Jan., 1922. Annual Report of the Director. ii 



strenuous effort on the part of all concerned everything was in read- 

 iness for the renewal of the work for which the Museum had been 

 established. It had been decided by the Board of Trustees to hold 

 no exercises in connection with the re-opening of the Museum, but 

 invitations to an informal reception during the afternoon of May 2nd 

 were extended to a list of 10,000 individuals, which included prom- 

 inent citizens, educators, army and navy officers and public officials. 

 Approximately 8,000 of these invited guests accepted the invitation 

 and expressions of general admiration for the building and its arrange- 

 ment were heard on all sides. The following day the Museum was 

 thrown open to the public and that the new building and new facilities 

 which it provides have met with hearty approval is shown by the fact 

 that at this time the average daily attendance is more than double that 

 recorded at the old building in Jackson Park. 



The physical conditions of the Institution at the date of this 

 review show but a small part of the actual work performed since 

 the occupancy of the New Building. The scientific work in con- 

 nection with the reinstallation has been of a nature that is not 

 apparent to the casual observer and is concealed, as a matter of 

 fact, from even the more critical visitors. The work in the labora- 

 tories and the constant application of time and study to the tasks of 

 identification, labeling and inventorying have pushed these essential 

 features of Museum work distinctly forward. The vast amount of 

 this labor suddenly devolving upon the Museum staff, as it did at 

 the reopening of the Museum, would have dismayed those less 

 earnest and confident. Thanks are due to the staff and to all classes 

 of labor for the very excellent work accomplished. Those in the 

 more responsible positions have had anxious and arduous times, but 

 fortunately the Museum has men and women on whom it can depend 

 and their loyal service is much appreciated. It would be bare justice 

 to mention many by name, but it would be injustice to omit others, 

 so in fairness all should be included. 



President Field, at the December meeting of the Board of Trus- 

 tees, announced that he had decided to assume the entire deficit oc- 

 curring in the Building Fund, towards which he has already con- 

 tributed the sum of $150,000.00. To this deficit Mr. Potter Palmer 

 has also contributed during the year the sum of $1,000.00. 



At the same meeting of the Board, the President intimated that 

 Captain Marshall Field had volunteered to contribute the sum of 

 $50,000.00 annually for a period of five years for the purpose of dis- 

 patching expeditions into the field, defraying the cost of new exhibition 



