History of Indiana Academy 15 



pressed me most was the friendliness of these distinguished men, their 

 interest in a beginner and their genuine desire to be helpful. 



For many years after, I attended regularly the meetings of the 

 American Association. Now I am one of the oldest members and fellows. 



In my endeavor to obtain information on zoological subjects I cor- 

 responded with a number of scientific men in the state. The results 

 were often unsatisfactory. I found the experience of other .Indiana 

 men was the same. So I began thinking of some way to bring those 

 interested in science in the state together to get acquainted and exchange 

 experiences. To that end correspondence was undertaken with John M. 

 Coulter, Charles R. Barnes, Daniel Kirkwood, T. A. Wylie, David Starr 

 Jordan, Stanley Coulter, R. B. Warder, Philip S. Baker, O. P. Jenkins, 

 David W. Dennis, J. P. D. John, Richard Owen and others. From most 

 of these came favorable responses. Others wrote discouraging replies. 

 In 1885 I attended the meeting of the A. A. A. S. at Ann Arbor. There 

 I first met John C. Branner, then fresh from the work of the Imperial 

 Geological Survey of Brazil, where he had rendered valuable service. 

 He had been elected head of the Department of Geology at Indiana Uni- 

 versity. Upon mentioning my idea of a state society, he strongly ap- 

 proved it and volunteered his assistance. We took up the subject with 

 other men present from this state. They also encouraged the project. 

 It was finally suggested that the subject be taken up with the Brook- 

 ville Society of Natural History, as the most active scientific society 

 in the state and that it be requested to call a state meeting of those 

 interested in science and also to appoint a committee to have charge 

 of the details. The Brookville Society endorsed the proposal and ap- 

 pointed a committee: David R. Moore, its president; Amos W. Butler 

 and S. P. Stoddard, to make all necessary arrangements. The meeting 

 was held in the Marion County Court House, December 29, 1885. About 

 40 persons attended. Dr. J. P. D. John was called to the chair. A 

 permanent organization was effected, with David Starr Jordan, presi- 

 dent; Amos W. Butler, secretary. A constitution and by-laws were 

 adopted. A program of papers presenting the knowledge of that time 

 of different departments of science in Indiana was carried out. There 

 were papers by William H. Ragan, Edgar R. Quick, Richard Owen, 

 David Starr Jordan, John M. Coulter, J. P. Naylor, O. P. Jenkins, 0. P. 

 Hay, P. S. Baker, Maurice Thompson, Ryland T. Brown, R. B. Warder, 

 David R. Moore, John B. Conner, Amos W. Butler, J. T. Scovell, Daniel 

 Kirkwood. All the above persons were present and read their papers, 

 except Richard Owen and Daniel Kirkwood. Their papers were read 

 by others. 



It was decided to hold two meetings a year — the annual meeting in 

 the winter and a field meeting in the spring. By vote, the first spring 

 meeting was set for Brookville, the following spring. That meeting 

 was held May 20-22, 1886 — 37 years ago — and here are the members 

 of the Indiana Academy of Science to hold another spring meeting 

 where that organization had its conception. Not many of us were at 

 that first spring meeting. Robert Hessler and Amos W. Butler are 

 the only persons present who attended the first spring meeting at 

 Brookville in 1886. But it is the hope that all of you will be charmed 



