SECRETARY'S REPORT 35 



Lectures in the Fine Arts on the theme, "The Nude : A Study of Ideal 

 Form." 



During tlie past year, 113 persons borrowed 3,327 slides from the 

 lending collection. Seven copies of the National Gallery film were cir- 

 culated on itinerary with 106 bookings completed. In the coming 

 year, 18 copies of the film will be placed in audiovisual libraries in as 

 many different States so that they may have the maximum distribution 

 with guaranteed good treatment. 



Eight more sets of the "Christmas Story," a mimeographed lecture 

 illustrated by 34 slides, were made up and circulated with approxi- 

 mately 1,882 people viewing the slides. 



The printed Calendar of Events, announcing all Gallery activities 

 and publications, is distributed monthly to a mailing list of 5,100 

 names. 



UBRARY 



Books, pamphlets, periodicals, photographs, and subscriptions pur- 

 chased out of the fund presented to the National Gallery of Art by 

 Paul Mellon totaled 306 during the fiscal year 1953 ; 33 were purchased 

 out of the fund given by Harold K. Hochschild. Gifts included 270 

 books and pamphlets, while 713 books, pamphlets, periodicals, and 

 bulletins were received from other institutions. Outstanding among 

 these gifts were 50 books presented by Lessing J. Rosenwald. 



Although the Library is not open to the public, it is possible for stu- 

 dents of art and persons with art questions to use the services of the 

 Library. During this fiscal year the Library staff handled 1,430 refer- 

 ence questions, and there were 635 readers other than the Gallery staff 

 who used the Library. 



The Library is the depository for photographs of the works of art 

 in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. During the year 

 425 persons other than the Gallery staff came to purchase prints, and 

 215 mail orders were filled. 



INDEX OF AMERICAN DESIGN 



During the fiscal year 1953, a total of 7 new exhibits containing 

 304 renderings were completed. Index material was studied during 

 the year by 572 persons representing special research interests, de- 

 signers, groups interested in the material for publications, exhibitions, 

 and slides, and to get a general idea of the collection as a whole. 



A total of 859 photographs of Index renderings were sent out of the 

 Gallery on loan, for publicity, and purchase. A gift of seventy 2-x-2" 

 slides of Index material was made by Dr. Konrad Prothmann. 

 Twenty-two sets (consisting of 1,435 slides) of 2-x-2" slides were 

 circulated in 26 States, Italy, and England. 



