of the Charleston Library Society as early as 1777, It is, 

 therefore, beyond question the oldest museum in America. 

 The earliest record of specimens is in the form of an acces- 

 sion list covering the years 1798-1808, and many of the 

 specimens there described are still in the possession of the 

 Museum. 



In 1815 the Library Society voted to give its collections 

 and cases to the newly organized Literary and Philosophical 

 Society of South Carolina. The enthusiasm with which this 

 society undertook the development of the Museum is well 

 shown by the following quotation from Shecut's Essays:* 



"The opportune arrival of that distinguished naturalist and practical 

 chemist, Dr. Felix L'Herminier, from Guadaloupe, with an extensive 

 collection of specimens, the fruit of twenty years application, expense 

 and industry, which he offered to the society, was an advantage, not to 

 be lost sight of. Negociations were immediately entered into with that 

 gentleman, by a committee of the society. The citizens were also 

 invited to co-operate with them in effecting the purchase of this collec- 

 tion, towards the establishment of a respectable and scientific Museum in 

 Charleston. 



"Those persons who subscribed fifty dollars, on payment of that sum, 

 became members for life. The State Legislature and the City Council, 

 alive to the importance of this object, with a promptness and liberality, 

 which will forever redound to their credit, contributed largely towards 

 their purchase, and, with the sums subscribed by individuals, enabled 

 the society to make a purchase of that valuable collection, which is 

 now one of the chief, and perhaps, most interesting ornaments of the city. 



"The superior personal attention and talents of Dr. L'Herminier, 

 were also enlisted in behalf of the society, by being appointed superin- 

 tendent of the Museum. ' ' 



In 1843 the Museum had been transferred to the Medical 

 College of South Carolina, by which it was rearranged and 

 enlarged. 



In 1850 interest in the Museum was stimulated by the 

 meeting in Charleston of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science and by the work in the city of the 



*Shecut, Medical and Philosophical Essays. Charleston, 1819. Pp.49-50. 



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