HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CHICAGO 

 ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



The Chicago Academy of Sciences is believed to 

 have the honor of being- organized at an earlier date 

 than any other scholarly body now existing in Chi 

 cago. In the year 1856 a small circle of enthusiastic 

 gentlemen united in a society for the promotion of 

 scientific investigation, and adopted the name, "The 

 Chicago Academy of Natural Sciences." These, the 

 original members of the Academy, were : James V. 

 Z. Blaney, Nathan S. Davis, Sr., James W. Freer, 

 C. A. Helmuth, Hosmer A. Johnson, Edmund Andrews, 

 Henry Parker, J. Young Scammon, Franklin Scammon, 

 Richard K. Swift, Joseph D. Webster, Eliphalet W. 

 Blatchford and Henry W. Zimmerman. To this list 

 many other names were soon added, and the new society 

 grew and developed rapidly. 



A definite organization was completed at a meeting 

 held January 13, 1857, in the office of Dr. Edmund 

 Andrews, and the following officers were elected: 



President, Professor James V. Z. Blaney. 



Vice-presidents, Dr. Nathan S. Davis, Sr. , Captain 

 Joseph D. Webster. 



Secretary, Dr. Hosmer A. Johnson. 



Recording secretary, Dr. Henry Parker. 



Treasurer, Col. R. K. Swift. 



Curator and librarian, Dr. Edmund Andrews. 



The need of funds soon became apparent, and sub- 

 scriptions to the extent of about $1,500 were readily 

 obtained. A room was rented in a building located 

 at the southeast corner of Clark and Lake streets, a 

 few cases were procured, and the foundation of a mu- 

 seum was laid. This favorable beginning, however, 

 was of short duration, for the financial crisis of 1857 

 and 1858 left but few of the subscriptions in a condi- 

 tion for collection. The society was unable to pay the 



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