scientists and by a growing number of professional scientists from St. 
uis colleges and universities. Moreover, the number of ‘‘non- 
professional’’ members—many of whom could not even rightfully claim 
the title of ‘‘amateur scientist’’—had greatly increased. The constitu- 
tional modifications were an attempt to address the needs and desires 
of this new membership. They led to a more democratic process for 
nominating the most qualified persons; allowed the non-professional 
members to take a more active role; and removed the business details 
from meetings, leaving the sessions free for the ‘‘strictly scientific pur- 
poses of the Academy.”’ 
The meetings transformed significantly in the 1890s. In 1903 
botanist William Trelease wrote a ‘‘biography’’ of the Academy in which 
he described the meetings of the 1880s. He wrote: 
My own connection with [the Academy] dates from the autumn of 1885, 
when I came to the city to live. The notices I received were more com- 
monly to the effect that the next meeting would be held at a certain time 
and place than with any indication of what would be done at the meeting. 
On a long table were to be found the recent additions to the library. At 
the head of the table sat the president and recording secretary. Around 
it were half a dozen or a dozen members who looked over the papers 
between attending to the items provided for the order of business. When 
*‘written communications’’ were called for, a paper for publication might 
be handed in, sometimes accompanied by an oral abstract, sometimes 
not. The order ‘‘oral communications’’ was pretty sure to lead some 
member to produce a specimen, piece of apparatus, or recent publica- 
tion, on which he spoke, usually in a way to interest everybody present. 
Not infrequently nearly the entire body, like a German scientific gather- 
ing, gravitated after adjournment to a summer garden or winter *‘lokal,”’ 
where the discussion was apt to be continued over a glass of beer . . .° 
Trelease also related how women sometimes attended meetings in 
the 1880s. He remarked, however, that the ‘‘ladies . . . appeared awed 
by the informality of the seating about the board, and could rarely be 
made to feel welcome. . .’”’ 
In the 1890s the impromptu character of meetings gave way to for- 
mality when the Academy began meeting in a lecture room at the 
Missouri Historical Society. The room was equipped with a platform 
for the officers and regularly placed seats for the other members, who 
constituted an audience. For each meeting the officers produced a detailed 
program. 
Some members mourned the passing of the spontaneity so 
characteristic of meetings before the 1890s. Nevertheless, by populariz- 
ing the proceedings and at the same time making them more formal, 
the Academy succeeded in doubling attendance. The officers also noted 
with satisfaction that more women attended meetings.* 
29 
