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OCR for page 25
CHAPTER II
THE ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
IN chronicling the history of the Academy it has seemed de-
sirable to divide the half century into periods of ten years
each, although in some instances, for the sake of clearness,
the whole story of a transaction is given in one place without
regard to years.
I863-~867
The first meeting of the Academy held in New York on
April 22, ~863, was a meeting for organization. It was devoted,
~ · ~ · ~
as already shown, to the consideration ot a constitution and
by-laws, the election of officers and a council, and the appoint-
ment of certain committees. In accordance with the provisions
of the constitution, the members arranged themselves in two
1~PC (~N m~[h~n1~;~R and nhV8iCS. and (b) natural history;
and a chairman and secretary were elected tor each class. Five
TV_ V/ ^~ ~ r-~J~~~~~ ~ v-, , ~
it- -
_'A ~ ~ ~ ——— —— J
sections were included under each class. l he assignment ot
members to these sections seems not to have been thoroughly
carried out until the meeting of August, ~864, and eveh at that
date the names of several members do not appear under any
section. The names of the sections and the number of members
enrolled under each, which are matters of considerable interest,
are shown in the following table:
.
, .
.
CLASS OF MATHEMATICS AND PHYSICS Number of
Members
6
. . 6
· · 9
6
Sect. I. Mathematics .............
Sect. 2. Physics e ~
Sect. 3. Astronomy, Geography and Geodesy..
Sect. 4. Mechanics
Sect. 5. Chemistry
i
So
i
OCR for page 26
~6
NATIONAL ACADENIY OF SCIENCES
CLASS OF NATURAL HISTORY Number of
M embers
Sect. I. Mineralogy and Geology 6
Sect. 2. Zoology 5
Sect. 3. Botany I
Sect. 4. Anatomy and Physiology ~
Sect. 5. Ethnology 0
Total . . .
I4
44
It will be seen from the foregoing figures that the number of
members who joined the sections concerned with the physical
sciences was twice as large as the number which joined those
concerned with the natural sciences. This was due to the fact
that the Academy movement was promoted by the physicists
rather than the naturalists. As indicated by certain remarks
of Professor B ache and Senator Wilson, the original plan seems
to have contemplated the formation of an academy of physical
sciences.
It is interesting to notice that the paleontologists aligned them-
selves with geology rather than zoology. The section of botany
had but one member, and that of ethnology none. Half the
membership, in so far as it was assigned to sections, assembled
in the first three physical sections, mathematics, physics, and
astronomy (with geography and geology).
The first scientific session of the Academy, following the
meeting for organization, was held in Washington on January
4-to 9, ~864, in the Capitol, in the rooms of the Pacific Rail-
road Committee of the Senate which were placed at the disposal
-A ~ ~
ngures that
O ,
~ .1 ~ 1 T ,1 ' , 1 1~ 1~
of the Academy. In the interval between tnese two meetings.
— — ——— — _ _ _ _ __ J
~ · · . . . 1 · 1 1 · , 1 1 1 _
however, SIX committees on technical suo~ects nag Deen ap-
pointed. These reported at the January meeting, and in three
cases the reports were adopted and the committees discharged,
while in the other three the committees were continued. Four
additional committees were appointed before the close of ~864.
The work of these committees and of others appointed sub-
sequently forms the sub ject of a later chapter. The importance
of the scientific committees was felt by President Bache, who
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
27
considered that it was largely through their activities that the
Academy was to fulfil its functions. In his report for ~86~ he
remarks:
" The first trial of the working of the Academy was to be made, and the first
effort was to be through the action of a Committee on Weights and Measures,
for the appointment of which, to consider the subject of the ' Uniformity of
Weights, Measures and Coins, considered in relation to domestic and inter-
national commerce,' the Academy had been addressed before its adjournment by
the Hon. Secretary of the Treasury, S. P. Chase.
" It was obvious that the only effective and prompt mode of action by members
scattered over the United States, as were the fifty named in the charter, must be
through committees. Action must originate with committees, and be perfected by
discussion in the general meetings of the Academy, or in the classes or sections.
Decisions to be finally pronounced by the entire body." ~
~ . _ ~ ~
For the first time, the Academy listened to the reading of
scientific papers by its members. In the program were in-
cluded the names of Agassiz, Alexander, Bache, F. A. P.
Barnard, j. A. Barnard, B. A. Gould, Henry, Peirce, Ruther-
furd and Strong. The subjects of the ~6 papers that were pre-
sented were all connected with the physical sciences, except
three by Professor Agassiz (two of which related to fishes and
one to individuality among animals3, and one by Stephen
Alexander on the forms of icebergs. The preponderance of
physical subjects is not surprising, when it is recalled that two-
thirds of the membership at this time were enrolled in the class
of mathematics and physics.
The papers were referred to the Committee on Publication,
which was instructed to " take order " for their publication,
while the Council was directed to provide the means. The
Academy was at this time without funds, except the amounts
received from members as dues, and the orders could not, there-
fore, be carried out immediately. It was not until ~866 that
the first volume of the Memoirs of the Academy was issued, and
this contained but two of the ~6 papers read at the first scientific
meeting in ~864. It was proposed in ~866 to collect and pub-
Annual Report of the President for 1863. Ann. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1863-4 (I865), p.49.
