178 The American Geologist. March, 1902 
EDITORIAL COMMENT. 
COMMEMORATIVE TABLET OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIA- 
TION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 
At the last New York meeting of the American Associ- 
ation for the Advancement of Science, the Geological Section 
(E) requested the council to take formal cognizance of the 
pre-natal history of the Association by authorizing the erec- 
tion cf a commemorative tablet on the house occupied by the 
late Dr. Ebenezer Emmons* at Albany, where the first steps 
were taken toward the organization of the Association of 
American Geologists, from which the present body evolved 
by organic enlargement. 
In the memorial presented to the council the facts which 
led to this organization are given as follows: 
During the prosecution of the Geological Survey of the state of 
New York the need of the geologists for consultation and inter- 
change of view with others engaged 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, first suggested the subject of such a meeting to the Board 
of Geologists in November 1838. * * * 
This suggestion was taken up for consideration 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 proposition and 
Lardner Vanuxem of the Third District was commissioned to open 
communication with other geologists, specially with president Hitch- 
cock, with reference to carrying this project into effect. 
The undertaking was not immediately successful and at a meet- 
ing held in the autumn of 1839 the purpose of the geological board 
was reiterated. This meeting was also held at Dr. 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 at Philadelphia for April 1840, where and when the organization 
of the Association of American Geologists was carried into effect. The 
following year the Association again met in Philadelphia at which 
time the membership of the body was largely increased, and in 1842 
the place of meeting was Boston and then, as already rehearsed, the 
tie a and sketch of Ebenezer Emmons may be found in the GROLOGIST 
vol. vii, p. 1. 
} A portrait and sketch of W. W. Mather may be found in vol. xix, p. 1 of the 
GEOLOGIST. 
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