PREFACE 



«v£W YORK 

 "^Or AH i (y M. 



The publication of the first volume of the proceedings of the Academy 

 was so well received, and resulted in such large additions to its library 

 and museum, it was decided to continue it; and in now presenting an- 

 other volume it may be of interest to continue the brief sketch of its 

 progress commenced in the former one. 



The year 1876 was largely occupied with preparing the material, print- 

 ing and i)ublishing the first volume of Tkoceedings; but the scientific 

 work wiis not neglected, and active Biological, Historical, Archaeological 

 and Geological Sections were formed, holding frequent meetings in ad- 

 dition to the general meetings of the Academy. The collections con- 

 tinued to increase faster than space could be provided, and the first 

 fruits of the publication were seen in the shape of large numbers of 

 books received in exchange. 



Early in 1877 the printing of the second volume of Fkoceedings was 

 commenced. The 22d of February of this year whs made memorable by 

 the donation of a building lot by Mrs. P. V. ]S'ewcomb. A subscription 

 was started, plans drawn, contracts let, and the year closed with a well- 

 constructed building nearly ready for occupancy— the first of its kind west 

 of the Mississippi. Other notable events of the year were the discovery 

 of two inscribed tablets in a mound on the Cook Farm, and the donation 

 by Prof. T. S. Parvin. of his extensive geological collection. Donations 

 to the Library and Museum were received from more than TOO persons. 



In 1^78, on February 22d. the anniversary of Mrs. Newcombs gift, the 

 new building of the Academy was opened to the public. Tliis led to a 

 great and rapid increase in the collections, taxing the ability of the cu- 

 rator to the utmost to care for them. The deposit of the botanical col- 

 lections of Dr. C. C. Parry and entomological collections of J. D. Putnam, 

 the exliuming of another inscribed tablet by Messrs. Gass, Harrison and 

 Hume, and the addition to the museum of an antique pipe carved in the 

 form of an elephant are events of the year worthy of note. 



At the annual meeting held January 1st, 1879, a new departure was 

 taken, and a lady, Mrs. Mary L. D. Putnam, to whose zeal the prosper- 

 ity of the Academy is largely due, was elected President. Early in this 

 year No. 1 of the Third Volume of 1'roceedings was published, con- 

 taining the Reports presented at the annual meeting. The increase of 

 the library and museum was greater than during any previous year. 

 The most noticeable additions were the elegant mineralogical collections 

 of the late Geo. W. Doe, and of tlie late D. S. True. During all these 

 years Capt. W. P. Hall has continued his indefatigable explorations 

 throughout the entire length of the Mississippi river, and of many of its 



