ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS 15

In addition, 355 plats from the Anne Arundel County Land
Records were cleaned and pressed.

Almost all of this material was also prepared for binding.

A demonstration of the repair methods of the Hall of Records was
given by Mrs. Ruth Krebs on November 10, 1941 at the Maryland His-
torical Society. The number of visitors from other archival institu-
tions who come to examine our repair room has not fallen off. Among
such visitors this year was Senor de Alba, Minister of Fine Arts of
Colombia, and two representatives of the State Library of Tennessee,

Our lamination process was described at length in the Annapolis
Capitol, the Baltimore Sun, Popular Science and Life On The Chemical
News front, a publication of the American Cynamid & Chemical Com-
pany. As a result of this publicity, we have been called upon frequently
to explain to other institutions and individuals the details of the process.

A specially designed roller table was the only new item of equip-
ment added to our repair facilities.

PHOTOCOPYING

The amount of paid photocopying done at the Hall of Records
during the past year decreased. This was due not to a diminished de-
mand but to the necessity of refusing all work other than the copying
of our own manuscripts. Otherwise, we should not be entitled to our
priority rating as a state institution or to exemption from the new
excise taxes. There is no cause to regret this loss of business. In the
first place, there was. never any good reason why photocopying of
materials other than our own should be done for lawyers, contractors,
architects and other private persons in Annapolis and at a rate less
than that charged by commercial photographers. This service to
Annapolitans began years ago when the Land Office purchased its
first Photostat camera and it has continued to the present, long after
its need has disappeared. It has always seemed to the Archivist that
the Hall of Records was in effect competing on unequal terms with
commercial photographers and favoring citizens of Annapolis over those
of other parts of the State. This work was done at a loss to the Hall
of Records, for its equipment, the time of its employees, and its sup-
plies were provided from our own budget while all receipts were de-
posited in the general funds of the State. The State, of course, did