Record. 



XXXIX 



suffered a serious loss in the death of seven members, viz. : Charles P. 

 Chouteau, a charter member, Adolph Herthel, a member of the Council, 

 George E. Leighton, E. S. Lemoine, George A. Madill, Wm, McMillan, and 

 Edward Walsh, Jr., — all honored names whose memories will live long 

 with those who knew them. But notwithstanding our losses from death 

 and other causes we close the year with a roll of membership larger by one 

 than at its beginning. As a contribution to the history of the Academy 

 well worthy of preservation, I submit for publication some diagrams, 

 compiled by the Secretary, showing the attendance at meetings in 1900, 1901, 

 and the average attendance from 1895-9, inclusive, and the membership at 

 different dates since the organization of the Academy in 1856. 



ACTUAL MEMBERSHIP. 



During the last year the Academy has published ten numbers which 

 with prefatory matter will form the eleventh volume of our Transactions. 



The purposes of our organization as stated in the act of incorporation are, 

 the advancement of science and the establishment in St. Louis of a museum 

 and library for the illustration and study of its various branches. In the 

 forty-six years which have elapsed since the Academy was founded it has 

 made important contributions to the advancement of science in many de- 

 partments, it has made a good beginning in the establishment of a museum, 

 and has collected a library which if it were properly bound and shelved 

 and catalogued might be of very great value to students of science. Our 

 publications go to all parts of the world, and there is hardly any better 

 method of reaching those who are extending the boundaries of knowledge 

 than the pages of our Transactions afford. In a word, the Academy has 

 fully justified the work of its founders and has brought credit to our city. 



But with a larger membership and ampler resources how much more 

 might we accomplish for the advancement of science and for the honor of 



