ACADEMY OP SCONCES.] - BIOGRAPHY. 109 



appointed assistant in mineralogy, and much of the active work of teaching devolved upon 

 him; thus in the later seventies, Prof. Brush had practically resigned his laboratory instruc- 

 tion and finally, in 1884, he was compelled to give up his lectures also. Dr. Hawes remained 

 in charge of the department until 1S79, during which time the classes in laboratory work were 

 transferred to the Peabody Museum after its completion in 1876. In 1879, Dr. Hawes was 

 called to Washington and Dr. S. L. Penfield took his place as instructor in mineralogy; later 

 the latter was made assistant professor (1888), and finally professor of mineralogy (1893); 

 in his able hands Prof. Brush felt that his favorite subject was fully cared for, as was well 

 proved by the work that was published from the Sheffield laboratory of mineralogy. It may 

 well be imagined with what deep sorrow the elder professor saw each of his assistants and 

 helpers cut down in their prime — Hawes in 1882, and Penfield in 190G. 



In 1898, as has been stated, Brush resigned his active responsibilities as professor and 

 director. The remaining years of his life were for the most part spent hi New Haven, in close 

 touch with the same interests to which he had devoted his life. He continued as secretary 

 and treasurer of the Sheffield trustees until 1900, when he retired as secretary and was elected 

 president of the board. He gave up the treasurership in 1904, but retained the presidency until 

 the end, presiding at the annual meeting in November, 1911. 



During the period that has been alluded to, Brush took the liveliest interest in all that 

 pertained to mineralogy, the instruction, the active research, and the increase of his private 

 collection, although ho himself, as he sometimes a little pathetically expressed it, was "doomed 

 to turn the crank of the machine." The various duties of the director of the rapidly growing 

 school, financial and administrative, were, however, fully to his taste, and it can hardly be 

 regretted that his time and strength were given so fully to them. His health, on the whole, 

 was not seriously impaired as years increased, until the spring of 1911, when a trouble 

 with the heart developed which from that time increasingly limited his physical activity. 

 The decline was slow and for the most part, until near the end, without suffering, and on Feb- 

 ruary 6, 1912, he passed gently away. The great kindliness of his strong nature was never shown 

 more clearly than in the closing months of his life. In 1864 he was married to Harriet Silliman 

 Trumbull, who died in 1910; three daughters survive him. 



The interest taken in minerals by Mr. Brush, when a boy of 15, was rapidly developed 

 during his student years under the stimulating influences at Munich and Freiberg. This 

 interest continued unchanged through his life, though, as has been stated, the pressure of 

 administrative work finally robbed him of the opportunity for active study He developed 

 early a remarkably keen eye for recognizing mineral species, even those which were a puzzle 

 to an ordinary mineralogist. When a schoolboy with Mr. Gold he began to collect minerals, 

 and as years went on and his ability to obtain specimens by purchase or exchange increased, 

 he accumularted a large and very valuable collection. This collection was especially notable for 

 its completeness for the purposes of scientific study and the type specimens which it contained; 

 the history of each specimen was also recorded with the utmost care. His active work as a 

 collector, aided by that of his associates, continued till 1904, when he formally presented his 

 collection, then numbering about 15,000 specimens, to the Sheffield Scientific School, adding to 

 this gift a fund of $10,000 for its maintenance and increase. This collection was housed in 

 the old building of the Sheffield School until its removal to his room in the Peabody Museum 

 in 1876. Here it remained untd 1904, when it was placed in a room specially prepared for it 

 in Kirtland Hall, where it is now in charge of Prof. William E. Ford, the successor of Prof. 

 Penfield. He took the greatest satisfaction in having it cared for, arranged, and catalogued; 

 and one of the keenest pleasures of his later years consisted hi going over the collection and 

 aiding in the final work upon it. 



A mineralogist with so keen an eye and interest hi his subject must of necessity have been 

 both a teacher and investigator. In the former direction the influence of Prof. Brush was 

 widely felt, particularly during the decade beginning with 1864. Many students were inspired 

 by his enthusiasm, and carried the knowledge and skill acquired from him to other centers 



