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Show SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Washington, D. C. 20560 US. A. August 15, 1997 Dear Colleagues: The Smithsonian Institution is pleased to participate in and provide support for the Great Basin Symposium on Glacial and Postglacial Drainage. Fiscal support has been provided, in part, through the auspices of the Smithsonian Institution's 150th Anniversary Program Committee, which has sought to identify and highlight areas in which the institution has made major contributions over the years. Beginning with the pioneering vision of Spencer Baird and our strong involvement in the early exploring expeditions, exploration and research in the western United States has been a major focus of the Smithsonian. The rich collections which came to our museums as a result of these early efforts provided the basis for much of our natural history research, and one only needs to reflect upon the contributions made by Smithsonian- afBliated scientists such as John Wesley Powell, Fielding Meek, Ferdinand Hayden, and C. Hart Merriam to appreciate the importance of this facet of study to the institution. Smithsonian participation in western, and more specifically Great Basin research has continued to the present day. The ichthyologist, Robert Rush Miller, participated in the last Great Basin symposium in 1948. While he was an associate curator here at the National Museum of Natural History ( 1943- 48), Dr. Miller worked on his contribution to that notable publication The Great Basin, With Emphasis on Glacial and Postglacial Times. Zoologists Hershler and Polhemus of NMNH continue this tradition today. The emphasis on the West has been by no means restricted to natural history as evidenced by the long tenure of Smithsonian research on western American native cultures ( i. e., Handbook of North American Indians). I wish you a very successful conference and look forward to seeing the published proceedings. Sincerely, J. Dennis O Connor Provost _____ 1& 46- 1996 Smithsonian |