I
OCR for page 28
28
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
fish the minor papers in the Proceedings of the Academy, but
this action was never taken, the first issue of the Proceedings
having been devoted to the reports and minutes.
Besides formally adopting a constitution and by-laws, acting
on reports of scientific committees, and listening to scientific
communication, the Academy transacted other important busi-
ness at the meeting of January, ~864. It elected the first foreign
members, or " Foreign Associates," as they were styled in the
constitution. The by-laws provided that not more than ten
Foreign Associates might be elected at any one meeting, and the
Academy proceeded at once to elect this number. This first list
comprised Sir Wm. Rowan Hamilton, Karl Ernst Von Baer,
Michael Faraday, J. B. Elie de Beaumont, Sir David Brewster,
G. A. A. Plana, Robert Bunsen, F. W. A. Argelander, Miche!
ChasTes and Henri Miine-Edwards.
The Academy had not been in existence six months when
it lost one of its original members, Professor Hubbard, one of
the youngest of the incorporators, who died on August ~6, ~863,
at the age of 46 years. The event was reported at the meeting
of January, ~864, and in accordance with the by-laws, Dr. B. A.
Gould was appointed to prepare a biographical notice. This
notice, the first of the series of biographical sketches published
by the Academy, was read at the New Haven meeting, August
5, ~864, and printed in the first annuai.2
In accordance with the by-laws, the death of three eminent
scientific men of the country not members of the Academy was
announced at the meeting of January, ~864, and three members
were appointed to prepare biographical sketches. Only two of
the sketches appear to have been presented, however, and the
practice was not continued in subsequent years, doubtless on
account of the burden which it imposed on the membership, and
the lack of funds for printing.
Of the second session of the Academy for the year ~864,
which was held in New Haven on the sth and 6th of August,
little has been recorded, beyond the fact that ten papers were
PP- 71-I I2.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
29
read, including the two biographical sketches of non-members
airea(ly mentioned. Of the remaining eight papers, all but
one related to the physical sciences.
The Academy lost three more of its original members dur-
ing the year ~864, Edward Hitchcock? who died on February
27, Joseph Gilbert Totten, who died on April 22, and Ben jamin
Silliman, Sr., who died on November 24. Biographical notices
of them were published in the Annual.
The year ~865 was signalized by the publication of the first
Annual, a pamphlet of ~12 pages in duodecimo form, which
appeared between January I, and February ~3. It contained
the Act of Incorporation, the constitution and by-laws, a list
of officers, members, foreign associates and committees, 'the
first report of the President, and a eulogy of J. S. Hubbard,
one of the incorporators. As the Academy was without funds,
the expense of printing was met by contributions of individual
members, and in accordance with a vote of the Academy Iowan
distributed to members of both houses of Congress, and to the
heads of departments of the Government.3
Although the eighteenth by-law of the Academy provided
that the Annual should be published on the first day of each
year, this first number did not appear until the Academy had
been in existence nearly two years, and only two additional
numbers were issued, dated, respectively, ~866 and ~867. The
by-law, or rule, as it was afterwards called, remained in force,
however, until ~ 896, when it was finally stricken out.4
The year ~865 was further characterized by the fact that
no requests for the investigation of scientific matters were re-
cei~red from the Government and no new scientific committees
appointed.
Thirty-four papers were read at the scientific sessions of this
year, or somewhat more than were presented in ~86~. The pro-
gram covered a much wider scope than that of the preceding year.
While astronomy, physics and mathematics were well repre-
3Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. I, z877, p. 43.
4 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for ~896, p. to.
4
OCR for page 30
So
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
sensed, ten papers on geological subjects were presented, four
papers on zoology, two papers relating to anthropology, etc.
The Academy lost one of its original members this year,
James Melville Gilliss, who died on February 9, 1865. It was
also unfortunate as regards the presiding officers, President
B ache having been in ill health, and the Vice-President, James
Dwight Dana, having been forced to resign on August 23, from
the same cause.5 The report to Congress on the operations of the
Academy during 1865 was submitted by Professor Henry.
As in the preceding year, the Washington meeting of the
Academy was held in the Capitol. The August meeting was
held at Northampton, Massachusetts. Few details have been
recorded regarding either of these meetings. From Llesley's
letters we learn that the Northampton session opened with ~~
members present, which number increased to no on the follow-
ing day. This session opened on August 23, and closed on the
afternoon of the 26th.
The division of the membership between) the two classes
" Mathematics and Physics " and "Natural History" under-
went few changes in ~ 865, but the section of " Ethnology " came
into actual existence through the assignment of one member
thereto. Advantage was also taken in several sections of a
provision of the constitution whereby members assigned to the
5 Professor Dana's reasons for resigning are mentioned in letters written by him to Pro-
fessor Baird and Professor Guyot. On December to, z864, he wrote to Professor Baird.
