240 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



mineralogist, and was the editor perhaps it should rather be said, 

 the author of the last edition of the System of Mineralogy. 



In 1846, Professor Dana became associated with his former 

 teacher, Professor Silliman, as one of the editors of the American 

 Journal of Science. The history of that periodical is indeed a 

 remarkable one. Founded by the elder Silliman in 1818, it has 

 continued ever since under the editorial charge of a single family, 

 though a considerable number of the most eminent scientific men 

 of the country have been for longer or shorter periods associate 

 editors. Professor J. D. Dana was the chief editor from 1871 

 until his death. His son, Professor E. S. Dana, succeeded him. 

 In the earlier years the journal was entitled American Journal of 

 Science and Arts. Gradually its scope came to be restricted to 

 pure science, and in 1880 the words, "and arts," were dropped 

 from the title. The successive volumes of the Journal form a his- 

 tory of American scientific work for more than three-quarters of 

 a century. The intelligence and liberality and the thoroughly non- 

 partisan spirit with which it has been conducted, have made it a 

 most potent and a most salutary influence in American science. 



In 1850 Dana was elected Silliman Professor of Natural His- 

 tory in Yale College, and he remained a member of the faculty 

 of that institution until his death. He did not, however, enter 

 upon the work of teaching until the college year 1855-56, being 

 occupied in the meantime in the preparation of the reports of the 

 Exploring Expedition. In 1864, his title was changed from Pro- 

 fessor of Natural History to Professor of Geology and Mineralogy. 

 He was actively engaged in the work of teaching (with short 

 interruptions due to ill health) until 1890. In 1894 he was form- 

 ally recognized as Professor emeritus. During his term of service 

 the little college of the middle of the century grew into the great 

 university of the close of the century. He was influential in the or- 

 ganization of the Sheffield Scientific School, though his own teach- 

 ing was always chiefly, and most of the time exclusively, in the 

 college proper. 



Professor Dana's clearness of .^exposition, his enthusiasm for, 

 his subject, andL&is genial spirit made him an inspiring teacher. 



