TO:  Glynn Balkwill and the Museum Fraternity
FROM:  Francis Thackeray, Transvaal Museum, Pretoria

                                               March 3, 1997
Dear Glynn

Please would you relay to the following message to the museum fraternity,
locally and abroad.  Many thanks.

Francis Thackeray, Department of Palaeontology, Transvaal Museum
P.O. Box 413, Pretoria
email: [log in to unmask]
Local Fax: 012 322 7939  International Fax: 27-12-322-7939
Local tel: 012 322 7632  International Tel: 27-12-322-7632

        50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF MRS PLES

In April this year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery
of a fossil nicknamed "Mrs Ples", 2.5 million years old, believed by many to
represent a species (Australopithecus africanus) from which all humankind
evolved.  "Mrs Ples", discovered by Robert Broom and John Robinson of the
Transvaal Museum in 1947 at the Sterkfontein Caves, near Pretoria, is the
most complete skull of A. africanus.  "Ples" is an abbreviation of
"Plesianthropus", meaning "almost human".  "Mrs Ples" and other
australopithecines from Africa serve to confirm Charles Darwin's prediction
that the African continent would yield fossils of ape-like human creatures.

This year, in which we mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery, the
Department of Palaeontology at the Transvaal Museum is addressing the need
to promote public awareness and understanding of palaeontological science.
South Africa has a rich palaeontological heritage, and "Mrs Ples" can be
recognised as an important part of world heritage.  Efforts are being made
to promote an awareness of "Mrs Ples", especially among South African school
children, and replicas (casts) are being made with a long term objective: to
have one cast of Mrs Ples per school in South Africa within 20 years.
(Replicas are obtainable from the Transvaal Museum, subject to availability,
at R125 per cast, postage and packing extra).

As part of the celebrations marking this discovery, exhibitions featuring
Mrs Ples will be held at the Transvaal Museum (April 1-6) and at the first
national Science Festival (April 9-15).  Further, the Robert Broom Memorial
lecture will be delivered by Professor Richard Dawkins in Pretoria.  Details
are given below:

        ROBERT BROOM MEMORIAL LECTURE:

        IS EVOLUTION PROGRESSIVE?

        TO BE DELIVERED BY:

        RICHARD DAWKINS

        PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE
        OXFORD UNIVERSITY

DATE: APRIL 1
TIME: 7:00 FOR 7:7:30 p.m.  (COME EARLY!)

VENUE:  SINODALE SENTRUM,
CORNER OF VISAGIE AND ANDRIES STREETS,
PRETORIA (ONE BLOCK EAST OF TRANSVAAL MUSEUM).

THE ENTRANCE OF THE SINODALE SENTRUM IS ON VISAGIE STREET, NEAR THE CORNER
OF VISAGIE AND ANDRIES STREETS.

THERE WILL BE NO ENTRANCE FEE, BUT PLEASE TELEPHONE THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM FOR
PURPOSES OF RESERVING SEATS.  TELEPHONE FRANCIS THACKERAY, CANDICE, ANNIE,
OR HEIDI.  PLEASE INDICATE HOW MANY SEATS YOU WILL NEED, AND PROVIDE A
CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER WITH YOUR NAME.

PARKING IS AVAILABLE IN THE STREET IN THE VICINITY OF THE SINODALE SENTRUM,
NEAR THE TRANSVAAL MUSEUM, PRETORIA

Francis Thackeray
Department of Palaeontology and Palaeoenvironmental Studies
Transvaal Museum
P.O. Box 413
Pretoria 0001   Tel 012 322 7632   Fax 012 322 7939