"As the time for our January (~865) meeting of the National Academy approaches, I
become more and more convinced that I ought not to encounter the labor and fatigue of the
occasion. Had I no duties but those of a private in the Academy I should have less fear.
But with the cares of President, which involve meetings of council, as well as all
business meetings, at least, of the Academy, and much more of an outside nature, I am sure
of chants h" 1lnwicP ten r;olr a+~^nr7an^-
~,
I. no. .... I should much prefer now to throw up the
position; for besides my incapabilities from imperfect health, I should enjoy myself far more
if I could have my time and strength to mingle socially with the members present." (The
Life~of James Dwight Dana, by D. C. Gilman, 1899, pp. 362, 363.)
To Professor Guyot he wrote on February ~4, ~865: " I wish most heartily I were out
of the office of Vice-President, and I think I shall take an early opportunity to abdicate.
It makes the meetings, now that Bache is unwell, times of great fatigue for me, and of no
satisfactory intercourse with friends on the ground. I dislike the duty, and care nothing
for the honor of it. You will not be surprised, therefore, if my resignation is handed in not
long hence." ~ Op. cit., p. 329.)
OCR for page 31
ANNALS OF TINE ACADEMY
3I
various sections could be elected honorary members of others.
Thus, a member of the section of chemistry was elected to the
section of botany, a member of the section of mathematics to
the section of astronomy, etc.
The year ~866"'found the Academy without presiding officers.
The first President, Professor B ache, continued in ill-health
and was unable to attend the meetings, and the Vice-President,
J. D. Dana, as already mentioned, resigned in August, ~865,
from the same cause. The Academy being thus without presid-
ing officers, proceeded on January ~5, ~866, to elect Joseph
Henry as Vice-President. " On taking the chair, Mr. Henry
stated that while he was highly honored by the election, he felt
much hesitation in accepting the office, since his duties in con-
nection with the Smithsonian Institution were more than
sufficient to occupy his attention, and that he could only accept
the responsible position with the understanding that he would
be permitted to retire as soon as the president should be able
to resume his duties, or his place could be filled by another." 6
As the event proved, however, Henry did not retire, but re-
mained at the head of the Academy for twelve years.
The Academy lost another of its original members, Augustus
A. Gould, who died on September ~5, 1866.
This year again the Government~sought the advice of the
Academy on technical scientific matters and two committees
were appointed, one on the improvement of the harbor of San
Juan de! Norte, or Greytown, in Nicaragua, and the other on
proving and gauging spirits sub jected to duty. Both committees
presented reports, which were published in the annual report
of the Academy, that relating to the gauging of spirits being
voluminous and detailed.
Thirty-eight papers were presented for discussion at the trio
scientific sessions held in ~866, or a few more than were included
in the programs of the preceding yearn The subjects covered
a wider range than those of the preceding year. The greatest
6 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for z866, p. I. Sen. Misc. Doc. no. 44, 40th Congress, fist Session.
7 Including three biographical sketches.
OCR for page 32
32
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
number of papers were on astronomy, followed by zoology,
physics and geography.
The Academy this year for the first time voiced its interest
in scientific activities outside its own sphere by passing resolu-
tions expressing satisfaction at the action of the Government
in authorizing the employment of metric weights and measures,
and recommending that the metric system be taught in the
public schools, and be made a subject of examination for admis-
sion to colleges and universities; and also " that the Academy
considered it highly desirable that the discretionary power
granted by Congress to the Postmaster-General to use the
metrical weights in the post-o~ces be exercised at the earliest
convenient day." Another resolution was adopted, commending
the generosity of Nathaniel Th aye r, of Boston, in fitting out an
expedition to South America under the conduct of Professor
Agassiz.
stat
. —
r
· ~ ~ 1 . `m .' . ~ ~
a _
1 ne summer meeting was again held at 1\1 orthampton, Massa-
chusetts. Few details regarding it have been recorded, but it
was referred to by one who was present as " a brilliant meeting."
An important event of Ache vear ~866 was the publication of
tne first volume ot the lVlemo~rs of the Academy. It was in
quarto form and comprised 342 pages. The volume contained
five articles, three on astronomical subjects, one on the distri-
bution of certain diseases in the United States and another on
rifled guns. It was distributed through the Smithsonian Insti-
tution to ~~ libraries in the United States and z~ in other
countries. A second number of the Annual was also published.
The events of ~867 were numerous and important. At the
opening of the year, in February, the Academy lost its first
,'_ _ ~ _, 1 ~ , ~ 71 ~ ~
r
President, Professor B ache. In his report as Vice-President,
Professor Henry remarked: " During the past year the Acad-
emy has been called upon to mourn the loss of its distinguished
president, Alexander Dallas Bache. This eminent savant de-
voted his life industriously to the advance of science, and may
De saga to nave fallen a martyr to the cause of his country in the
hour of its peril." B ache was one of the principal leaders, if
~ · 1 . 1 ~ .' . . ..
