Descriptive Entry

These records contain correspondence of the Property Clerk concerning requisitions, orders, solicitations of business, and administrative memoranda concerning operation of the Department of Property and Supplies. They also include early phone bills of the Smithsonian and annual reports of the Property Clerk which contain inventories of supplies on hand.

Historical Note

The Property Clerk of the United States National Museum was responsible for the inspection and distribution of all Museum supplies and furniture, for keeping commonly used supplies in stock, and for ordering special articles as needed. The title, Property Clerk, was not used until 1891, but persons had been appointed before that time to fill the same function. Persons responsible for property included Carl W. Schuermann, 1882-1886; J. Elfreth Watkins, Engineer of Property, 1888-1891; James S. Goldsmith, 1891-1898; William A. Knowles, 1898-1903; and Henry N. Spottswood, 1903-1904. Knowles was again appointed Property Clerk in 1904.