52 THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT

In its early operations the Department judged each request for a
photograph on its merits. Several organizations and individuals were
provided with photographs of the State House. As a general rule, per-
sons requesting photographs were referred to commercial photographers
having files of Maryland material.

Allied with the photograph problem is that of films. Because of
the rapid rise of the television industry, the demand for documentary
films has greatly increased. The department received ten requests for
films to be used by television stations or television film distributing
agencies. It may be that it would be worthwhile in the future to pre-
pare a documentary film on Maryland which could be provided to
television stations, giving the state an opportunity to inform other
Americans about its attractions for tourists, for industry and for new
citizens.

In connection with film activities, the department assisted an oil
company in publicizing a colored motion picture it is making on Mary-
land. It also offered its assistance to a firm preparing television docu-
mentaries on the forty-eight states. Work has not yet begun on the
latter film.

COOPERATIVE INFORMATION EFFORTS

Two of the most helpful cooperators with respect to information
materials have been Mr. W. S. Hamill, head of the Maryland Deve-
lopment Bureau of the Baltimore Association of Commerce, and Miss
Sarah P. Carothers of the association's Tourist Bureau.

Close contacts were established between the department and the
Maryland Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library at Baltimore.
Assistance was given also to representatives of press services, the
daily and weekly newspapers and radio stations of the State. One form
this assistance took was that of providing a calendar of events of
importance in the State to be distributed monthly. The calendar was
compiled with the help of officials and public-spirited citizens and is
a regular service feature of the department.

The director attended several meetings of the Board of Natural
Resources and received much cooperation from the board and its af-
filiated agencies, particularly from its Executive Secretary William H.