_ A. WTNCHELL — HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE G. S. A. 



the present century; but the first which was destined for permanence was 

 the Association of American Geologists, which firsl convened at Philadel- 

 phia, nn the secoml of April, 1*40. Meetings were held in 1840, 1841, ami 

 1842, the proceeding of which were published, in 1843, in a volume entitled 

 "Transactions of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists.' 1 

 The inclusion of" Naturalists" had been determined in 1*4.'!. The number 

 of members was seventy-seven. Meetings were also held annually until 



1847. The "Transactions" were published in the American Journal of 

 Science for the corresponding years. In 1847 it was voted to resolve the 

 organization into "The American Association for the Advancement of 

 Science." In such capacity it assembled in Philadelphia, September 20, 



1848. Thus the "American Association " was, in its incipiency, a body of 

 geologists, and its first Constitution was prepared by the geologists assembled 

 in Boston, in 1847. After the creation of the broader organization, geology 

 shand with the other sciences such facilities as the Association afforded, and 

 on the last reorganization it was recognized (with Geography) as Section E. 

 With the numerical growth of the Association, the multiplication of its sec- 

 tions, the expanding volume of its proceedings, the increasing amount of its 

 general business, and the diminished opportunities for scientific work, it 

 began to be felt that the aims of American geology might perhaps be better 

 served by a return to the original status. The question was held under in- 

 formal consideration for several years. 



The first open movement for an independent organization was made by the 

 geologists assembled at the meeting of the American Association at Cin- 

 cinnati, in 1881. A committee was appointed to consider the advisability 

 of the project and take requisite preparatory steps. Professor X. 1 1. Winchell 

 was chairman, and Professor ( '. II. Hitchcock secretary of the committee, 

 but DO published records preserve the names of the other members. Circu- 

 lars were issued by the committee, and one hundred and twenty-six answers 

 were received, all but two of which favored the organization of a separate 

 society. The committee reported to Section E al the Montreal Meeting of 

 the Association, in 1882. It was there voted expedien I to establish a geologi- 

 cal magazine. A proposed constitution for a society was presented, dis- 

 cussed, and laid on the table for future consideration. Some hesitation was 

 manifest on the part of some of the older members who had not participated 



in the earlier proceedings. It was suggested, ne band, that Section E of 



the Association offered .-ill the advantages of a geological society, and on the 

 other it was alleged thai the requirements of Canadian geologists were met 

 by the recently organized Royal Society of Canada. It was also suggested 

 thai the formation of a separate society mighl conflict with the interests of 

 the American Ass iciation. The whole subject, therefore, was laid over to a 

 subsequent occasion, At the Minneapolis Meeting of the Association, in 



