BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOSEPH DUJfCAN PUTKAM. 'i'S'^ 



ried forward, surpassing- even the most sanguine expectations of 

 its advocates, encouraged its enthusiastic editor to continue the 

 work, in spite of the difficulties heretofore realized. Knowing now 

 more than ever before, not only the importance of its continuation, 

 but still more the precarious tenure on which it rested, in his indi- 

 vidual support, he bent all his energies to place the publications of 

 the Academy on an enduring basis. It was with this view, in order 

 to reduce the actual expense within the smallest limit, he obtained 

 the consent of the joint owners of the family printing establishment 

 to remove the same to the Academy building, and adding thereto at 

 liis own expense, the necessary additional material, he secured all 

 available means for continuing the printing. Thus i)repared, as fast 

 as the limited subscriptions afforded the funds for furnishing paper 

 and press work, he proceeded with Part TT of Volume TTT, often 

 setting up the type with his own hands, or when matter was press- 

 ing, engaging the temporary services of a regular compositor, ft 

 was in this way he clearly showed how the necessary work could 

 be kept vxp, by his successors, and not till his last feeble grasp was 

 relaxed by death did the busy hand "• forget its cunning," the clos- 

 ing pages of Part II of Volume TIT containing the sad brief record 

 of his finished work. 



In the meantime however, other events in the progress of the 

 Academy kept up a lively interest in its ever-constant supporter. 

 On February 22d, 187T, there was formally presented to the Acad- 

 emy, as a distinct recognition of the valuable services of J. Duncan 

 Putnam in its behalf, a valual)le building site, the gift of a generous 

 lady, Mrs. P. V. Newcomb. Immediately following this unexpected 

 donation, there was an outflow of jniblic sympathy in the way of 

 subscriptions, and life membership encTowments, authorizing the 

 construction of a suitable building as a permanent home. Accord- 

 ingly a building contract on very favorable terms was concluded 

 September 8th, 1877; the corner-stone was laid with appropriate cer- 

 emonies October 4th following, and on February 23d, 1878, just one 

 3^ear from the date of the gift of the lot, the completecT buildmg 

 was opened to the public. 



That such an interesting event should have excited an absorbing 

 interest in our susceptible friend was to be expected: henceforth the 

 Academy was his second intellectual home, and here scientific work 

 was laid out, and partly completed that would have taxed the highest 

 efforts of a gifted mind. So at last, in a convenient room, sur- 

 rounded by valuable books, and costly scientific appliances, our 



