ARCHIVIST OF THE HALL OF RECORDS

Among the visitors to the Hall of Records during the year was
Dr. Ernst Posner, Professor of Archives Administration at American
University. Dr. Posner brought his class composed for the most part
of younger members of the staff of the National Archives. After the
Archivist had presented a brief outline of the history and organization
of the Hall of Records to this group, there was an inspection of the
building and the records which ksted several hours.

CIRCULATION

Although a good part of the decline in circulation which is indicated
by the figures below can be attributed to a nine-month instead of a
twelve-month year, other factors must be considered as well; advanced
historical study in American Universities has declined almost to the
vanishing point; genealogical researchers who have not been attracted
to other work for the duration find it increasingly difficult to get trans-
portation to Annapolis and lodging while here; the normal annual
addition of new records to our collection acts as a stimulus to circula-
tion and this year our accessions were less than normal for reasons
which have been given elsewhere in this report.

Total number of visitors exclusive of tourists and of governmental

officers who consult the records of their own offices............................ 439

For the previous year.............................................................................................. 726

These visitors came from seventeen states and two foreign countries,
Brazil and Colombia.

Total circulation of materials...................................................................... 2,051 items

For the previous year.................................................................................... 3,751 items

ACCESSIONING

After several unsuccessful attempts to solve the problem of handling
the miscellaneous items which come in as gifts, deposits or purchases
from private sources, we decided to overhaul the entire collection during
the past year.

AH such materials regardless of whether purchase, gift or deposit
were placed in one section of the stacks and in the chronological order
of their receipt at the Hall of Records. At this point a separate acces-
sions book was opened, all of this material re-accessioned in correct
order and each item given a number. In order to distinguish between
gift, purchase and deposit one of the letters "G", "P" or "D" is placed
before the number, When there are several parts to a single accessions
item, a numeral in parenthesis is placed after the accessions number