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
33
not the prime mover, in the formation of the Academy, and
his deep interest in its work is indicated by the fact that he
bequeathed his estate to the Academy as a fund for the promotion
of researches in the natural and physical sciences. His original
intention was to place the fund under the control of a board, or,
in case the board failed to act, that the trustees of the estate
should apply the funds to the purposes specified, un(ler the
direction of the American Philosophical Society. Soon after
the organization of the National Academy, however? on July
~5, ~863, he added a codicil to his will which reads as follows:
" ITEM: MY will is that, upon the death of my wife, all the rest and residue
of my estate ~ shall be paid over to and vest in the corporation of the National
Academy of Sciences, incorporated by act of Congress, passed the 3d day of
March, A. D. ~863, whom I hereby appoint trustees in the place of my said
executors under the fourth clause of my said will, to apply the income, according
to the directions in the said clause contained, to the prosecution of researches in
physical and natural science by assisting experimentalists and observers in such
manner and in such sums as shall be agreed upon by the board of direction in the
said clause Darned." 9
Mrs. B ache died in February, It370, and in I87I the treasurer,
Fairman Rogers, reported that the amount handed over to him
by the executors of the estate of Professor B ache was $40~5I5.07'
" together with an annual ground rent of Cot, and some lands
in Missouri not now ~then] available." 2° In 1879' this amount
was increased by $4650, on the death of Henry Stood B ache, a
nephew of Professor Bache, who was a beneficiary under the
will of Mrs. Bach. The income of the original fund
amounted in 1872 to about $2500. The first allotment for
scientific research alas made in I87I by the board having the
fund in charge, the chairman of which was Joseph Henry.
The amount of the grant was $500' and was the first of a series
made to Professor l. E. Hilgard in connection with the ma~-
netic survey of the United States.
8 The property excepted was a house in Washington, which he gave to his sister, but
with the provision that after her death and that of his wife it should also pass to the
Academy.
~Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1867, p. II. Sen. Misc. Doc. no. 106, 40th Congress, ad Session.
30 Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. I, p. 8I.
Loc. cit., p. 156.
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34
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Through this bequest, the Academy was put in possession of
an important instrumentality for the promotion of scientific
research, and nearly every year, for forty years, the Academy
has granted one or more allotments for investigations in various
branches of science, but chiefly in physics and astronomy. By
~89 the number of allotments had risen to 79, amounting in all
to more than $38,ooo.22 Professor Bache's generous action has
not only been of direct benefit to American science, but has sug-
gested other bequests and donations to the Academy, through
which research has been stimulated arid aided.
Besides the death of Professor B ache, other important changes
had taken place in the membership of the Academy between
~ 863 and ~ 867. Of the fifty incorporators eight had died, namely,
Hubbard, Totten, Hitchcock, Benj. Silliman (senior), Gilliss,
A. A. Gould, Bache and Alexander. Eleven members had
resigned, and in accordance with the provisions of the consti-
tution, two were constituted honorary members on account of
age or remoteness from the places of meeting.
The January meeting for ~867 was held as usual in Washing-
ton and ~; members were present. Only seven papers were read
at this meeting, the smallest number presented at any meeting
since the organization of the Academy. Resolutions were
again passed recommending that the metric system of weights
and measures be taught in the public schools and higher institu-
tions of learning; and, in addition, registering the opinion that
it was highly desirable to employ metric weights in the post-
offices " at the earliest convenient day."
At the August meeting of ~867 a resolution signed by eight
members was offered, requesting that Congress should be asked
to amend the act incorporating the Academy so that the member-
ship could be increased beyond fifty. The resolution was dis-
cussed at this meeting and referred to the Council. At the next
session, on recommendation of the Council, it was rejected. The
matter did not rest here, however, for at the meeting of April,
1870' it was brought forward again, and this time unanimously
adopted by the Academy.
.
"Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., vol. I, p. 3~7.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
35
At the summer session the Committee on Weights and
Measures was authorized and directed " to communicate with
individuals and corporations representing the various trades
throughout the country tendering advice and assistance in any
efforts they may be disposed to make in regard to the introduc-
tion of the metric weights and measures."
The summer session this year was held in New Haven, ~;
members being in attendance. A singular feature of the scien-
tific program was that of the 29 papers read, lo were by Professor
Agassiz and related chiefly to fishes. The remaining papers,
with two exceptions related to the physical sciences.
A third number of the Annual of the Academy was published
in ~ 867, after which it was discontinued.
.
I868-I872
Professor Henry continued during 1867 to preside over the
meetings of the Academy in the capacity of Vice-President, but
in January, 1868, he was elected President, and held that posi-
tion for ~ ~ years. At the same time, Wm. Chauvenet was elected
Vice-President. The resolution to increase the membership
was brought up again at this time, but was rejected. The feel-
ing appears to have prevailed, however, that a larger attendance
was desirable, and action was taken authorizing the President
to invite as many persons not belonging to the Academy as he
O ~ ~
might think proper, while each member was privileged to invite
a number not to exceed five. The time of the first session was
by resolution changed from January to the second week in April,
while that of the second session was changed from summer to
fall, usually October or November. This new arrangement of
meetings was put into effect in ~869 and has continued in force
to the present.
