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Tue BEGINNING oF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
By Amos W. BUTLER. 
In my early years the lack of association with persons who were in- 
terested in scientific pusuits and of opportunity to refer to books on 
scientific subjects was greatly felt. I planned to interest several persons 
in establishing a local society which would bring kindred spirits together. 
This resulted in the organization of the Brookville Society of Natural 
History in 1881. That year, for the first time, I attended the meeting of 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science at Cincinnati. 
There I had the pleasure of meeting many persons of whom I had only 
known by reading. This was the beginning of many acquaintances that 
have been permanent, helpful and inspiring. In my efforts to study local 
natural history I found it difficult to obtain information from students in 
other parts of the State. In talking with others I found they had had the 
same difficulty. In the winter of 1883-1884, the need of a State organiza- 
tion was strongly impressed upon me. Correspondence was begun with 
a number of persons whose names were prominent in scientific work of 
the State, and the majority of them favored such an organization. Among 
these were Dr. David Starr Jordan, Dr. J. P. D. John, Professors John 
M. Coulter, Stanley Coulter, Philip 8. Baker, Daniel Kirkwood, Richard 
Owen and Oliver P. Jenkins. There were others who discouraged it. 
The subject was fresh in mind at the time of the meeting of the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science at Ann Arbor in 1884. There 
opportunity was given to talk the subject over, and for the first time I 
met Dr. John C. Branner, who had just been appointed professor of 
geology at Indiana University, and he strongly urged the formation of 
such a society. Finally it was decided to call a meeting to organize an 
Indiana Society. The Brookville Society of Natural History, as the most 
active organization of its kind in the State, was asked to take the initia- 
tive and call the first meeting. Accordingly that society appointed a com- 
mittee for that purpose, consisting of Rev. David R. Moore, its president, 
Dr. 8S. P. Stoddard and Amos W. Butler. The meeting was called for 
Indianapolis on December 29, 1885. ‘The plan was to have a series of 
papers on the status of different branches of science in Indiana. The 
meeting was held in the Marion County court house. The program in- 
cluded the following papers: > 
