SECRETARY'S REPORT 11 



cally defined problems. The purpose is not that of a reference library 

 to provide guidance to publications, but to place investigators in 

 contact with others having immediate and similar interests. 



During the fiscal year 1956 replies to over 900 requests for subject 

 information were supplied by the Exchange. Among these were 

 requests for rosters of scientists to be used in planning symposia, con- 

 ferences, and international scientific meetings, and calls from scientists 

 abroad who were planning itineraries for visiting United States 

 laboratories, as well as from investigators planning problems and 

 wishing to know of others in related fields. 



A primary purpose of the Exchange is to prevent the inadvertent 

 duplication of support by granting agencies of a field of research or 

 of an investigator. To carry out this responsibility, the Exchange 

 prepares, at the request of government and nongovernment granting 

 agencies, resumes of the support of men, research institutions, and 

 departments of such institutions. Approximately 7,500 such reports 

 were prepared during the year. 



Because a large proportion of the research registered is supported 

 by grants and contracts, the Exchange prepares for its cooperating 

 agencies and, within the limits of its charter, for other qualified groups, 

 statistical information on the amount and distribution of research 

 support. As a correlation to liaisons with granting agencies, it pro- 

 vides also a considerable body of information on the general policies 

 of granting agencies. As staff and time permit, this information is 

 employed to aid scientists in locating possible sources of support. 



JUNIOR LEAGUE DOCENT ACTIVITIES 



In the fall of 1955, through the cooperative assistance of the Junior 

 League of Washington, a program was inaugurated for a volunteer 

 docent or educational guide service in Smithsonian exhibition halls 

 for elementary school children in the Greater Washington area. Such 

 a service has long been needed at the Institution. The project is one 

 of many voluntary programs undertaken by members of the Junior 

 League. 



This program is under the immediate supervision of Frank M. 

 Setzler, head curator of the National Museum's department of anthro- 

 pology, who undertook the task in addition to his regular duties. 

 Representing the Junior League are Mrs. Robert Nelson, Jr., chair- 

 man of the project, and Mrs. Alexander Chilton, vice chairman. They 

 organized the volunteers and met frequently with the Secretary, 

 Mr. Setzler, and other Museum officials concerned with procedures 

 and scripts. 



To begin the program, two of the recently modernized exhibition 

 halls were selected — the Hall of American Indians and the First 



