January
Spencer F. Baird Becomes Head of US National Museum
Year:
1872
Month:
january
Day:
1
Date:
Sat, 1972-01-01
SIA Image reference:
Spencer Baird is named head of U.S. National Museum on January 1, 1872. Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry issues a memo stating "the Assistant Secretary shall have special charge of the collections of the Institution, and of the National Museum, and shall direct the operations connected with them subject to the approval of the Secretary." Baird would succeed Henry as Secretary of the Smithsonian after Henry's death in 1878.