476 Alcmorial of George Brozvn Goode. 



now be made to show, a direct influence upon the origin of The American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science. 



Several of the most influential members of the Association of Geolo- 

 gists and Naturalists took part in the general meeting of The National 

 Institution in 1844 — Browne, I^ocke, Maury, Johnson, Morris, Bailey, 

 Mather, Haldeman, and Morton. Others, who joined the Association 

 for the Advancement of Science in its earliest years, were also present, 

 and saw for themselves the advantages and opportunities afforded b}^ such 

 gatherings. 



The leaven began to work. In the meeting for 1844 there were four 

 biological and two chemical papers. The Association of Geologists and 

 Naturalists in 1845 announced that "a constant effort has been made 

 to counteract the impression that the objects of the association are 

 exclusively geological or directed to those cognate subjects only which 

 have a direct bearing upon that subject," and to throw open its doors 

 widely for all cultivators of science and the arts who choose to enter. 

 In 1847, at the eighth meeting, the papers belonged to all branches of 

 science. Thirty-seven were read, of which nine related to geology, 

 seven to paleontology, seven to zoology, five to chemistry and physics, 

 three to anthropology, two to meteorology, one to institutions." 



The new society was born, and it is significant that the name first 

 adopted was as nearly as possible a combination of the names of the two 

 parent organizations. The one contributed the first half of the name — 

 "The American Association;" the other the second half — "for the pro- 

 motion of science. ' ' The word ' ' advancement' ' in place of ' ' promotion' ' 

 was substituted afterwards, probably by the first committee on rules. 

 Even if it were possible it would be scarcely worth while to determine 

 the proportionate extent of the participation of either of the two socie- 

 ties in the early history of The American Association. The influence of 

 The National Institution should, however, have due recognition, and the 

 fact should not be forgotten that under its auspices, and in the city of 

 Washington forty-seven years ago, took place the first national congress 

 of American men of science. 



It seems appropriate that the remaining seven years of the first half 

 century of The American Association should be devoted by those con- 

 cerned in the organization of American science to a unification and 

 concentration of the forces which now, not purposely but actually, are in 

 part centrifugal. The midsummer meeting of the association this year has 

 brought around it a cluster of other meetings of kindred bodies. It is 

 worth the effort to endeavor to induce the other societies of professional 

 men of science to meet in conjunction with our great association. To 

 bring this about it might be necessary to hold two meetings in the 3^ear — 

 one in midsummer at some city of hotels, as the seashore or in the 



'American Jotirnal of Science, 2d ser., IV, 1847, p. 428. 