Not content with passing resolutions regarding the use of
the metric system of weights and measures, the Academy in
~868 appointed a committee to wait upon the Postmaster-Gen-
eral and urge their adoption in the post-odices. It appears from
the records that the communication of the committee was
, ,. ~
\
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92
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
at the market value of $~o,ooo. After providing a plan for in-
creasing the capital fund to $~s,ooo, the deed of trust requires
that once in every five years, about two-thirds of the accumulated
interest shall be awarded as a prize, to be known as the " Com-
stock Prize," " to the borza fee resident of North America, who,
not less than one year nor more than six years before the award-
ing of the prize, shall have made in the judgment of the trustee
the most important discovery or investigation in electricity or
magnetism or radiant energy." In case no such discovery or in-
vestigation is deemed worthy of the prize the trustee is permitted,
under certain conditions, to allot the prize-money in aiding
research. ~ ~~ - ~ ~ ~~ ~
l he " (:omstock Prize has not as yet been awarded.95
During the period under consideration, ~903 to ~907, the
following delegates were appointed to represent the Academy
at meetings of various international associations, or celebrations
at universities: Professor Simon Newcomb was delegated to
attend a meeting of the Council of the International Association
of Academies in London, June 4, ~903. The same year Dr.
S. F. Emmons, President Van Hise and Dr. Geo. F. Becker,
represented the Academy at the International Geological Con-
gress held at Vienna on August 27. On the occasion of the
50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Wisconsin,
in ~904, Professor Grove K. Gilbert and Dr. Geo. E. Hale were
the representatives of the Academy, and at the meeting of the
International Association of Academies held in London on May
25, ~904, the Academy was represented by its Foreign Associates,
Sir Archibald Geikie and Sir E. Ray Lankester. The following
year Dr. William Trelease was designated to attend the Inter-
national Botanical Congress held in Vienna, June ~ ~ to ~8, 1905,
while Dr. George E. Hale and Professor W. W. Campbell were
the representatives on the Committee on Solar Research which
met at Oxford in September, 1905. In 1906 Dr. Arnold Hague
represented the Academy at the quaternary celebration of the
University of Aberdeen. The following year Professor T. C.
Chamberlin was the delegate of the Academy at the celebration
96 For the deed of trust and other documents, see Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for ~907, pp. ~3-~5.
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:`
ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
93
of the both anniversary of the founding of the Michigan Agricul-
tural College, May 28 to 3~; Dr. Alexander Agassiz represented
the Academy at the Seventh International Zoological Congress
held in Boston, August ~9 to 23; Dr. Arnold Hague, at the
centenary celebration of the Geological Society of London, Sep-
tember 26 to 2g; Dr. George E. Hale, at the meeting of the Inter-
national Association of Academies, and at the third meeting of the
Union for Cooperation in Solar Research, in Paris, in May;
Professor W. C. Brogger, at the bicentenary celebration of the
birth of Linn~us at Upsala, May 23 and 24; and Professor Henry
F. Osborn at a similar celebration in Neal York.
T 908 - ~ 9 ~ 2
The proceedings of the Academy in 1908 and the events of that
year were important from many points of view. The last of the
incorporators of the Academy, Professor Wolcott Gibbs, died on
December 9. He was Vice-Presirlent of the Academv from ~ 872
~ ,
to 1878 and President from IYgs to I90I. He had also been the
first Home Secretary, serving in that capacity from 1863 to 1872.
In a brief sketch of his life published in 1908, it is remarked:
" His long life was devoted to the cause of research in the field of
pure science, and his influence was always on the side of the
highest ideals." He was succeeded in the presidency by Alex-
ander Agassiz.
The subject of the preservation of the forests of the United
States had become one of strong public interest in the country
in ~908, and the Academy again voiced its opinion regarding
this matter in so far as it related to the forests of the White
Mountains and the Appalachians in the following resolutions
of the Council which were transmitted to the Senate and House
of Representatives:
" Whereas under the present drain upon the forest timber supply of the
entire United States will be exhausted within twenty years, while in the Eastern
States, where no adequate means have been employed to protect the forest, the
end of the supply is even nearer;
8
,,
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94
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
" Whereas the headwaters of all important navigable streams to the west
of the Mississippi River are now protected by national forests, while the Appa-
lachian Mountains, which form the waterheads of many navigable streams of
great importance, are entirely unprotected and are being damaged to a menacing
extent by the wasteful cutting of the forest, unrestricted fires, and injudicious
clearing;
"Resolved, That the council of the National Academy of Sciences heartily
favors the extension of the national forest system to the Appalachian Mountains
for their protection and permanent utilization.
" Resolved, That we urge upon Congress the passage at the present session of a
bill to acquire in the southern Appalachian Mountains and the White Mountains
such forest lands as are necessary to protect the navigable streams which have
their sources therein and to make permanent the timber supply of the eastern
part of the Unietd States." 96
The important results obtained through cooperative methods
of research led the Academy in agog to appoint additional com-
mittees for the promotion of such activities. One of these! the
Committee on International Cooperation in Research, was to
serve as the adviser of the Academy in its relations with the
International Association of Academies. Its duties were " to
keep in close touch with the work of the International Associa-
tion of Academies, and to assist in securing suitable representa-
tion of the Academy at the council and general meetings of the
Association "; and also " to consider plans for cooperation in
research, and to recommend from time to time the initiation
of such cooperative investigations as may warrant the support
of the Academy." In Cap, this committee submitted a very
interesting report, which, as it briefly summarizes the activities
of the Academy in this connection, seems to demand quotation
in full. It is as follows: 97
"The committee on cooperation in research met in Boston on April 5.
