept. of the Treasury
  • United States President
  • United States Congress

Category

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes

  • Goode, George Brown, ed. The Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1896, The History of Its First Half Century. Washington, D.C.: De Vinne Press, 1897, p. 53, 833.
  • Oehser, Paul H. The Smithsonian Institution. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1970, p. 22, 24, 248-55.
  • Rhees, William Jones. The Smithsonian Institution: Documents Relative to Its Origin and History: 1835-1899, Vol. 1, 1835-1887. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1901, p. xxi-xxvi, 428-434.

Contact information

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

Date

August 10, 1846

Topic

  • Art
  • Law
  • Architecture
  • Finance
  • Natural History
  • Secretaries
  • Museums
  • Copyright
  • Smithson Bequest
  • Chemistry
  • Lectures and lecturing
  • Act to establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men
  • Libraries
  • National Collections
  • Major Events in Smithsonian History
  • Art objects
  • Buildings
  • Legislation
  • Natural history
  • Museum publications

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