Library Report

Circulation figures at the Baker Memorial Library during 1936-37 showed an increase of nearly 40,000 over those of the previous year.it was reported by Prof. Frank M. Anderson, chairman of the Faculty Committee on the Library, at the faculty meeting on October 18. The increase from 313,505 to 351,042 came principally at the reserve desk and was due in the main to the introduction of the new social science course for freshmen.

Accessions of books during the year amour),ted to 16,496 volumes, an increase over the preceding year of 688. This brought the total number of volumes in the library on July 1 to approximately 434,695. Of the added books, 2,087 were received by gift. Among the gifts were 252 volumes from the library of the late Prof. John M. Poor, contributed by Mrs. Poor, and 245 volumes issued by the Yale University Press and contributed anonymously. Contributions of Americana included Pemberton's A True Servant of His Generation (1712) and Webb's The Greatness of Sin (1754). Through the operation of the McGregor benefaction the library obtained 27 rare volumes, the most notable of which was the 1513 edition of the famous PtolemyAtlas.

The manuscript collections of the library were enriched by 108 letters of Nathaniel Peabody, 1801, the father of Mrs. Nathaniel Hawthorne and Mrs. Horace Mann; five letters written to Nathaniel Wright in 1812-1815 by Asa Freeman, 1810, and containing amusing references to college life and the Dartmouth College Case; the diary of Rev. Samuel L. Gerould, 1858, contributed by his son, Prof. John H. Gerould '90; the diary of William W. Bailey, 1854, contributed by his son, Dr. William T. Bailey '91; 29 letters written to his brother by Levi Woodbury, 1809, Justice of the Supreme Court, contributed by Mrs. Gordon \Woodbury of Bedford, N. H.; and a collection of 90 manuscripts originally belonging to Nathaniel Wright, 1811, and including five letters by President Nathan Lord. Among the library's purchases was an almost unique collection of 74 bound volumes of newspaper clippings on the World War collected by the late Dr. Harold E. Miner.

Professor Anderson reported the establishment in the library of a small bindery, as yet operated on a limited basis in connection with periodicals, pamphlets and repair work. It is being directed by Mr. L. H. Kinder of Wilder, Vt. He also reported that budgetary provision has been made for experimental work with microfilms, whereby much material hitherto printed can now be recorded on film.

"BOY MEETS GIRL" Polly Walters, Broadway actress, andHarold H. MacGilpin, Jr. '39, who playedleading roles in the Players' Fall HouseParty show.