Reports of progress were received from the committees on solar research, on
chemical research, on paleontologic correlation, and on brain research.
" The International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research has held three
meetings, a preliminary one at St. Louis, and largely attended meetings at Oxford
and Paris. The second volume of 'transactions has recently been published.
Arrangements are now being made for the next meeting, which is to be held at
96 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for ~908, p. 20.
97 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for Log, p. ~3.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
Pasadena and Mount Wilson in Anglo.
in progress under the auspices of the union.
95
A large amount of cooperative work is
_
" The committee on chemical research has prepared a circular letter to
investigators, inviting their cooperation, and the work will be developed rapidly
as soon as Doctor Noyes is relieved from his present duties as acting president of
the Institute of Technology (in a few weeks).
" The committee recognized the importance of cooperative investigations in this
country, as well as those of international scope, and decided to encourage promis-
ing opportunities in either field.
" The chairman was authorized to invite several other members of the academy
(selected by the committee) to join the committee, namely, Messrs. Mall, Moore,
Chittenden, Chamberlin, Davis, and Wilson.
" The importance of providing for adequate means of publication of short
papers, as well as complete volumes of transactions, was recognized by the com-
mittee, and it was decided to request you to bring this matter to the attention of
the council.
" It was announced that the academy would be represented by one of the mem-
bers of the committee (George E. Hale) at the council meeting of the Inter-
national Association of Academies, to be held in Rome June ~-3 next. The
appointment of Professor Hale was made by President Remsen.
SIMON NEWCOMB,
"A.A.NOYES,
C. S. MINOT,
H. F. OSBORN,
GEORGE E. HALE, Chairman.
" Communicated by
HENRY 1?. OSBORN.
The second cooperative committee appointed in 1908 was one
on International Paleontological Correlation. The committee
on this important subject divided itself into a Vertebrate Section
and an Invertebrate Section. The Vertebrate Section submitted
a report in 1909, which was published in the Annals of the
New York Academy of Sciences, under the title of " Geologic
Correlation Through Vertebrate Paleontology by International
Cooperation." 98
The Academy published this year a comprehensive report on
the trust funds of the Academy, comprising transcripts of wills
Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci., vol. xix, no. 2, part I, pp. 4~-44, April 20, ]909, `` Correlation
Bulletin, no. I, Plan and Scope."
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96 NATION AL AC ~ E M Y OF SCIENCES
and deeds of trusts, lists of donors, subscribers, trustees, com-
mittees, etc., data regarding the amount of the principal of the
several funds, the amount of the income, the amount and object
of expenditures, and a summary of the action of the Academy
relative to the funds from year to year. As already mentioned,
the trust funds of the Academy in 1895 were six in number, the
combined principal of which amounted to $94~000. In 1908 two
funds had been added, and the total amount of the capital aggre-
gated $170~359.I7~99
From these funds, between the years 1871 and 1908? I75 grants
were made, ranging in amount from $25 to $2500 each. The
majority were from the B ache Fund and from the Gould Fund.
In addition, the income of the Wolcott Gibbs Fund was
regularly alloted, and gold medals were presented from the
funds which provided for them.
The grants from the B ache Fund between I87I and 1908
amounted to about $76,ooo, distributed in the following
manner: t°°
Astronomy and Astrophysics-
Physics . e ~ e · · e ~ e e · · · e e
Magnetic Surveys
Physiology and Pathology.
Miscellaneous ~°~ .............
Chemistry . . .
Zoology ...................
Botany .....
Paleontology
Psychology . .
Meteorology
Seismology . . .
..$25,650
... ~4,634
.. 8,260
.. 6,600
·~. 5,35°
............ 5,150
.. 5,05°
.. 3,IOO
.. 1,200
·- 600
·. 55°
IOO
Total $76,244
The grants from the Gould Fund between 1899 and 1908 were
all for astronomical investigations and amounted to $9~430.
990f this sum, $40,000 is not yet available.
100 The classification is not entirely exact, as the object of the grants is not always definitely
stated.
101 Some of the items under this heading are probably chargeable to astronomy.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
97
Grants from other funds for astronomical purposes amounted to
$7,645. The total for astronomical and astrophysical investiga-
tions was about $42,725 or nearly one-half the amount of all
grants made between ~87~ and ~908, the sum total of which was
about $g4,ooo.~°2
In Clog, a first installment of the bequest of Professor 0. C.
Marsh, was sent to the Academy by the executor of his estate,
with the following letter:
" PROFESSOR S. F. EMMONS,
NEW HAVEN, CONN., November ~ 7, Tog.
