MEMBERSHIP 



An increase in the number of Members on the Museum's lists is 

 reported for 1956. At the close of the year the total number of 

 memberships was 5,634. The number of Members in each member- 

 ship classification was as follows: Benefactors — 25; Honorary Mem- 

 bers — 8; Patrons — 15; Corresponding Members — 4; Contributors — 206; 

 Corporate Members — 38; Life Members — 119; Non-Resident Life 

 Members — 24; Associate Members — 2,184; N on-Resident Associate 

 Members — 18; Sustaining Members — 31; Annual Members — 2,962. 

 The Museum expresses its deep appreciation to its many Members 

 whose support helps to make possible the continuance of its research 

 and educational work. The names of all Members of the Museum 

 during 1956 are listed at the end of this Report under the various 

 classes of membership that are offered by the Museum (see also 

 page 25 for names of Contributors elected in 1956). 



MEMBERS' NIGHT 



A record number of almost 1,400 Members and their guests visited 

 the Museum on October 12, the occasion of its sixth annual Members' 

 Night. Of particular interest was the African king's house, an 

 unusual exhibit consisting of a full-size reproduction of the home of 

 a native king in the Cameroons, with typical wall decorations, 

 furnishings, and personal equipment (see Department of Anthro- 

 pology, page 45). The King's Day, written by Mrs. Webster Plass 

 and published by the Museum, was presented to each visitor as 

 a memento of the occasion. Visitors also were greatly interested 

 in the newly reinstalled halls portraying the cultures of Melanesia, 

 Micronesia, Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Offices and 

 workrooms of all departments in the Museum were open for in- 

 spection, and staff members again enjoyed the privilege of explaining 

 their work to the loyal supporters of the Museum, many of whom 

 were amazed at the diversity of the Museum's undertakings. 

 Guided tours were available to all who desired them. 



The program of the evening was brought to a close in James 

 Simpson Theatre, where Dr. Paul S. Martin, Chief Curator of 

 Anthropology, spoke briefly of the objectives and methods of 

 anthropological research and then introduced Ronald W. Force, 

 Curator of Oceanic Archaeology and Ethnology, who, with ap- 

 propriate comments, presented the film "Kapingamarangi." This 

 splendid color-film depicting contemporary life among the natives 



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