MEMBERS' NIGHT 



Scheduling Members' Night in the spring rather than in the fall 

 was well received by the Museum's Members and guests. Almost 

 1,300 were present on April 18 to view the material on exhibition 

 and to visit the workrooms and laboratories where members of the 

 staff welcomed them. Specially featured were the reinstalled min- 

 eralogical exhibits, the completed fossil skeleton of Brontosaurus, a 

 zoological exhibit showing the beauty of birds rather than their 

 taxonomic classification or ecology, and the series of synoptic exhibits 

 giving a comprehensive view of the animal kingdom. Refreshments 

 were served in Stanley Field Hall during the evening. 



MEMBERSHIP 



Membership in Chicago Natural History Museum is a splendid 

 opportunity to contribute to the advancement of scientific dis- 

 covery and education. Membership dues and contributions to the 

 Museum assist greatly in financing our research and educational 

 efforts, and I wish to express the thanks of the Museum to those 

 Members and donors whose loyal support and encouragement have 

 furthered our achievements. Our membership rolls at the end of 

 1958 carried 5,722 names, an increase of more than 200 during the 

 year. The increase of 88 Life Members and 186 Associate Members 

 surpasses gains in those categories for many years (see page 22). 

 The names of all Members of the Museum during 1958 are listed at 

 the end of this Report (see also page 30 for names of Contributors). 



ATTENDANCE 



Attendance at the Museum declined somewhat during the year, 

 especially in the first six months. The trend was reversed in July, 

 and more than half of the loss was restored. Total attendance was 

 1,049,401 (see page 113), By contrast, the paid attendance of 

 161,593 exceeded that of the previous year by 21,759, being 15.4 

 per cent of our visitors compared with 12.7 per cent of our visitors 

 in the previous year. This change was brought about by increased 

 attendance during the week and declining attendance on Saturday 

 and Sunday when no admission is charged. The figures add further 

 emphasis to the transportation problem of the Museum on Sundays, 

 when the people of Chicago find it difficult and tedious to reach 

 the Museum by bus. 



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