150 Field Museum of Natural History — Reports, Vol. X 



in recognition of the bequest he made to the Museum of his personal 

 library of some 5,000 volumes, many of them of great rarity and value. 



The death of Dr. Laufer removed from the staff of the Museum 

 one of its most distinguished members. In his memory the Board 

 of Trustees, at its meeting held September 17, adopted the following 

 resolution: 



"Sorrowfully the Board of Trustees of Field Museum of Natural 

 History has learned of the death, on September 13, 1934, of Dr. 

 Berthold Laufer, for many years a member of the staff of the Depart- 

 ment of Anthropology, and, since 1915, Curator of the Department. 

 Dr. Laufer's death removes from the personnel of this institution, 

 and from the roster of the world's scientists, one of the greatest of 

 contemporary scholars. 



"An eminent authority on the science of anthropology in general, 

 Dr. Laufer had for many years specialized on researches in Oriental 

 archaeology^ and ethnology, and had gained world-wide recognition 

 for the unique and important work he achieved in his studies and 

 writings in connection with the yellow race. It is doubtful if any 

 other white man ever penetrated so deeply into the philosophies 

 and the psychology of the peoples of China and Tibet. He under- 

 stood the Mongolian peoples as few of their own race could, and he 

 humanized our knowledge of them. He was steeped in their litera- 

 ture through all the centuries from their first discovery of means 

 to record their thoughts. He was versed in all their arts — an unerring 

 and incomparable judge of what was genuine and fine among their 

 products, and what was dross. He was a vital influence in bringing 

 about a more widespread appreciation in this country of the creations 

 of Chinese genius, and in establishing a sympathetic understanding 

 of the yellow race. 



"In greatest degree to the work of Dr. Laufer does Field Museum 

 owe its fame as a repository of one of the most extensive and valuable 

 of Oriental collections. As leader of the Blackstone Expedition to 

 China and Tibet (1908-10) and the Marshall Field Expedition 

 to China (1923) Dr. Laufer gathered comprehensive collections of the 

 finest treasures of those countries. His profound knowledge enabled 

 him to arrange the display of these in the Museum in the most 

 instructive and interesting manner, with informative labels written 

 in genuine literary style. His contributions to the publications of 

 the Museum were extensive in number and unique in character and 

 scope. In addition, he wrote many other important works which 

 were published elsewhere. 



