Abstract of History. 



cxni 



LIBRARY. 



After its organization, the Academy met in Pope's Medical 

 College, where a creditable beginning had been made toward 

 the formation of a museum and library, until May, 1869, 

 when the building and muvseum were destroyed by fire, the 

 library being saved. The library now contains 16,270 books 

 and 15,026 pamphlets, and is open during certain hours of 

 the day for consultation by members and persons engaged in 

 scientific work. ^ 



PUBLICATIONS AND EXCHANGES. 



Sixteen thick octavo volumes of Transactions have been 

 published since the organization of the Academy, and widely 

 distributed. Two quarto publications have also been issued: 

 one from the Archaeological section, being a contribution to 

 the archaeology of Missouri, and the other a report of the 

 observations made by the Washington University Eclipse 

 Party of 1889. The Academy now stands in exchange re- 

 lations with 585 institutions or organizations of aims similar 

 to its own. 



MUSEUM. 



After the loss of its first museum, in 1869, the Academy 

 lacked adequate room for the arrangement of a public mu- 

 seum, and, although small museum accessions were received 

 and cared for, its main effort of necessity was concentrated 

 on the holding of meetings, the formation of a librarv, the 

 publication of worthy scientific matter, and the maintenance 

 of relations with other scientific bodies. 



But now in possession of a suitable home, full attention 

 can again be devoted to the museum, and the same is grad- 

 ually growing. 



