HISTORICAL NOTE 



THE Wagner Free Institute of Science owes its establishment to the 

 hberality and public spirit of William Wagner and his wife, Louisa 

 Binney Wagner. In his early hfe Professor Wagner made extensive 

 voyages in the service of Stephen Girard, and had opportunities to visit scien- 

 tific institutions and make the acquaintance of scientific workers. He soon 

 developed a strong interest in the natural sciences, especially geology and 

 mineralogy, and devoted a large part of his hfe to studying these topics and 

 collecting material to illustrate the teaching of them. 



In 1847 ^6 began to give free lectures at his home, near the present loca- 

 tion of the Institute building, at that time in the rural section of the county. 

 In 1855 the Institute was incorporated by the Legislature, a faculty was ap- 

 pointed and lectures were given at Commissioners' Hall, Thirteenth and Spring 

 Garden Streets, by permission of the city authorities. In a few years the city 

 was obUged, by its own needs, to withdraw the privilege of the hall, and Pro- 

 fessor Wagner arranged to erect a suitable building on his own property. This 

 was completed in May, 1865, and lectures at once given in it. In 1864 a deed 

 of trust was executed by Professor Wagner and his wife, furnishing a permanent 

 endowment of the Institute. 



Westbrook Free Lectureship 

 By the Hberahty of Richard Brodhead Westbrook, D.D.. for many years 

 a trustee of the Institute, and his wife, Henrietta Payne Westbrook, provision 

 has been made for free lectures independent of the general courses of the Insti- 

 tute and covering a wide range of topics. 



