highest value have now been microfilmed and the films removed to
safekeeping in Western Maryland. All other plans for protection of
the contents of the Hall of Records against the hazards of war have been
completed, and with the favorable turn which the war has now taken it
is highly probable that no further precautionary measures will be
necessary.

Circulation of records to searchers continued to decrease as had
been predicted but postal inquiries increased slightly. The reception
of new materials also decreased but more records were refused for
deposit than in any other year.

It has become increasingly difficult to procure the supplies which
are essential to us. Some of the items which are now absolutely un-
available are: steel shelves, brass label holders, cloth-covered boxes,
jute folders, chiffon and cellulose acetate for repair and preservation,
all photographic equipment. Certain items which we can still procure
after long delay and much red tape, such as microfilm and photostat
supplies, are likely to be shut off as well in the near future.

I am sure that the Members of the Hall of Records Commission
will be gratified to learn that almost all of the recommendations of the
Archivist to the Standard Salary Board have been accepted. The
members of the Hall of Records staff have been chronically underpaid
until now. Since these new rates went into effect only on July 1, 1943,
it is too early to know what their effect will be upon the stability of the
staff but it is believed that nothing like the turn-over of the last two
years is likely to occur again.

All of the apprehensions of the Archivist expressed in the last
annual report concerning the effect of the war upon the activities of
the Hall of Records have been justified by the events. We must not
fed, however, that we have been unjustly treated. Silk and cellophane
and steel and bronze must not be diverted from the uses of our armed
forces and the Archivist has not insisted, therefore, that we should be
favored in any way. Ours is essentially a peacetime work and time
is not of the essence,

Respectfully submitted,

MORRIS L. RADOFF,

Archivist

HALL OF RECORDS,
Annapolis, Maryland