SKETCH OF THE HISTORY 
OF THE SOCIETY 
from its FouNDATION in FEBRUARY, 1870. 
_—o— 
In issuing to the members of the Leeds Naturalists’ Club and 
Scientific Association the first printed report it seems advisable to 
the Publication Committee to preface it by a brief outline of the 
Society’s previous history. 
The present organization is really composed of two previously 
independent bodies, working separately from each other, one of 
them, the older and smaller of the two, without any organization 
at all, the other for the first two years of its existence, with a 
loose scheme of operations and without any very definite aims 
beyond the instruction and entertainment of its members. These 
societies finally coalesced in the spring of 1872. 
The publication of papers, &c., not having been contemplated, 
the communications presented to the societies, whether lectures or 
papers, have not asarule been written for more than the instruction 
of the members assembled at the meetings. 
1870—1871. 
THE LEeeps NaTurRALisTs’ FIELD CLUuB originated in a paper 
read by Mr. James Brodie in February 1870 to a meeting of 
members of the Leeds Young Mens’ Christian Association, in 
which he explained the working of a similar society existing in 
Dundee. It was then resolved to form the Society, and at a subse- 
quent meeting the officers were elected for the first year. Mr. J. 
Holroyd was chosen President, and Mr James Brodie Secretary, 
with a committee consisting of Messrs. W. Coates, Thos. G. Denny, 
A. W. Dodgshun, Thomas Graham, George W. Newton, John 
Reynolds, B. Rhodes, Thomas Rhodes, and William Hind Smith. 
The Rules, which were few and simple, were printed on the card 
of membership, together with the names of the Committee. The 
terms of membership were 1/- and 2/6 per annum. 
The first public appearance of the newly-formed Club was at a 
Lecture, by its President, delivered in the Hall of the Young Men’s 
Christian Association on the 12th April 1870, when he took for his 
title “Peeps at Nature.” The chair was occupied by the then Mayor 
of Leeds, (Mr. Ald. Wm. Glover Joy) and the audience was very 
numerous. 
