WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 11 



mediately upon his transfer to the Bureau of Ethnology, great pres- 

 sure was brought to bear by some of his friends to have him elected 

 president of one of our anthropological societies. At that time I 

 opposed his nomination. At the same time the changes in personnel 

 in a number of governmental and private anthropological institutions 

 had led to some friction, also between McGee and myself. When, a 

 few months later, I met him for the first tune, the courageous frank- 

 ness with which he took up our previous conflicts, and his unceasing 

 straightforward endeavors to reestablish harmony among anthropol- 

 ogists, showed his true mettle and established our lasting friendship. 

 For many years of more or less intimate intercourse he always proved 

 the same upright courageous champion of his ideals, whom no timid 

 consideration could turn from the path that he considered the right 

 one. 



His forceful character that was thus manifested, and his passion 

 for making himself useful, made him a prominent figure in the prog- 

 ress of science. American anthropologists owe much to his initia- 

 tive and persistence. I mention only his share in the foundation of 

 the new American Anthropologist, that, largely through his efforts, 

 became a National journal, when the Anthropological Society of 

 Washington could no longer provide for the growing needs of anthro- 

 pological publication; and his participation in the foundation of the 

 American Anthropological Association, the form of which is largely 

 based on his suggestion. This society differs from other scientific 

 bodies devoted to the interests of special branches of knowledge in 

 not being confined to a membership of specialists. Like many of 

 our more general societies it includes many lay members. McGee's 

 thoroughly democratic spirit and his belief in the possibility of solv- 

 ing scientific problems by application of common sense and honest 

 sober thought made this type of organization more sympathetic to 

 him than a purely technical society, and it was to a great extent due 

 to his influence that this form was finally chosen. 



McGee's scientific work belongs to the period in which certain well- 

 marked tendencies developed under the strong influence of Major 

 Powell's personality. Characteristic of the group of men who worked 

 with Major Powell was the attempt to develop systematic thought, 

 on the basis of certain principles, essentially by deduction. He and 



