io The New-York Historical Society objects received, the total for 1940 is nearly 1,000. Foremost among the donors, Mrs. J. Insley Blair should be mentioned. Although her gifts of Staffordshireware, Sandwich glass and other objects have been recorded in the Quarterly Bulletin, it is gratifying to note that they totalled 171 objects which are valued at $11,951.00. Mrs. Augustus Van Home Ellis was a generous contributor to the library and museum. Miss Ina Love Thursby, sister of the late Emma Thursby, gave her collection of nearly 3,000 items of manuscripts, photographs and sheet music. Other donors' gifts were acknowledged in our Quarterly Bulletin and are, therefore, not repeated here. A list of all donors is incorporated in this report. Compared to earlier years, before our building was enlarged, the work of the Society is better known and appreciated. Nevertheless, its attendance is not what it should be in New York City with its seven million people. However, half the museums in the city reported less visitors in 1940 than in previous years. In our case, we are comparing eleven months of 1940 with nine months of 1939 and find an increase of 11,408. This is an accurate count and does not include our own employees of 65 each day. The total should have been greater, and it is partly explained in the report on "Public Relations" following. It is also felt that the name "The New-York Historical Society" is a handicap in the public mind, being misleading as a private organization, whereas "Museum" is taken for granted as a place where the public may enter. Following this thought, we have recently added on our bulletin boards, under the name of the Society, the sub-heading "A Museum of American History." Our purpose is largely to help in the education of the public, and our facilities are offered freely to all interested in the study of American history without an admission charge, as always. With the growth of our activities, new requests are received so that we find ourselves constantly faced with new problems.