22 The West American Scientist. 



viewing its past history and the work accomplished. The San 

 Francisco Microscopical Society is the oldest organization of the 

 kind in the United States, and is only antedated by one existing 

 society in the world. 



The greater portion of the evening was taken up with the 

 reading of an historical address, by Henry G. Hanks, the first 

 Corresponding Secretary and second President of the sociecy. 

 This society originated in the Academy of Sciences. Hiram G, 

 Bloomer and Henry G. Hanks, both active members of that so-' 

 ciety, realizing the importance of the use of the microscope in 

 their special studies, botany and geology, proposed forming a 

 microscopical section of the academy. The plan not according 

 with the views of other members, it was decided to form a 

 new and independent society. A number of meetings were held 

 at 649 Clay street, and on the evening of June 4, 1870, the San 

 Francisco Microscopical Society was organized, a constitution 

 and by-laws framed and adopted, and officers elected. 



The officers for the first year were: J. B. Trask, M. D., Pres- 

 ident; Gregory Yale, Vice-President; Henry C. Hyde, Record- 

 ing Secretary; Henry G. Hanks, Corresponding Secretary, and 

 Emile Neustadt, Treasurer. Of the above officers Henry C. 

 Hyde and Henry G. Hanks are still members. 



The proceedings of the original society have not been pre- 

 served; but from a lack of funds and other causes no consider- 

 able advance was made Having no adequate apparatus, interest 

 began to wane, and before the expiration of a year the society 

 had practically ceased to exist. There were those, however, 

 who had not lost interest, and the reorganization was accom- 

 plished April 5, 1872. The society was incorporated under the 

 laws of the State of California, August 30, 1872. 



Good work was accomplished during 1872, and the society 

 was full of enthusiasm. The large microscope and accessories 

 were purchased at a cost of $1,500. The first mineralogical 

 paper was read by Guido Kustel (on a peculiar form of silver 

 mineral), and the society having gained some notoriety, received 

 its first visit from a representative of the press at its meeting on 

 November 1st. 



At the meeting held September 18, 1873, a donation of sea- 

 weeds with diatoms attached was received, and this was the first 

 time diatoms were mentioned in any of the meetings. This is an 

 event worthy of mention, because the members of the society 

 afterwards took an active interest in the study of diatoms, and 

 the cabinet is very rich in diatom preparations. Three years 

 later — August 3, 1876 — the famous Santa Monica deposit of dia- 

 tomaceous earth was first brought to the notice of the society, 

 and so rich in new species did this small find prove, that special- 

 ists and learned societies from all parts of the world eagerly 

 sought a small quantity for study. 



The reading of this paper by Mr. Hanks demonstrated that 

 the life of the society had been an active one. There have been 



