REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR 1939 0 NEW YORK, JANUARY l6, I94O On April 1, 1939 the Society's enlarged building was opened to the public. It was closed on May 1, 1937 when building operations made it impossible to serve the members and the public any longer. The press preview of our reopening was held on March 29th, and the formal reopening and preview for members and friends occurred the following day. On this occasion, Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler made the address to a capacity audience, with Mr. R. Horace Gallatin, First Vice-President, presiding in the absence of Mr. John Abeel Weekes, who was too ill to be present. Dr. Edgar Franklin Romig, of the West End Collegiate Dutch Church, gave the invocation and benediction, after which more than one thousand people visited the galleries. It is now nine months since these ceremonies took place, and the work of the Society has proceeded with greatly increased activities, as this report will show. It was estimated in last year's report that a staff of 75 employees was needed. To date 67 people comprise the personnel administering the work of the Society. The curators of the several departments give in their reports herewith appended details of their activities and statistics which speak well of the accomplishments during the year. The gallery of art and museum objects are now shown and arranged as has never before been possible. The library is finally being recatalogued with the Library of Congress system and printed cards. Our large collection of uncatalogued pamphlets is being arranged, and rare items segregated in our imprint department. A comprehensive listing of our manuscript — 11 —