NOTES

1. Joel J. Orosz has labeled this interpretation of Smithsonian history as the "popular" interpretation, and has pointed out its flaws. See "Disloyalty, Dismissal, and a Deal: The Development of the National Museum at the Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1855," Museum Studies Journal, 2 (Spring 1986): 22-24. [Return to text.]

2. Orosz analyzes this interpretation, which he calls the "standard" interpretation, in "Disloyalty," pp. 23-25. [Return to text.]

3. Smithsonian Annual Report for 1848, pp. 18-19. [Return to text.]

4. Smithsonian Annual Report for 1849, p. 21. [Return to text.]

5. October 17, 1853, Bache Papers, Smithsonian Institution Archives. Printed in The Papers of Joseph Henry, 8:484-485. [Return to text.]

6. My earlier stab at explaining Henry's reversal was in Nathan Reingold and Marc Rothenberg, "The Exploring Expedition and the Smithsonian Institution," Magnificent Voyagers: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842, ed. Herman J. Viola and Carolyn Margolis (Washington, 1985), pp. 243-253. Orosz summarized other efforts and offered his explanation in "Disloyalty," pp. 25-33. His interpretation was attacked by S. Dillon Ripley and Wilcomb E. Washburn in "The Development of the National Museum at the Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1855: A Response to Joel J. Orosz's Article," Museum Studies Journal, 2 (Spring-Summer 1987): 6-11; Orosz responded in "In Defense of the Deal: A Rebuttal to S. Dillon Ripley's and Wilcomb Washburn's 'Response.'" Museum Studies Journal 3 (Fall-Winter 1987): 7-12.

Unless otherwise noted, the information for the following discussion comes from documents to be printed in The Papers of Joseph Henry, vol. 9. [Return to text.]

7. See Douglas E. Evelyn, "The National Gallery at the Patent Office," Magnificent Voyagers: The U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842, ed. Herman J. Viola and Carolyn Margolis (Washington, 1985), p. 240. [Return to text.]

8. William J. Rhees, editor, The Smithsonian Institution: Journals of the Board of Regents, Reports of Committees, Statistics, Etc., 1879, Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, vol. 18 (Washington, 1880), p. 125. [Return to text.]