Louis Pope Gratacap 63 



Born in Brooklyn November 1, 185 1, after passing through the 

 public schools he entered the College of the City of New York, and 

 following his graduation in 1869, took a special course in geology 

 and mineralogy in the School of Mines, Columbia College, whence 

 he was graduated in 1876. In October of that year he came to the 

 Museum, then in the formative period of its existence and housed 

 in the old Arsenal Building, hoping and working for a home of its 

 own. He was made Assistant Curator of Mineralogy in 1880 and 

 Curator in 1900, at which time he was also placed in charge of the 

 shells, the two subjects being united in one department in 1901, 

 though separated at the time of reorganization in 1909. Thence, 

 until the time of his death Mr. Gratacap held the two positions of 

 Curator of the Department of Mineralogy and Curator of Mollusca 

 in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology. 



His record of more than forty years of continuous service in one 

 museum is probably surpassed only by that of Dr. D. S. Lamb in 

 the Army Medical Museum, Washington, D. C. 



Mr. Gratacap was of French descent, and his precise and some- 

 what formal mode of speech and courteous manner ever carried 

 with them the suggestion of a gentleman of the old school. This 

 was heightened by the fact that he was a fluent speaker and the 

 master of an extensive vocabulary, comprising many words un- 

 familiar to modern ears, and yet at the same time he was without 

 the least trace of affectation— what might have seemed such in 

 others was with him but the natural expression of a well-stocked, 

 serious mind. He was just and fair-minded to the last degree- 

 one of the few not the mark of unpleasant criticism— and almost 

 the only man to my knowledge who ever expressed himself as con- 

 sidering his services properly remunerated. Generous and chari- 

 table, no one but himself will know how much help he gave to 

 others, both of purse and personal assistance. 



He was a ready writer as well as a fluent speaker and the 

 greater part of his evenings and other spare time was devoted to 

 writing. While most of his books were of a serious character, 

 dealing with philosophical, political or religious topics, yet among 

 them were several works of what might be called scientific fiction, 

 such as A Woman of the Ice Age and The Certainty of a Future 

 Life in Mars. There is not at hand a complete list of his publica- 

 tions, though one is being prepared by Dr. George F. Kunz, but 

 aside from many scientific papers, including some on Museum his- 

 tory and methods, he was the author of about twenty books. 



His love of neatness and order was reflected in the collections 

 under his charge, which were left in most excellent condition. He 