" Treasurer of the Natio7~1 Academy of Sciences,
" Washington', D. C.
" DEAR SIR: I think you are perhaps already aware that the late Prof.
O. C. Marsh left a bequest to the National Academy of Sciences. The seventh
clause of his will is as follows:
" ' I give, devise, and bequeath to the corporation known as the National
Academy of Sciences, in Washington, D. C., the sum of $~o,ooo as a trust fund,
the income to be used and expended by it for promoting original research in the
natural sciences.'
" When Prof. Marsh died he was somewhat in debt, and we have just
succeeded in paying the last of his notes, and have a small balance over, so are
sending you with this a check for $~,~50 as a first payment of the above legacy.
We hope later to be able to pay the whole amount, as we receive from time to time
certain moneys from the George Peabody estate, as certain trusts fall back into
that estate, and it is probable that the amount still to be received from that
source will be enough to do this. Will you kindly acknowledge the receipt of
this payment, and at a later date send us the acceptance of the academy of the
above trust?
" With great respect, I am, sir,
" Very truly yours,
WM. W. FARNAM,
" Executor Estate of 0. C. Marsh."
The Academy, upon recommendation of the Council, ac-
cepted this bequest and directed that it be accumulated until it
should amount to the sum of $~o,ooo before any grants there
made from it.
102 The income of the Watson Fund since egos, which was also clerked to astronomical
researches, and some minor items of a miscellaneous character, are not included in the
foregoing figures.
AIL
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98
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
In Go the Henry Draper Medal was awarded to Mr.
Charles Greeley Abbot, Director of the Smithsonian Astrophys-
ical Observatory " for his researches on the infra-red region
of the solar spectrum and his accurate! measurements, by im-
pro~red devices, of the solar ' constant' of radiation." \03 The
medal was presented to Mr. Abbot at the annual dinner, April
~9, ~9~ I. Five years having elapsed since the last award of the
Barnard Medal, a committee of the Academy recommended
that it be given in Go to Dr. Ernest Rutherford, L`angworthy
Professor of Physics and Director of the Physical Laboratory
in the University of Manchester for his investigations on the
phenomena of radio-activity.
as follows:
, . _
The committee remarked, in part!
" Prof. Rutherford has been identified with this branch of physical science
since its inception by the discovery of the so-called X-rays in ~895.
His
researches, published in numerous communications to current journals, appear
to have contributed more than those of any contemporary to the establishment
of the salient properties of radio-active substances. Not content with the experi-
mental determination and verification of these properties, he has recently gone
further and pointed out the convincing evidence they afford of the correctness of
the ancient doctrine of the atomic structure of matter. In addition to his con-
tributions in this field of investigation of many original, ingenious, and pene-
trating methods of observation and measurement, he has also furnished the best
general account of its origin, development, and present status in his book on
Radio-active Transformations (published in ~906) and in his presidential address
read before the section of mathematics and physics of the British Association for
the Advancement of Science, in August, agog." 204
The medal was awarded to Professor Rutherford' in accord-
ance with the recommendation of the committee.
The Academy was represented at the meeting of the council of
the International Association of Academies held in Rome in June,
~909, by the chairman of the Committee on International Cooper-
ation in Research, Professor George E. Hale, who was also the
delegate to the Darwin Celebration at the University of Cam-
bridge, June 22 to 24' ~909. The committee recommended that
the Academy should vote in favor of admitting the Swiss Society
3 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for Negro, p. z2.
04 Loc. cit., p. z4.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
99
of Natural Sciences to membership in the Association and also
in favor of publishing annually a volume of physical and
chemical tables in accordance with a plan presented to the
Association. These tables were to be compiled from current
periodicals, and to be classified under five general heads: general
physics, heat, electricity and magnetism, light and sound, physi-
cal chemistry. It was expected that they would be useful to
students, investigators and those concerned with the practical
applications of physics and chemistry, as they would bring
together in convenient form a variety of tables that might other-
wise be overlooked or difficult of access. The first volume of
tables was published in 1912.~°5
The Academy was invited in Go by the American Philo-
sophical Society to consider the question of the establishment of
a seismological laboratory. The project was favorably recom-
mended by the Council and at the meeting of April, 19io, the
Academy adopted the following resolution:
" Resolved, That the academy strongly approves the establishment of the pro-
posed Seismological Laboratory, and its organization under the direction of the
Smithsonian Institution." 206
Two delegates were appointed in I9IO to represent the
Academy at international conventions held during that year.
At the International Association of Academies held at Rome
in May, and at the International Zoological Congress, held at
Gratz, in August, the Academy was represented by Mr. E. G.
Conklin; at the International Geological Congress, held in
Stockholm in the latter month, by Mr. S. F. Emmons.
Dr. Arnold Hague represented the Academy on the occasion
of the celebration of the tooth anniversary of the University of
Berlin, October lo to 12' i9lO.
