ANNUAL REPORT of ... . 



THE DIRECTOR 



TO THE TRUSTEES: 



I have the honor to present a report of the operations of the 

 Museum for the year ending December 31, 1943: 



The conditions existing in a nation whose efforts were almost 

 totally directed to the demands of war naturally affected adversely 

 the progress of the Museum. 



The inroads on the personnel continued at a steady pace, with a 

 resulting decrease in the scope of Museum activities, although every 

 effort was made to operate all departments on a normal basis. 



Under the policy adopted in 1942, to be continued for the dura- 

 tion of the war, there were no expeditions during 1943, and even local 

 field work was held to a minimum. 



Some new exhibits were prepared and installed, although not as 

 many as would have been the case were the full staff present. 



Research slowed up in ratio to the shrinkage of the staff, and 

 many projects that were in progress have been halted. 



Seven men and two women were granted leave of absence in 1943 

 for service with the armed forces or other governmental agencies, 

 bringing the total number of Trustees, staff members, and volunteer 

 associates in service to 38. The policy of not filling vacated positions 

 was continued in practically all cases; only those positions essential 

 to the continued operation of the Museum were filled on a temporary 

 basis. Great credit is due to the members of the staff who remain 

 at the Museum for their efforts to maintain operations. 



The outstanding event of the year was the program on Septem- 

 ber 15 commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Founding 

 of the Museum. On this occasion 1,200 invited guests assembled in 

 the James Simpson Theatre. The principal speakers were Mr. 

 Stanley Field, President of the Museum; Dr. Robert Maynard 

 Hutchins, President of the University of Chicago; Dr. Franklyn 

 Bliss Snyder, President of Northwestern University; and Dr. Albert 

 E. Parr, Director of the American Museum of Natural History, New 



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