312 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



tiring in his devotion to the Academy and has but recently transferred 

 his residence to another city. 



That this infant society anticipated the good advice of Dr. Edward 

 Everett Hale in an inclination to " Lookup and not down," is shown 

 by the fact that its first purchase of a scientific nature was a telescope. 

 This instrument is still in the possession of the Academy and has been 

 from time to time the source of much pleasure and profit. 



During the early years of the existence of the Academy it accepted 

 the hospitality of the Library Association and one and another office 

 of private individual or firm, but as time passed on it grew until it 

 could no longer be accommodated in the house of its friends, and in 

 1873 it became an independent householder and paid rent at the rate 

 of $6.00 a month for a small room. We cannot trace our history step 

 by step, but in 1877 — in our tenth year —the corner stone of the 

 Academy building was laid, and in February of the next year, the 

 building was completed and opened to the public with much ceremony 

 and great rejoicing. 



In looking over the early records of the society I was interested to 

 find that the first woman proposed for membership was a physician — 

 Dr. Delia S. Irish — though owing to her intended absence from the 

 city her name was afterwards withdrawn. The first elected to mem- 

 bership was Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, who is still an active member. 

 The first elected an honorary member was Mrs. M. A. Sanders. 



From the very beginning of the Academy the women of the city 

 have been interested in it and have done what they could for its ad- 

 vancement. As early as January 18, 1868, scarcely a month from the 

 date of organization, an entry shows that " Mrs. M. A. Sanders con- 

 tributed a large collection of minerals, fossils and recent shells, which 

 alone filled a cabinet case." And not long after, we find mention of 

 a " Ladies' Furnishing Fund," which provided " seven cases for spec- 

 imens and books, matting for the floor, curtains, etc." 



When sufficient scientific material had been accumulated to warrant 

 the publication of Proceedings, it was made possible by the Woman's 

 Centennial Association. The lot for the new Academy building was 

 given by a woman, Mrs. Patience V. Newcomb. In 1879, ^ woman, 

 Mrs. M. L. D. Putnam, was elected to the presidency, a thing then 

 unheard of in the scientific world, ( an indiscretion which was repeated 

 at a later date in the election of Dr. McCowen in '90, and her re- 

 election in '91.) 



Time forbids more than mere mention of many good works ; among 

 them, of the efforts of father and son, Charles E. and J. Duncan Put- 

 nam, each notable in his own way in building up the Academy and 

 protecting its interests. 



The gentlemen of the Academy, now present, who have borne the 

 heat and burden of the day, can bear testimony to the fact that, com- 

 menced without funds and year by year through two and a half de- 

 cades, having to contend against the difficulty of want of means to 

 prosecute its work to the best advantage, yet the Academy has lived, 



