6 HISTORICAL SKETCH 



Coleman T. Robinson, David F. Day, Henry A. Richmond, 

 Charles D. Marshall, H. E. Tallmadge, Dr. Charles D. F. Gay, 

 William W. Stewart and Rev. Albert T. Chester. 



Shortly thereafter came the most important change in 

 the early history of the Society. The Young Men's Association 

 of Buffalo, organized in 1836, had always occupied rented 

 quarters and at this time their rooms and their fine library were 

 located in the American Block. They had long felt the need of 

 more ample accommodations, but the early days of the great 

 Civil War were too full of trying vicissitudes to encourage 

 plans which they had cherished for securing a building of their 

 own. Public confidence was shaken, finances were unsettled 

 and doubt and anxiety prevailed. With the opening of 1863 the 

 skies seemed somewhat lighter, there was at least comparative 

 prosperity and the preliminary negotiations for a building project 

 were begun. 



April 17, 1863 the Executive Committee of the Young 

 Men's Association adopted a resolution authorizing their Build- 

 ing Committee to confer with the other societies of Buffalo of a 

 kindred character with reference to constructing a building which 

 would accommodate the several organizations. 



Accordingly in response to their invitation, on the 25 th 

 of April a Committee of the Society of Natural Sciences consist- 

 ing of Judge Clinton, its President, David F. Day and Coleman 

 T. Robinson were appointed for conference and July 9th it was 

 resolved: "that this Society hereby elects to participate in the 

 erection and occupancy of the proposed building for the use of 

 the Young Men's Association, the Grosvenor Library and other 

 institutions of the City and to aid in the raising of the funds 

 necessary for that purpose". These negotiations finally ended 

 in the purchase from Mr. A. Brisbane of the property known 

 as St. James' Hotel and St. James' Hall, at the corner of Main 

 and Eagle streets, having a frontage of about 100 feet on Main 

 St. and running through to Washington St. for which the sum 

 of $112,000.00 was paid. 



In soliciting the subscriptions for the purchase funds the 

 members of the Society of Natural Sciences enlisted heartily and 

 many of the generous subscriptions were given by them, the 

 assurance being made that they should receive adequate accom- 

 modations for their needs. 



