26 FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE

indicate a drop in circulation although the number is less than the total
for the preceding year. Furthermore, all indexes have been removed
from the stacks to the Index room so that they may be used by re-
searchers without the formality of making out a request slip. Researchers
who use the unindexed materials at the Hall are asked to do their work
on the second floor so that they may be assisted by the Archivist and
the Assistant Archivist. Unfortunately no record was ever kept of this
circulation until February of this year so that total figures will not be
available until next year.

It is the belief of the Archivist that as the Hall of Records grows
older and its records become better known to a larger number of re-
searchers much more reliance is put on written requests for information.
This is a service which the Hall can give with less effort as it completes
its indexes. As a check on this belief the Archivist has kept a record
of all requests for information which were answered during the last
year whether we were able to supply the information wanted or not.
These requests may be divided roughly into three large categories (1)
those whose answers come from the Revolutionary materials, usually
supplied by the Assistant Archivist (2) those requiring research in the
Testamentary materials, supplied by the Librarian and Research Assist-
ants (3) and those others from the Laws, from the Proceedings of the
Courts and other non-indexed materials which the Archivist cares for.
The total number of such letters in all categories for this year was 642.

PHOTODUPLICATION

A considerable amount of new equipment was added this year to the
photographic facilities of the Hall of Records. A new motor-driven
ventilator was installed in the work room and the dark room in order
to carry off fumes and to provide for the constant circulation of air
necessary to the drying processes. An earlier installation for drawing
in fresh air which had lain idle for years was repaired and restored to
use. An old dryer belonging to the Land Office which had been re-
placed by one belonging to the Hall of Records was sent to the factory
for repair and on its return was placed in service as an alternate dryer
for use when continuous work makes two dryers necessary and also to
prevent a complete stoppage of work when a dryer becomes out of order.
A new photostatic recorder camera, the type which uses paper sensi-
tized on both sides, was purchased to replace a twelve-year old camera
of similar type which belonged to the Land Office and had been used