EMMONS MEMORIAL TABLET 11 



The Association of American Geologists is therefore to be looked on as the legiti- 

 mate organic ancestor of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. 



The circumstances which led up to the organization of the Association of Amer- 

 ican Geologists are as follows: 



During the prosecution of the geological survey of the state of New York the 

 need of the geologists for consultation and interchange of views with others en- 

 gaged in official geologic work led to the suggestion of an organization of a body 

 of American geologists. 



It appears that Lieutenant W. W. Mather, one of the New York geologists, sug- 

 gested the subject of such a meeting to the Board of Geologists in November, 1838. 

 He wrote: " 



" Would it not be well to suggest the propriety of a meeting of the geologists and other scien- 

 tific men of our country at some central point next fall, say in New York or Philadelphia? There 

 are many questions in our geology that will receive new light from friendly discussion and the 

 combined observation of various individuals who have noted them in different parts of our conn- 

 try. Such a meeting has been suggested by Professor Hitchcock, and to me it sfeems desirable. 

 It would undoubtedly bo an adyantage not only to science but to the several surveys that are now 

 in progress and that may in future be organized. It would tend to make known our scientific 

 men to each other personallj', give them more confidence in each other, and cause them to con- 

 centrate their observations on those questions that are of interest either in a scientific or eco- 

 nomical point of view. More questions may be satisfactorily settled in a day by oral discussion 

 in such a body than in a year by writing and publication." * 



It appears herein that the suggestion of this meeting was originally made by 

 President Edward Hitchcock, of Massachusetts, who was the first to receive the 

 appointment as geologist of the first district of New York from Governor Marcy. 

 President Hitchcock has said in regard to the suggestion made by Lieutenant 

 Mather : 



"As to the credit he has here given me of having previously suggested tlie subject, I can only 

 say that I had been in the habit for several years of making this meeting of scientific men a sort 

 of hobby in my correspondence with such." f 



Lieutenant Mather's letter to the Board of Geologists was taken up for consid- 

 eration at a meeting held November 20, 1838, at the house of Dr Ebenezer Emmons 

 corner of High street and Hudson avenue, Albany. :{: 



The action taken by the geologists was one of unanimous approval of the propo- 

 sition, and Lardner Vanuxem, of the third district, was commissioned to open 

 communication with other geologists, specially with President Hitchcock, with 

 reference to carrying this project into effect. The undertaking was not immedi- 

 ately successful, and at a meeting held in the autumn of 1839 the purpose of the 

 geological board was reiterated. This meeting was also held at Doctor Emmons' 

 house, the four geologists and the paleontologist being present, and also Ebenezer 

 Emmons, Jr., who still survives. As a result of the second undertaking on the 

 part of the New York geologists, a meeting was called in Philadelphia for April, 

 1840, where and when the organization of the Association of American Geologists 

 was eff'ected. The following year the Association again met in Philadelphia, when 



* Letter from W. AV. Mather to the Geological Board of New York, dated November 9, 1838, and 

 addressed to Professor Emmons. 



fAddi-ess of President Edward Hitchcock at the inauguration of Geological Hall at Albany, 

 August 27, ISoG. New York State Cabinet of Natural History, Tenth Annual Report, 18o7, p. 23. 



J See documents hereto appended, being A, a statement dictated by Professor James Hall, August 

 24, 1896, and B, a statement dictated by Ebenezer Emmons, ,Ir., February, 19uO. 



