Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary. xxv 



life member. Mr. James B. Eads was also a life member. 

 How to further increase the membership is one of the 

 important and perplexing problems of to-day. 



The Ladies. In 1856, but few ladies were interested in 

 science and the founders of the Academy made specific men- 

 tion only of men. The constitution and by-laws provides for 

 the election of " men " as active members, and as correspond- 

 ing members "eminent men of science and other persons." 

 Possibly, the ladies were included in the '♦ other persons." 



A few ladies have since been elected to active membership, 

 but only one name is now on the roll. The informal nature 

 of the meetings prior to 1881 rather forbade ladies attending, 

 but at present many members bring their families when the 

 program is an attractive one for them. 



The Officers. The Academy has been fortunate in the 

 selection of its officers. The founder, Dr. George Engel- 

 mann, was sixteen times president. Dr. Enno Sander has 

 served as treasurer for forty-four years. Dr. G. Hambach, 

 has been librarian twenty-live years. Dr. Wm. Trelease 

 served as secretary for ten years. Professor Francis E. Nipher 

 was president for seven consecutive terms. Not only have 

 these and other men cheerfully given the organization long 

 terms of service, but also faithful work, which was often 

 rendered under trying conditions. 



Physicians Active. It would have been surprising if the 

 Academy had not been safely born with twelve of the fifteen 

 organizers practicing physicians. The first thirteen years were 

 spent in a medical college dispensary. When the list of mem- 

 bers reached 104, fifty of them were physicians. Since the 

 election of many laymen who have joined for the purpose of 

 contributing their annual dues and moral support to a worthy 

 cause, the proportion of physicians and other professional 

 men has been reduced, but over twenty per cent of the mem- 

 bers to-day are practitioners of medicine. Several have been 

 prominent in medical affairs. Dr. Chas. A. Pope was the 

 founder of the St. Louis Medical College, and many of the 

 teaching staff of that college joined the Academy. Dr. 

 Moses M. Pallen presided at the meeting of November 3, 



