Curator Force was attending the luncheon in honor of Chicago's 

 ten outstanding young men, he was also receiving a degree of Doctor 

 of Philosophy in absentia from Stanford University. 



Several important collections for the Division of Lower Inverte- 

 brates were acquired during the year. Notable among these is the 

 Yarrington Collection presented to the Museum by the estate of the 

 late Dr. C. W. Yarrington of Gary, Indiana (see page 73). Dr. 

 Yarrington's interest was primarily in the beauty and variety of 

 shells, and the special exhibit at the Museum after the receipt of 

 this choice collection attracted wide and favorable comment. 



The outstanding new field-project of the year was the Conover 

 Peru Expedition conducted by Emmet R. Blake, Curator of Birds 

 (see page 67) and financed by the fund established by the late Board- 

 man Conover, a Trustee and Research Associate of the Museum. 

 This expedition continued the type of research that had been so 

 dear to the heart of Mr. Conover and was unusually successful in 

 the number, variety, and rarity of the specimens that were returned 

 to^the Museum. 



Financial resources of the Museum were considerably augmented 

 through the co-operation and understanding of the Chicago Park 

 District Commissioners, who after careful study increased the 

 amount of funds to be made available to the museums located in the 

 Park District. While the effect of this wise provision will not be 

 felt until 1959, it did permit the Board of Trustees of the Museum 

 to revise the salary schedules of the scientific staff in order to reward 

 more adequately the services of the loyal and accomplished scientists 

 who are responsible for the prominence of this institution in its fields 

 of research and exhibition. 



Stanley Field, President of the Museum, wrote letters during 

 the year to the Members of the Museum informing them of its 

 financial needs. As a result, more than $40,000 was added to the 

 Museum endowment through fees of Life or Associate Members, 

 whose helpfulness and generosity are deeply appreciated. 



The death of Albert W. Harris, of Chicago, on November 9 was 

 noted with deep regret. Mr. Harris, a Benefactor of the Museum 

 (see pages 25 and 128), had served for twenty-one years on the Board 

 of Trustees, from which he resigned in 1941. The Department of 

 the N. W. Harris Public School Extension of the Museum, founded 

 by his father, benefited greatly by his gifts of more than a quarter 

 million dollars and has grown to a position of considerable importance 

 in the schools of Chicago (see page 24). The services of Mr. Harris 

 were many, and they played a prominent part in the development 

 of Chicago Natural History Museum. 



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