"A graduate of Williams College, he served many years on that 

 institution's board of trustees, his outstanding service being rewarded 

 in 1953 by the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. 



"While we feel heavily the loss of his guidance and counsel, we 

 feel even more deeply our personal loss of his friendship and his 

 warm personality. 



"Therefore, be it resolved that this expression of our high appreci- 

 ation of his outstanding qualities and our sorrow at his death be 

 permanently preserved in the records of the Board of Trustees of 

 the Museum. 



"And be it further resolved that our deep sympathy be conveyed 

 to the members of his family and that a copy of this resolution be 

 sent to his widow." 



ATTENDANCE 



Attendance increased in 1959 to 1,075,426, a gain of 26,025 over 1958. 

 It is significant that the increase occurred in the latter part of the 

 year, probably as a cumulative result of the Museum's many activi- 

 ties (December alone showed an increase in attendance of 19,500 

 persons). The increase was primarily on weekends, with the total of 

 paid admissions declining slightly under that of the previous year. 

 Increased parking facilities made it possible for visitors to attend the 

 Museum despite inadequate public transportation. 



LECTURE PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS 



The 111th and 112th series of free Illustrated Lectures for adults 

 were presented in James Simpson Theatre of the Museum on Sat- 

 urday afternoons during March, April, October, and November. 

 The wide variety of subject-matter ranged from India and the 

 Philippines to Patagonia and Colorado. "Wildlife in Deep Freeze" 

 was presented by Carl Eklund of the United States Fish and Wild- 

 life Service, and Captain Finn Ronne's lecture "Probing Antarctica" 

 revealed scientists in action during the International Geophysical 

 Year. The Iron Curtain and the Bamboo Curtain have closed 

 various sections of the earth, particularly Asia, to travel and photog- 

 raphy, so that it becomes ever more difficult to present new and 

 unusual variety in film lectures. The response of the public to the 

 offerings of the Edward E. Ayer Lecture Foundation was most 

 encouraging. Attendance at the seventeen lectures totaled 16,447. 



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