WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 15 



His hopes were not realized. However, we may see even now 

 that his viewpoints find wider and wider acceptance. Here and there 

 in a disconnected way, often carried to extremes by over-enthusiastic 

 confidence in the meagre results so far attained, this anthropological 

 view of society finds expression; and I feel confident that the larger 

 view, to the establishment of which McGee contributed a liberal part, 

 will ultimately prevail. When we reach that period when a true an- 

 thropological survey of the nation stands side by side with the biologi- 

 cal, geological, and physical survey of the country, let us remember 

 the great mind that fought in advance of his time, but not in vain, to 

 realize this great aim. 



The next speaker was Colonel H. C. Rizer. 



Colonel Rizer said: 



W J McGee was born in Dubuque County, Iowa, April 17, 1853. 

 He drifted with uncertain aim until he reached maturity, when he 

 definitely took up the study of geology for a career. He became 

 connected with the Geological Survey in 1883 and continued there 

 until 1894, when he became an anthropologist and followed his old 

 leader, Major Powell, to the Bureau of Ethnology. He resigned from 

 that Bureau in 1903 to become chief of the Anthropological Depart- 

 ment of the St. Louis Exposition. At the conclusion of his work there 

 he became connected with the Bureau of Soils, Department of Agri- 

 culture, where he continued until he died. 



His most important work perhaps was as a member of the Inland 

 Waterways Commission and in aid of various phases of the Conser- 

 vation movement. He died at the Cosmos Club, Washington, D. 

 C., September 4, 1912. 



To me the most striking characteristic displayed by Doctor McGee 

 was found in his wide range of information. He knew much of some 

 things and he knew something of many things. Whether much or 

 slight, what he knew in some way near or remote related to human 

 interests or human activities. He had a marvelously retentive mem- 

 ory. Things once carefully noted seemed to be permanently photo- 

 graphed. In private conversation or in a public gathering the intro- 

 duction of a subject would find him a ready participant and an inter- 



