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We have had the pleasure of having as a teacher this year Mrs. Mary Knapp Burtt, a graduate of Perkins, and of Wellesley in 1915. Following graduation Mrs. Burtt went to South China where she opened a school for blind children. Driven out by the Japanese invasion, Mrs. Burtt flew "over the hump" and finally reached this country, and came to Perkins for the year. During the summer Mrs. Burtt sailed for China, taking with her a good many supplies ranging from clothes to a sewing machine, which Perkins gladly provided to help her open her school. Totally blind, guided by her dog Ruby, Mrs. Burtt is one of the best representatives of Perkins, carrying on the work in foreign fields. It has been a privilege having her at Perkins this year.

Other staff changes were the resignations in the Upper School of Leroy V. Cleveland, teacher of science; Mr. and Mrs. Bradford W. Newcomb, teachers of English; John B. Butler, of the Vocational Department; and Albert R. Raymond, of the Music Department. David Abraham of the Vocational Department, on leave of absence last year, returns in September to work with the Howe Memorial Press. Edward J. Waterhouse, now teacher of mathematics in the Upper School, will give half time to that work, and half time to the management of the Howe Press.

In the Lower School, resignations were received from Miss Martha L. Winget, Miss Dorothy A. Bischoff, and Miss Rose M. Saladino. Mrs. Marjorie J. Morey, a former teacher, and more recently a WAC assigned to work with the blind at Valley Forge General Hospital, joined the Lower School staff in February upon her release from the Army, to teach the fifth grade. She is not returning next year, as she is joining her husband who has also been released from the Army. New teachers in the Lower School in September will be Miss Mary F. Davies, Wheelock College, '45, teacher of Kindergarten; Miss Muriel Herrick, Massachusetts State College, '45, Harvard Class '46, assistant in the Kindergarten; Miss Carolyn Peters, State Teachers' College, Wisconsin, '22, teacher of the fifth grade; Miss Bertha Feinberg, University of Cincinnati, '45, Harvard Class '46, teacher of the fifth grade; Anthony Ackerman, Bloomfield College, '45, Harvard Class '46, assistant in the Lower School special class; and Mrs. Perley C. White, who studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, teacher of piano.

Three teachers have been added to the staff of the Upper School. George Faulkner will be part-time teacher of voice; Leo F. Gittzus and George Robertie are to teach in the Vocational Department, and be masters of Tompkins and Eliot Cottages, respectively. In the Administration Offices, Miss Jean E. Harrison, secretary to the Director, resigned, as did Miss Marion A. Knoll, ediphonist. Miss Harriet M. Phillips has been engaged to take Miss Knoll's place, and Miss Joan Baum is to be assistant telephone operator, and to help in the business office.

LOSSES THROUGH DEATH

Death during the year removed three people from the retired list, claimed one teacher and a pupil. On January 31, John J. Carroll, chief engineer for fifty-two years prior to his retirement in 1938, passed away. On December 7, Lenna D. Swinerton passed away in her eighty-third year. Miss Swinerton was for many years physiotherapist of the school, and one of the first blind persons to succeed in that field. She was retired in 1933. Mrs. Cora L. Gleason died on June 17, at the age of eighty-five. Fondly known by many Perkins pupils as "Mother B," she was first house mother, and later home visitor. Mrs. Martha F. Smith, teacher of the fourth grade, died on July 17. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Harvard Class following her graduation from Smith College in 1938, and with the exception of one year which she and Mr. Smith spent at the Washington State School, of which Mr. Smith is a graduate, she had taught in the Lower School, where she had become one of our most valued teachers. Mary Ellen Pike, seven years old, died of carcinoma at the Holy Ghost Hospital in Cambridge on June 16.

As this report began by referring to a change in officers, at the Annual Meeting of the Corporation held November 5, 1945, as an unusual event, the fact that two new officers were elected at the meeting held November 4, 1946, may justify trespassing far enough into the new year to make mention of them, and the retiring predecessors. While these changes are reported in the Synopsis of the Proceedings of the Annual Meeting printed on pages 13 and 14, the Director wishes to include in this report his very great appreciation of the services and the cooperation of the two men who have relinquished their offices. Mr. G. Peabody Gardner has been a member of the Trustees since 1922, and Vice-President since 1930. Always alert to the interests of the institution and ready to help, he made the office of Vice-President more than the occasional function that this office often assumes. To the high tribute paid at the Corporation Meeting, and reported in its proceedings, the Director wishes to add his special appreciation of the services and friendship of Mr. Hallowell, the retiring President. His presidency exceeds the Director's term of service by a little more than a year. During that year his chief activity was to find a successor to Dr. Allen. During these fifteen years, Mr. Hallowell has been more than generous in his interest, his constant contact with the school, and the intimacy with its personnel that he took time to develop. There is some compensation in the fact that he will continue to serve as a Trustee.