The Academy of Natural Sciences 25 



prosecution of his studies in comparative anatomy. He was induced 

 to resume the duties of the Curatorship in June, 1891, succeeding 

 his dear friend, Dr. Leidy. He held the position until 1904, when 

 he declined a re-election, and was succeeded by William S. 

 Vaux, Jr. 



The heirs of Joshua T. Jeanes, who died suddenly January 

 3, 1880, gave to the Academy $20,000, the sum which he had 

 indicated his intention of bequeathing in a pencil memorandum on 

 the margin of his will. The interest of Mr. Jeanes in the society 

 was due to the association of his brother, Joseph, with all matters 

 likely to advance its interests since his election to membership in 

 May, 1853. It was through the liberality of Joseph Jeanes, in 

 association with William P. Wilstach, that provision was made for 

 the publication of Leidy's fine work, The Extinct Fauna of Dakota 

 and Nebraska, constituting the seventh volume of the quarto Jour- 

 nal. His contributions for the increase of the library were frequent, 

 and, in truth, every department benefited by his desire to advance 

 the cause of science. In June, 1898, his sister, Anna, conveyed to 

 the Academy a gift of -$20,000, to be known as the Mary Jeanes 

 Museum Fund. 



The Mineralogical Section was founded in 1877. In 1879 

 its scope was broadened and its name changed to the Miner- 

 alogical and Geological Section. Eeports of its work were, for a 

 time, contributed to the Proceedings. Its meetings are held regu- 

 larly, and much good is effected by a series of annual field excursions 

 in the Spring and Fall. 



A severe loss was sustained in May, 1882, in the death of 

 William S. Vaux, 23 who had been elected a member in 1834. He 

 had served the society effectively and generously for more than 

 forty-eight years, during which time, except when absent from the 

 city, he seldom allowed a day to pass without a visit to the Hall 

 in the discharge of his duties as Curator, which position he had 

 held continuously since 1838. He was earnestly interested in all 

 the building enterprises, and gave liberally to them himself, con- 

 tributing to the last building fund the largest sum given by an 

 individual. He bequeathed to the Academy his collections of 

 minerals and archaeological specimens, with the exception of ten of 



23 Notice of William S. Vaux, by W. S. W. Ruschenberger. Proc. A. 

 N. 8. Phila., 1882, pp. Ill, 112. 



