2 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE 



The D. V. O, C. had been established just before Wright's 

 advent at the Academy and he became one of the earhest As- 

 sociate Members. Developing a deeper interest in its activities 

 as he grew older, he was elected an Active Member in 1901, 

 served as Treasurer from 1908 to 1911, and was one of the most 

 active members of the committee in charge of the twentieth an- 

 niversary meeting, he and the writer preparing the souvenir 

 publication which was issued at that time. As stated on its 

 pages the Club has succeeded because of the earnest support 

 afforded by the members along various lines. There have 

 always been those who while temporarily prevented from prose- 

 cuting field work or original research, have generously lent a 

 hand in such other ways as they were able — caring for the 

 finances, increasing the sociability of the meetings and advanc- 

 ing the publications. Who shall say that these men were not as 

 valuable members as the most active ornithologists among us? 

 And in their front rank stood Samuel Wright. It will always 

 be our great regret that he could not have been spared to enjoy 

 the active participation in field work which the demands of an 

 exacting business life had denied him but to which he was look- 

 ing forward when a contemplated retirement from business 

 affairs would have left him free to follow his ornithological 

 interests. 



' ' Sam Wright, " as we knew him and as he always preferred 

 to sign his name, was born in Conshohocken on the Schuykill 

 River fourteen miles above Philadelphia, on June 22, 1875, the 

 son of William and Frances Cresson Wright and was educated 

 at the Friend's boarding school at Westtown, Chester Co., Pa., 

 where Thomas Say, John K. Townsend, John Cassin, Edward 

 D. Cope and not a few of the members of the D. V. 0. C. 

 received their early training. The Quaker influence, ever keen 

 for the study of Natural History, had no doubt much to do with 

 the kindling in the youthful minds of the scholars that interest 

 in birds which in so many cases led later to the more or less 

 serious study of ornithology. In Wright's case it led to his 

 application for a position on the Jessup Foundation through 

 his cousin the late Dr. Benjamin Sharp, who then spent nearly 

 all his time at the Academy and shortly after became its Corre- 

 sponding Secretary. 



