xxviii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



the St. Louis Medical College, Seventh and Myrtle streets, 

 where it lived and ^rew for thirteen years. 



After the fire in 1869, the Academy returned to the Public 

 School Board rooms and remained for twelve years. 



The third home was in the Washington University, Seven- 

 teenth and Washington avenue, where it was housed for 

 twelve years from 1881. 



The next move was in 1893 to the Missouri Historical So- 

 ciety Building, 1600 Locust street, where it held its meetings 

 for ten years. 



The fifth and present home, at 3817 Olive street, was entered 

 in November, 1903. Here the Academy has enjoyed a home 

 in its own building for three years. 



The Academy has thus had five homes during fifty years. 

 The longest period spent at any one place was the thirteen 

 years at the Medical Dispensary. 



Critical Periods. If we overlook the usual ravenous appe- 

 tite of youth, we can say that the first three or four years passed 

 without causing the ofiicers great anxiety about the new child 

 of science, but the Civil War came and St. Louis, as a border 

 city, at once felt the effects of the great national struggle. 

 It was the first critical period for the Academy and was safely 

 passed, through the loyalty of its faithful members. 



The second and greater calamity was the fire of May, 1869, 

 which destroyed the much valued museum. This irreparable 

 damage followed closely upon the death of the president, Dr. 

 B. F. Shumard, and struck terror to the strongest hearts. 

 Dr. George Engelmann was elected president and in his ad- 

 dress said of the membership: " Some are dead, others have 

 removed from here and few remain to help the work, and 

 this is the greatest difficulty we labor under ; scarcely any 

 have come to St. Louis to step into their places and work, 

 no new generation grows up to take the work when the 

 pioneers of the Academy have departed." This was the 

 second critical period and probably the darkest days of the 

 Academy. May similar conditions never return. 



In 1893 came a third period of note when the constitution 

 and by-laws were revised. Letter ballot for officers was 



