PUBLICATIONS AND PRINTING 



The continued increase in purchase of Museum publications, both 

 scientific and popular, by students and for resale in other bookstores 

 was reflected in the highest gross income from sales of Museum pub- 

 lications in our history. A total of 70,078 copies was distributed, of 

 which 17,682 were shipped without charge under existing exchange 

 agreements with institutions and individuals and 52,396 were sold. 

 Receipts from sales by mail amounted to $2,047.79 in October, an 

 all-time record for mail orders in any one month . This record figure 

 is mainly the result of the use of our Museum publications as text- 

 books in colleges and universities of the United States and Canada. 



Statistics are at best inadequate in telling the story of the Mu- 

 seum's publication program. The Museum press is operated prima- 

 rily as an outlet to members of the staff for publishing reports on their 

 research. Inevitably other demands must also be met, such as the 

 preparation of Museum Stories, which are written by staff members 

 of Raymond Foundation (see page 26) in order to present scientifi- 

 cally correct information in attractive form for children of the grade 

 schools. The editing of manuscripts, checking of references, arrange- 

 ment of illustrative material, and all the many other details that 

 must be correctly handled in order that good publications may result 

 could not be accomplished without the selfless work of our Associate 

 Editors. Miss Lillian A. Ross, assisted by Miss Martha H. Mullen, 

 handles the scientific publications, and Mrs. Helen A. MacMinn 

 handles the miscellaneous publications. 



At the Eighth Annual Exhibition of Chicago and Midwestern 

 Book Making sponsored by the Chicago Book Clinic in May, a Cer- 

 tificate of Award was presented to the Museum in recognition of its 

 entry The King's Day (see Annual Report 1956, pages 46 and 82). 

 This publication in popular style, written by Mrs. Webster Plass of 

 New York and London, was recognized for its high standards of de- 

 sign, printing, binding, publishing intent, and reader appeal. All 

 phases of the work were accomplished by the Museum press except 

 the photoengraving, which was done by Jahn and Oilier Engraving 

 Company. A similar award was given to Mrs. MacMinn, who 

 designed the book. 



During the year twenty-four publications in the scientific series, 

 three in the popular series (two reprints), and one annual report were 

 printed by the Museum press. The number of copies totaled 56,177 

 from 1,845 pages of type composition. Twelve numbers of Chicago 

 Natural History Museum Bulletin were printed, averaging 7,150 

 copies an issue. Miscellaneous work totaled 706,863 impressions. 



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