ABSTRACT OF HISTORY. 



ORGANIZATION. 



The Academy of Science of St. Louis was organized on the 

 10th of March, 1856, in the hall of the Board of Public 

 Schools. Dr. George Engelmann was the first President. 



CHARTER. 



On the 17th of January following, a charter incorporating 

 the Academy was signed and approved, and this was accepted 

 by vote of the Academy on the 9th of February, 1857. 



OBJECTS. 



The act of incorporation declares the object of the Academy 

 to be the advancement of science and the establishment in 

 St. Louis of a museum and library for the illustration and 

 study of its various branches, and provides that the members 

 shall acquire no individual property in the real estate, cabinets, 

 library, or other of its effects, their interest being usufruc- 

 tuary merely. 



The constitution as adopted at the organization meeting 

 and amended at various times subsequently, provides for hold- 

 ing meetings for the consideration and discussion of scientific 

 subjects ; taking measures to procure original papers upon such 

 subjects ; the publication of transactions ; the establishment 

 and maintenance of a cabinet of objects illustrative of the 

 several departments of science, and a library of works relating 

 to the same ; and the establishment of relations with other 

 scientific institutions. To encourage and promote special in- 

 vestigation in any branch of science, the formation of special 

 sections under the charter is provided for. 



