Annual Report 



of the Director 



To the Trustees: 



I have the honor to present a report of the operation of the Museum 

 for the year ending December 31, 1957. 



Despite the continuing difficulties occasioned by the effects of 

 inflation, the Museum continued to make steady and noteworthy 

 progress in the field of exhibition. Reinstallation of the American 

 Indian exhibits and the exhibits on the cultures of the islands of the 

 Pacific proceeded according to schedule and resulted in unusually 

 attractive displays. Creation of a new Division of Primitive Art in 

 the Department of Anthropology has resulted in drawing attention 

 to the outstanding collections that the Museum has in this field. 

 Popular interest in this subject has been such that it was deemed 

 advisable to emphasize this particular phase of native culture. 



Installation in George M. Pullman Hall of a series of exhibits 

 giving a synoptic view of the animal kingdom has been extremely 

 helpful in introducing to students and visitors the entire subject of 

 animal life. The exhibit has been widely acclaimed, and kodachrome 

 slides of the eight screens of the exhibit have been in great demand 

 as teaching aids. Another exhibit that has attracted wide attention 

 is the new bird display in the center of Boardman Conover Hall. 

 Not only is the installation itself carried out in an unusual pattern, 

 but the entire emphasis of the exhibit is on the beauty of the color 

 of the birds. It is noteworthy that specimens from North America 



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