At United Nations Headquarters, the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) maintains a Visitors’ Service Section which handles visitors' queries, conducts public briefings and provides guided tours of the Headquarters buildings. The tour service, which began on 20 October 1952, was operated by the American Association for the United Nations until last June, when it became a part of DPI’s Public Liaison and Distribution Division. Initiated with a staff of 50 female guides capable of briefing visitors in 15 languages, the service is now manned by some 65 guides and, up to 30 June 1955, had provided tours for more than 1,855,000 persons.

Photograph shows three of the guides in their dressing-room during a rest period. They are (left to right): Esin Kaya (Turkey), Beryl van der Osten (U.S.A) and Y. Tarr (Egypt).