24 The Academy of Natural Sciences 



went far to relieving necessities which were yearly becoming 

 more pressing. The estimated value of the Johnson estate was 

 $52,083. 



Modification of the By-Laws adopted in 1876 provided for 

 the appointment of Professors and Assistant Professors, who were 

 to be intrusted with the arrangement, increase and preservation 

 of the collections. Under these provisions a number of professors 

 were appointed by the Council. The lecture fees were not enough 

 to defray expenses, proving, it was believed, that the attempt to 

 establish systematic teaching could not be successfully realized in 

 the absence of endowments, and the By-Laws defining the profes- 

 sorships were subsequently repealed. 



'After the resignation of Mr. Tryon, the arrangement of the 

 collections was continued by Mr. Charles F. Parker, 21 who had 

 earlier given devoted service to the care of the herbarium and had 

 been elected Curator in 1873. Mr. Parker succeeded Mr. Tryon as 

 the salaried Curator-in-Charge. He served most efficiently until 

 1883, when his death was, it is believed, hastened, if not caused, by 

 the tireless discharge of his duties. 



Frequent acknowledgment is given by the Curators at this 

 time to John A. Eyder 22 for assistance in the care and arrangement 

 of the collections. He had been appointed a Jessup Fund student, 

 after a first unsuccessful application, in 1874, being indebted 

 mainly to Mr. Meehan for his selection. His work as an attache 

 of the United States National Museum and of the United States 

 Fish Commission, and subsequently as Professor of Comparative 

 Histology and Embryology in the University of Pennsylvania, to- 

 gether with the high value of his contributions to the literature 

 of philosophical biology, entitle him to be considered the most 

 distinguished of those who have been assisted by the Jessup 

 endowment. He died at the height of his scientific vigor, full 

 of ambitious designs for the future, in 1896. 



Dr. Henry C. Chapman succeeded Mr. Tryon as Curator in 

 August, 1876, but served only until the end of 1877. He had 

 been elected a member in 1868, and immediately availed himself 

 of the resources of the library and museum for the enthusiastic 



21 Obituary Notice of Charles F. Parker, by Isaac C. Martindale. 

 Proc. A.N. 8. Phila., 1883, pp. 260-265. 



22 A Biographical Sketch of John Adams Ryder, by Dr. Harrison Allen. 

 Proc. A. N. 8. Phila., 1896, pp. 222-256. 