The sixth President of the Academy, Alexander Agassiz died
on March 27' I9IO. He held the presidency from I90I to 1907,
And was also Foreign Secretary from 1891 to 1901. Professor
Mayer remarked of him: '` His remarkable energy and exec-
105 For the full plan see Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for Too, pp. ~6, ~7.
6 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for Coo, p. 20.
l
i
l
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TOO
utive ability
· .,
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
fitted him in an eminent degree to be the leader of
scenic expeditions. Each exploring trip was planned to a
day even to its minute details, every course charted, distances
measured and every station decided upon, before he left his desk
in the Harvard Museum, so that all of its achievements were
actually prearranged. . . . It is due chiefly to his forethought
that in more than voodoo miles of wandering over tropical seas
he n-`rPr miff with ~ Cf~rin~,c Strident
11~ 11~V~1 1ll~L V,lLll ~ ~~11~o AAmong scientific
o
men be became the greatest patron ot zoology our country has
known. In Also, at the time of his death, the fifty-fourth volume
of the Bulletins, and the fortieth volume of the Memoirs of the
Museum of Comparative Zoology were appearing. These pub-
lications had been started in ~ 863 and ~ 864, and in the number of
important and beautifully illustrated papers they contain they
have been excelled by only a few of the most active scientific
societies of the world; yet the expense of producing them has
largely been borne by one man Alexander Agassiz." ]07 He
bequeathed the sum of $so,ooo " for the general use of the
Academy.
The International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research
in which the Academy is represented held its fourth conference
at the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory from August 3~ to
September 2, two. At this meeting, which was attended by 37
delegates from foreign countries and ~7 from the United States,
the scope of the Union was extended to include all branches of
astrophysics. " The resolutions adopted called for the continua-
tion of the series of daily photographs of the calcium flocculi
with spectroheliographs used by cooperating observatories in
various parts of the world; the addition of a series of daily pho-
tographs of the hydrogen flocculi; the inclusion in the list of
cooperating institutions of the observatories at Tacubaya
:~lexlco, and aviary, Spain; the adoption of definite inter-
national standards of wave-lengths of the second order, based
on interferometer determinations made at three laboratories;
i,
. .
107 pop. Sci. Monthly, November, I9IO, pp. 425, 430.
308 This sum was paid into the treasury on February I, I9II.
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ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY
IOI
the use of barium lines in the neighborhood of ~ 5800, where
sharp iron lines are not sufficiently numerous for standards;
the extension of the system of standards of the second order to
shorter and longer wave-lengths; the measurement of standards
of the third order by concave gratings at various cooperating
institutions; the use of the name International Angstrom if. A.)
for the unit on which the system of standards of the international
system is based; the publications of the report of the sun-spot
spectrum committee and of the cooperating observers in the
next volume of the Transactions of the Solar Union; the con-
tinuation of visual observations of spot spectra in accordance
with a revised and extended scheme; the preparation of a gen-
eral catalogue of the lines in the photographic spectra of sun-
spots; the preparation of a new photographic map of the sun-
spot spectrum on a scale of 5 mm. to the Angstrom; and the
general adoption of the plan of measuring position angles around
the sun's limb from the north to the east." t09 The last article of
the tenth volume of the Memoirs was published in ~~ I.
A new trust fund was placed under the control of the Acad-
emy in ~9~ when Sir John Murray presented the sum of $6,ooo
to establish a gold medal to be known as the " Alexander Aaassiz
~ An t ~ `` ~ ~ ~ 1 1' . · . · r
lVleual,,, and to be awarded to sclentluc men in any part of the
world for original contributions to the science of oceanography."
The following year the Academy, upon recommendation of a
special committee, accepted a design for the medal prepared by
Mr. Theodore Spicer-Simpson.~°
The vertebrate section of the committee on paleontologic
correlation submitted a second and final report in ~~z from
which it is learned that with the aid of grants from the Bache
Fund, amounting to $~,ooo, it had prepared and published three
" correlation bulletins," entitled respectively " Plan and Scope,"
" Fossil Vertebrates of Belgium," and " Patagonia and the
Pampas Cenozoic." Lists of North American fossil vertebrates
were also prepared, and matter relating to correlation was also
09 Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for ~9~2, p. ~4.
o Loc. cit., p. ~4.
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I02
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
published in Professor H. F. Osborn's book entitled " Age of
Mammals " and an article by him entitled " Correlation and
Pal~ogeography." Upon recommendation the section of the
committee was discharged.
The Academy sent Dr. George F. Becker as its delegate to the
meeting of the American Philosophical Society held on April
lit' 19 and 20' 1912. At the Roth anniversary of the Royal
Society of London, which was celebrated on July ~6-~8, 1912, the
Academy had as its delegate Dr. Arnold Hague, Home Sec-
retary. The President of the Academy was its representative at
the inauguration of President Hibben at Princeton University
on May 12' 1912.
The will of Morris L`oeb, who died on October 8, 1912' con-
tained the following item, adding to the trust funds of the
Academy: " ~ give and bequeath to the National Academy of
Sciences in Washington, in the District of Columbia, the sum
of two thousand five hundred dollars as a contribution toward
the Wolcott Gibbs Fund, founded in 1892.~'
1llRep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for ~9~2' p. ~3
Representative terms from entire chapter:
royal society
