ABSTRACT OF HISTORY. 



ORGANIZATION. 



The Academy of Science of St. Louis was organized on the 

 10th of March, 1856, in the hall of the Board of Public Schools. 

 Dr. George Engelmann was the first President. 



CHARTER. 



On the 17th of January following, a charter incorporating the 

 Academy was signed and approved, and this was accepted by a 

 vote of the Academy on the 9th of February, 1857. 



OBJECTS. 



The act of incorporation declares the object of the Academy 

 to be the advancement of science and the establishment in 

 St. Louis of a museum and library for the illustration and study 

 of its various branches, and provides that the members shall 

 acquire no individual property in the real estate, cabinets, 

 library, or other of its effects, their interest being usufruct- 

 uary merely. 



The constitution as adopted at the organization meeting and 

 amended at various times subsequently, provides for holding 

 meetings for the consideration and discussion of scientific sub- 

 jects; taking measures to procure original papers upon such 

 subjects; the pubhcation of transactions; the establishment and 

 maintenance of a cabinet of objects illustrative of the several 

 departments of science and a library of works relating to the 

 same; and the establishment of relations with other scientific 

 institutions. To encourage and promote special investigation 

 in any branch of science, the formation of special sections under 

 the charter is provided for. 



MEMBERSHIP. 



Members are classified as active members, corresponding mem- 

 bers, honorary members and patrons. Active membership ^is 

 limited to persons interested in science, though they need not 

 of necessity be engaged in scientific work, and they alone con- 

 duct the affairs of the Academy, under its constitution. Per- 



