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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE 



Reference was made on a preceding page to the great work accomplished, through the 

 instrumentality of the Society, in direct instruction during the last autumn and winter 

 months. The importance of what was done justifies the presentation of nearly the full 

 statement of the Custodian, though it involves some repetition. 



" Teachers' School of Science. The Teachers' School of Science has this year attained 

 extraordinary size and importance. So sudden and unexpected was this development 

 that for the last six months it has almost completely arrested all efficient work in other 

 directions. The study of nature having been introduced in a definite form into the public 

 schools, and the supervisor of this department, Miss Lucretia Crocker, having assured us 

 that our assistance would be of great benefit, and was in fact essential, it was determined 

 to institute appropriate courses upon elementary Botany, Zoology, and Mineralogy, if the 

 means of paying the expenses could be raised. Mrs. S. T. Hooper and Miss Crocker un- 

 dertook and successfully completed this part of the work, and also a considerable amount 

 of harassing clerical labor, which subsequently arose out of the success of their own exer- 

 tions. Fortunately for their schemes these ladies met with substantial appreciation from 

 Mrs. Augustus Hemenway, who both subscribed most liberally, and also encouraged them 

 to accept the very considerable pecuniary responsibilities, which began to block their way 

 at the very beginning of operations. In fact, without these assurances of further support 

 and interest, we should not have dared to begin. 



"These obstacles arose from two causes, the number of applicants, and the necessity of 

 providing identical specimens for all. The specimens and materials for two hundred, 

 which was the maximum number anticipated at first, could have been readily furnished, 

 but when the applicants reached six hundred, it became exceedingly questionable whether 

 such a number could be provided for, and properly instructed by one person, all at the 

 same time. Feeling, however, that the cause of science demanded that these difficulties 

 should be met and supported, and relying on the hearty cooperation of Professor Goodale 

 and the ladies mentioned above, the course was begun. 



" The association and sympathy of Mrs. Elizabeth Agassiz with the undertaking has been 

 particularly gratifying, since Prof. Louis Agassiz was the first naturalist who ever taught a 

 popular audience in this country with the specimens in hand. 



" The enterprise was in large -part the work of women and affords pleasing evidence of 

 the activity and usefulness of this new class of members in our Society- 



" The following is a list of the donors : 



Mrs. Augustus Hemenway . . . $1000.00 Mrs. Sarah S. Russell .... $50.00 



Mrs. Quincy A. Shaw .... 500.00 Mrs. John E. Lodge .... 50.00 



Mrs. John M. Forbes .... 100.00 Mrs. Richard C. Greenleaf . . . 50.00 



Miss A. S. Hooper 100.00 Miss Anna C. Lowell .... 50.00 



Mrs. H. P. Kidder 100.00 Mrs. E. W. Gurney .... 50.00 



Miss M. A. Wales ...... 50.00 



" Smaller sums were contributed by Mrs. Elizabeth C. Agassiz, Mrs. Samuel Hooper, Miss 

 S. Minns, Miss E. Mason, Miss M. C. Jackson, Miss Stone, Miss Abby W. May, Mrs. James 

 Freeman Clarke, Miss Cora H. Clarke, Miss Lucretia Crocker, Mrs. Thomas Mack, Mrs. A. 

 S. Farwell and others. 



" Many of these ladies were very active in securing the success of the course and the 

 Society thanks them and others ; especially Mrs. E. D. Cheney, Miss J. M. Arms, Miss C. J. 



