Antiquarian and Natural History Society 
of Arkansas, Little Rock 1837 
Cleveland Academy of Natural Science 1845 
Society for the Advancement of Natural Science, 
Louisville 1851 
New Orleans Academy of Science 1853 
Wisconsin Natural History Association, Milwaukee ..... 1855 
Academy of Science of St. Louis. 1856 
Chicago Academy of Science 1856 
Der Naturhistorische Verein von Wisconsin, Milwaukee . . . 1857 
Illinois Natural History Society, Bloomington 1858 
While these societies were being founded, others continued 
to be founded in the East. For example, in 1818 irtien the West- 
ern Museum Society came into being, the Troy, New York, Lyceum 
of Natural History came into existence. In 1835 when the West- 
ern Academy of Natural Sciences of Cincinnati was organized, 
one appeared in Hartford, Connecticut.® 
While the basic factors of urban influence, the desire to 
iver and describe natural rpsoiirr«a« thp 
doct 
describe natural resources, the gentlemanly con- 
advancement of learning, auid the inquiring spirit 
-scientist were present in the founding of natural 
history societies, they were present in different combinations 
in different situations. These points can be illustrated by 
looking at the history of some of the Middle Western societies 
and academies; first, the Western Academy of the Natural 
Sciences of St. Louis. 
Just exactly when or how the idea of a natural history or- 
ganization first appeared in St. Louis is not known, but it is 
very possible that one of the influences was the publication 
by Congress of a report on the geology "of the elevated 
country between the Missouri and the Red Rivers" by George W. 
Featherstonhaugh. 9 Featherstonhaugh was an Englishman of inde- 
pendent fortune who came to the United States as a young man, 
and became interested in scientific and geological matters. In 
1834 he made a survey of Missouri and Arkansas under the direc- 
tion of the War Department and his reoort was ordered to be 
always 
an 
printea by both the House and the Senate. i« 
Then, as now, Congressional documents were wi( 
uted by Congressmen and Senators to their const itui 
Including newspaper editors. The Missouri Republ i< 
those parts of the report that described Iron Mountain and 
other mineral deposits in Missouri, and the Missouri Argus pub- 
lished almost the entire document. ii Featherstonhaugh was not 
a very expert geologist by modern standards, but he couldn't 
■iss the most prominent sources of mineral wealth like the iron 
235 
