MEMOIR OF JOSEPH DUNCAN PUTNAM — W. .1. McGEfi. M7 



In addition to the foregoing, Mr. Putnam for some time (begin- 

 ning as early as 1872) edited a scientific eolunu) in the Davenport 

 WeMarii Weakly^ and contributed very many popular articles and 

 letters to several of the Davenport and other newspapers. All of 

 the publications of the Davenport Academy were also edited, and 

 the miscellaneous matter, prefatory and other notes, tables of con- 

 tents, indexes, etc., prepared l)y him. 



Three important papers were unfinished at the time of Mr. Put- 

 nam's death. These are, (1) a brief paper entitled ''Notes on the 

 Solpugldm of America," which can be published without alteration; 

 (3) an elaborate synoptical bibliography of the Sofpngidm^ which is 

 now undergoing revision at the hands of Miss .Julia E. Sanders, of 

 Davenport; and (3) a very imperfect collection of notes of all speci- 

 mens of Solpugidm in the Unit(Hl States, with descriptions and draw- 

 ings of new species, apparently designed for elaboration into a mon- 

 ograph of the American Galeodhhu. This material will be arranged 

 and edited by Prof. Herbert Osborn, of the Iowa Agricultural Col- 

 lege, and will be published in the memorial volume (Vol. III.) of 

 the Proceedings of the Davenport Academy. 



No one can contemplate the results of Duncan Putnam's life work 

 without being impressed with the vast amount of conscientious labor 

 which he performed; and no one can realize the difficulties undei' 

 which he struggled without a feeling of admiration for the herculean 

 strength of mind and will which sustained him; for the circum- 

 stances by which he was envitoned were not favorable to so great 

 progress. Born with splendid natural gifts, ai<led and encouraged 

 by the most felicitous domestic relations, and stimulated by the ex- 

 ample of a notable ancestry, he was from early childhood an invalid, 

 and f(jr many years a constant sutt'erer from a painful and depressing 

 disease. His talents at first fostered by the Academy, his only 

 alma mate}\ and by the afiectionate solicitude of its leading spirits, 

 he soon so far out-stripped his fellows that on his shoulders alone 

 rested most of the burden and responsibility of the growing insti- 

 tution. His powers of observation at first judiciously developed by 

 precept and example, he early passed beyond his exemplars, and, in 

 the face of the opposition which pioneers always encounter, accom- 

 plished more in the few years of his life than do most men who live 

 out their days. His woik was his own, and was nobly done. Honor 

 to his memory. 



