HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE OHIO ACADEMY OF 



SCIENCE 



William R. Lazenby 



Twenty-five years ago the first decisive steps were taken 

 looking toward the organization of an Ohio Academy of Science. 

 At the annual meeting of the Biological Club of the State Uni- 

 versity held Nov. 3, 1891, the retiring president made a short 

 address in which he said substantially: There is need of one 

 institution in Ohio to the organization of which our club should 

 direct its combined energy and influence. This is a state academy 

 of science. If local clubs and societies of science are beneficial, 

 the reasons that make them so apply with greater force to a state 

 organization. Who can estimate the inspiration, the stimulus to 

 research and investigation that such an institution would provoke. 

 In a great agricultural state like Ohio, a deep, abiding and con- 

 stantly growing interest will e\er l)e taken in the sciences of 

 geology, botany and chemistry, for these constitute the very 

 foundation, the body and bones of any rational basis of practical 

 knowledge regarding soils and the various crops that grow 

 thereon. But our State Academy would not be confined to the 

 sciences that relate so directly to soils and crops. All branches 

 of biology, as well as physics, chemistry, methematics, anthro- 

 pology, meteorology, economics, sociology, etc., everything that 

 contributes to the sum total of scientific knowledge should find a 

 place. The initial steps toward the founding of such an academy 

 should be taken by this club, and tonight. This can be done by 

 the appointment of a committee, which should energetically push 

 the matter by preparing a program for a meeting, and issuing a 

 call to all interested, to assist in the organization. In pursuance 

 with this declaration the club appointed a committee consisting of 

 D. S. Kellicott, W. A. Kellerman and the speaker to take such 

 measures as in their judgment were deemed best to carry into 

 efifect the wishes of the Biological Club. 



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