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 Publie 
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 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 im 
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 usufruc- 
tuary merely. 
The constitution as adopted at the organization meeting 
and amended at various times subsequently, provides for hold- 
ing meetings for the consideration and discussion of scientifie 
subjects; taking measures to procure original papers upon such 
subjects; the publication of transactions; the establishment 
and maintenance of a cabinet of objects illustrative of the 
several departments of science, anda library of works relating 
to the same; and the establishment of relations with other 
scientific institutions. To encourage and promote special in- 
vestigation in any branch of science, the formation of special 
sections under the charter is provided for. 
