EDWARD CHARLES PICKERING. 505 



opposition in 1893, though it was not actually known even to exist 

 until several years later in 1898. 



Professor Pickering strongly believed in associative work. To him 

 is due the organization of the American Astronomical Society in 1898 

 (originally called the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society) which 

 now has a membership of over three hundred from all parts of the 

 country, and has been of great service in stinmlating research and 

 promoting acciuaintance among astronomers. The American Asso- 

 ciation of Variable Star Observers, a body composed chiefly of amateur 

 observers of these objects, also originated with him. 



Professor Pickering was elected a Fellow of the Academy in 1867 at 

 the age of twenty-one years and is said to have been the youngest 

 member ever chosen. He was averse to holding office, probably be- 

 cause during many years regularity of attendance at the meetings of 

 the Academy would have interfered with his professional duties. He 

 was a member of the Council from 1878 to 1884 and a member of the 

 Committee on the Library from 1877 to 1883. He rendered great 

 service to the Academy and to scientific research through his unpre- 

 cedentedly long and devoted work as a Member of the Rumford 

 Committee. This began in 1869 and continued up to the time of his 

 death with a break, however, from 1890 to 1892, during which interval 

 he was awarded the Rumford Premium "for his work on the photo- 

 metry of the stars and upon stellar spectra." He contributed to the 

 Proceedings twenty-six papers, three of them in collaboration with 

 others. There will shortly be published by the Academy a memoir 

 containing the results of researches upon the photometry of faint stars, 

 carried on at various observatories with the use of a form of photo- 

 meter devised by him for this especial service. 



In 1874, Professor Pickering married Miss Lizzie Wadswortli Sparks, 

 a daughter of the Reverend Jared Sparks, the historian, and a former 

 President of Harvard University. Mrs. Pickering died in 1906. 



To those who had the privilege of a personal acquaintance with 

 Professor Pickering his great mind will always seem secondary to his 

 greater heart, his generous friendship and his social charms. 



He was never a narrow specialist interested only in his own branch 

 of science. All astronomy-, indeed all science, received his interest 

 and encouragement. His broad sympathy included such dissimilar 

 interests as mountain-climbing and music. He was the founder of 



