Jan. 1935 Annual Report of the Director 151 



"So familiar was Dr. Laufer with the history of the peoples of 

 the Far East, even in its most obscure chapters, that many things 

 blazoned forth in the present-day world as strictly modern and 

 original accomplishments of the twentieth century and western 

 civilization were to him very old, and but a repetition or develop- 

 ment of ideas first born in the minds of men hundreds and sometimes 

 thousands of years ago. In his conversation, and in his voluminous 

 writings, there was always present a delightful charm and an under- 

 current of quiet humor as he drew striking parallels from ancient 

 civilizations to show that much contemporary thought, invention 

 and 'progress' was actually not new at all. From his vast store 

 of knowledge he upset, with quaint narratives and facts gleaned 

 from little-known sources, many a set and smug notion of a too 

 self-satisfied generation. 



"The loss of Dr. Laufer is keenly felt by the Trustees of the 

 Museum, who recognize not only that a career of splendid intellectual 

 achievements has sadly come to a close, but that a man of noble 

 spirit and character has passed to the beyond. 



"Therefore, be it resolved, that this expression of the Trustees' 

 appreciation of Dr. Laufer's many years of loyal and valuable 

 service to the Museum, and to science, be permanently preserved 

 on the records of the Board ; 



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

 to his bereaved family, and that a copy of this resolution be trans- 

 mitted to his widow." 



News of two other deaths was received with regret during the 

 year. Mr. Louis Charles Watelin, who had for several years been field 

 director of the Field Museum-Oxford University Joint Expedition 

 to Mesopotamia, died in July, while on his way to conduct an expedi- 

 tion on Easter Island. His services during the excavations at Kish 

 were of great value to Field Museum and to the science of archaeology. 



Dr. Davidson Black, a Corresponding Member of Field Museum, 

 died on March 16. Dr. Black, a noted anatomist and anthropologist, 

 was professor of anatomy at the Peking Union Medical College in 

 China, and an authority on the "Peking man." He had rendered 

 many valuable services to this institution. 



At the Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees, held January 15, 

 all Officers of the Museum who had served in the preceding year 

 were re-elected for 1934. 



