xxii Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



on account of its geological peculiarities, immense mineral 

 resources, strange fauna and abundant flora. 



But the success of these pioneers in western science did not 

 equal their anticipations and the society dropped into a con- 

 dition of somnambulism not unknown to many other organi- 

 zations of more recent times. The books of the library be- 

 came mouldy, the museum specimens dusty and the five acre 

 botanical garden, near Eighth street and Chouteau avenue was 

 sold, to be used for other and less scientific purposes. Then 

 followed almost a score of years of informal gatherings of the 

 local scientists who, no doubt, often discussed the slumbering 

 Academy and wondered when they could again enjoy the 

 advantage of personal contact at regular meetings for the 

 exchange of thought and experience. 



The Initial Meeting. The time finally ripened and after 

 several preliminary meetings, of which no record was pre- 

 served, the organizers of the St. Louis Academy of Science 

 met in the hall of the Board of Public Schools, March 10, 

 1856. The fifteen persons responding to roll call on that occa- 

 sion were physicians George Engelmann, Moses L. Linton, 

 Wm. M. McPheeters, Moses M. Fallen, Simon Pollak, Charles 

 A. Pope, Hiram A. Prout, Benj. F. Shumard, Charles W. 

 Stevens, Wm. A. Tingley, John H. Walters, Adolphus Wis- 

 lizenus; civil engineer James B. Eads; lawyer Nathaniel 

 Holmes and fur trader and traveler Charles P. Chouteau. A 

 committee which had been appointed at a previous meeting 

 reported a constitution and by-laws which were promptly 

 adopted. The following officers were elected to serve for the 

 first year : — 



President George Engelmann, M.D. 



First Vice-President Hiram A. Prout, M.D. 



Second Vice-President Nathaniel Holmes, Esq. 



Secretaries f Benj. F. Shumard, M.D. 



I Wm. H. Tingley, M.D. 



Treasurer James B. Eads, Esq. 



Curators; Moses M. Fallen, M.D., Adolphus Wislizenus, M.D., 



B. F. Shumard, M.D., Chas. W. Stevens, M.D. 

 Board of Council; George Engelmann, M.D,, H. A. Prout, 



M.D., Nathaniel Holmes, Benj. F. Shumard, M.D., Wm. 



Tingely, M.D., Chas. A. Pope, M.D., Chas. P. Chouteau, Esq. 



