MEMOIR OF A. S. BICKMORE 21 



project from the outset. Of the "Father of the Museum/' as Professor 

 Bickmore has been called, this speaker said that the great change in 

 public opinion as to the value and importance of natural history studies 

 was due in a greater degree to his iniluence than to any other single 

 cause. 



The strong personal influence exercised by Louis Agassiz, among whose 

 many pupils, from 1861 to 18(55, was Albert S. Bickmore, is believed to 

 have contributed in large measure to the latter's enthusiastic devotion to 

 the idea of establishing a great museum of natural history. A similar 

 museum had already been projected by Agassiz for Harvard College.- 

 When Bickmore came to New York, in 18()5, he was introduced to Mr. 

 William Earle Dodge and proposed tiie mattei- to him. This was just 

 before Bickmore's departure for the Far East. Just before bis return 

 to the country he stopped for a while in London, where he met Sir 

 Eichard Owen, Director of the Museum of Natural History, and sul)- 

 mitted to him the plans for a New York museum which lie had l)een 

 slowly elaborating during his protracted journey. The hearty approval 

 which the English scientist bestowed upon these plans served to deepen 

 Bickmore's conviction of their value and practicability, and on his return 

 to New York he took up the matter with renewed ardor. One of the 

 most earnest workers in this cause was Theodore Tioosevelt, Sr., to whom 

 Bickmore was referred by Mr. Dodge, and soon by his efl'orts and those 

 of William Haines, Benjamin H. Field, and Eobert Colgate a number of 

 representative citizens became interested in the project, several of them 

 becoming members of tlie original board of trustees, composed of New 

 York's leading citizens. 



MEIIOIR OF IIOKACK CAiri'Ki; HOVEY 

 BY JOHN M. CLARKE 



The science of the earth seems to liold an especial attraction for the 

 servants of its ancient enemy, the Cburcli. As the contentious attitude 

 once assumed l)y the Church toward this science dissolved away into a 

 better balance and steadier growth, it is little wonder that some part of 

 the clergy luive shown a sincere |)ur[)ose to bctlci' acMjiuiinl Ibemselves, 

 by })ci'sonal touch, witli I be data of geology. Tbc developmeid of fbe 

 English facts and ideals in our science lias put upon tbc rolls names of 

 distinguished clerics, men who bave put aside all bias and have rendered 



-The American Museum of Natural History, its origin, its history, and growth of 

 the departments to December 31, 1909, by Henry Fairfield Osborn, President. 2d ed. 

 New Yorif, 1911. 



