48 Journal of the Mitchell Society [September 



been held since that memorable day, the first two in the fall, the 

 others in the spring. 



Twenty-one presidents have held office, namely: W. L. Poteat 

 (Wake Forest College, Zoology), C. W. Edwards (Trinity, Physics), 

 Charles Baskerville (University. Chemistry), F. L. Stevens (A. and 

 M. College, Botany), J. F. Lanneau (Wake Forest, Astronomy), Col- 

 lier Cobb (University, Geology), T. Gilbert Pearson (State Normal, 

 Ornithology), Tait Butler (Agricnltnral Department. Veterinarian), 

 W. C. Coker (University, Botany), W. H. Pegram (Trinity, Chem- 

 istry), H. V, Wilson (University, Zoology), C. S. Brimley (Raleigh, 

 Zoology), Franklin Sherman (Agricultural Department, Entom- 

 ology), J. J. Wolfe (Trinity, Botany), A. S. Wheeler (University, 

 Chemistry), F. P. Venable (University, Chemistry). W. A. Withers 

 (A. and M. College, Chemistry), E. W. Gndger (State Normal. Zo- 

 ology), A. H. Patterson (University, Physics), Z. P. Metcalf (State 

 College, Entomology), J. L. Lake (Wake Forest, Physics). 



It will be seen from this list that the University contributed 7 

 presidents. Trinity, Wake Forest and the State College, three each, 

 the State Agricultural Department and the State Normal College, 

 two each, and private life one. As to the branches of science repre- 

 sented there were seven chemists representing both organic and in- 

 organic chemistry, seven zoologists, (including two entomologists and 

 one ornithologist,) three each botanists and physicists, one astron- 

 omer, one geologist, and one veterinarian. 



The place of meeting has from the first rotated between Trinity 

 College, Wake Forest College, State College, the University and the 

 State Normal (now the North Carolina College for Women) usually 

 in the order named, there having been five meetings at the State 

 College, three at the State Normal and four at each of the other in- 

 stitutions. 



The proximity of tliese five institutions of learning, united to the 

 fact that the State Department of Agriculture, Elon College, Guil- 

 ford College, and several other smaller institutions fall within the 

 same area, is one of the causes that made the existence of a successful 

 Academy of Science an accomplished fact in North Carolina. I do 

 not wish to minimize the work of those who organized the Academy 

 nor of tho.se who have successfully piloted it through its twenty years 

 of existence, but if these institutions had been scattered all over the 



