St. Louis had a more distinguished publication than did Chicago. 
Both organizations suffered ups and downs of attendance at meet- 
ings, and both organizations experienced disastrous fires. 
As time went on, the scope of activity of both Academies 
was narrowed. In Chicago the great Field Museum of Natural 
History was built, and later the Museum of Science and Industry 
was financed by the Rosenwald millions. Although much handi- 
capped by meager funds, the Academy has continued to serve the 
city. In its location in Lincoln Park near the Zoo, and near 
the Chicago Historical Society, it is part of a complex of 
agencies for popular education. It has concentrated its efforts 
on the natural history of the Chicago area, and has collected 
all kinds of material to illustrate this, and it has sponsored 
research in this field. In recent years it has, however, 
directed its attention to science for children. 
The St. Louis Academy, too, has been hampered by lack of 
funds. On a number of occasions valiant efforts have been ma 
to arouse civic consciousness to the great value of a natural 
history and science and industry museum. These efforts have 
had some small success, and over the years the Academy has re 
ceived several tens of thousands of dollars, which have been 
carefully conserved as endowment funds. The Academy has also 
dues. 
and institutional members who pay annual 
Today, in the middle of the twentieth century, the Academy 
an 
as 
about science. Strongly organized as it is, and with m 
the bank, the St. Louis Academy of Science is ready and 
to move into its next stage of usefulness to the commun 
sponsor of a proper museum, as have the Academies of Chicago, 
Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Thus the academy of science in its 
new life as a public museum, is still an important part of the 
culture of the city. 
245 
