Smithsonian No Longer Gets Copyright Books

Summary

United States Congress repeals the copyright provision of the Smithsonian Act of Organization (Stat., XI, 380, Sec. 6). Secretary Joseph Henry comments that comparatively few of the books which had been received under the terms of the copyright law were of any scientific value; yet, they cost the Institution for postage, certificates, entries, care, etc.

Subject

• Henry, Joseph 1797-1878
• Smithsonian Institution Libraries (SIL)
• 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. 836
• Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1859, p. 41-42
• 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. 608

Contact information

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

Date

February 5, 1859

Topic

• Copyright
• Policies
• Finance
• Secretaries
• Act to establish the "Smithsonian Institution," for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge Among Men
• Libraries
• Museums
• Museum publications

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