14 
MEMORIAL 
TO 
ARTHUR ERWIN BROWN. 
(Born 1850. Died 1910.) 
Executive Officer of the Board from 1876. 
Secretary of the Society from 1897. 
On the 29th day of October, of this year, the Zoological Society of 
Philadelphia met with an irreparable loss by the sudden death of its 
efficient Secretary, Arthur Erwin Brown, Sc. D. 
Dr. Brown was born August the 14th, 1850. His zoological work 
began in the Society early in the spring of 1876, after a liberal education 
both at home and abroad. Immediately he demonstrated in the man- 
agement and scientific work of the Institution his great ability. The 
directors soon commented upon his efficiency and loyalty. 
The first two years of his labor were banner years, from a financial 
standpoint, as they represented the great Centennial exhibition, which 
centered the attention of the world upon Philadelphia. That same 
exhibition, however, sowed the seeds of art and science along many 
paths, which from then on offered attractions to our people, other than 
in the line of zoological education. 
While this city developed more and more into a manufacturing center, 
New York became the great metropolis of the East, attracting visitors 
from all over the country. For these reasons the receipts, as shown 
by our accounts, demonstrated shortly after his work Ijegaii the difficulty 
of the task our new superintendent had to contend with. 
The Directors were quick to appreciate his wisdom and conscientious 
discharge of his duties. His cooperation, his enlightened sympathy 
with educational and scientific zoological work, made such a profound 
impression upon his co-workers that they elected him to the position of 
Secretary. 
Upon reviewing the lists of additions to our collections we are forced 
to appreciate how materially he advanced the educational character of 
the undertaking, thus giving the Society an international reputation. 
His courtesy, candor and intelHgence soon gave him a leading position 
among those with whom he associated. He was thus enabled to interest 
the City Government financially in our great work both that the school 
children of the city may be educated in natural history, and that we 
may be enabled to use valuable pathological material for scientific re- 
search. 
His contributions to science were characterized by accuracy and breadth 
of view, and added notably to the scientific publications of the Academy 
of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and other publications at home and 
abroad. 
His courage, clearness and breadth of intellect Avon the admiration 
of those who knew him, while his devotion to his friends and his good- 
fellowship endeared him to us who were intimately associated with him, 
and caused us to deeply sympathize with his sister, with whom he made 
his home. 
The character of his scientific work led the University of Pennsylvania 
to confer upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Science in 1908. 
