Its Mistory, Aims and Objects. 5 
The great importance of this subject — of searching for truth, 
facts, elaborating and systemizing them and disseminating them 
among the people was felt ten years ago by a few ladies and 
gentlemen of this place. As a means of carrying out this idea 
an organization was formed and styled the Scientific Associa- 
tion of Peoria. The founders of it had no idea of making it 
a strictly and rigidly scientific association. They knew well 
that the scientists of this place, in the strict sense of the word, 
could be counted on the fingers of one hand and that perhaps 
they might be divided by five. But they knew there were 
many who had some knowledge of science and who wished to 
study some of its branches or departments, and others possess- 
ing some literary attainments, and that there were many others 
who might be induced to interest themselves in some branch of 
science or literature; and the idea of the founders was to em- 
brace all these in one organization. 
The second article of the constitution reads thus: “The ob- 
ject of this association shall be to increase the knowledge of 
science among its members, and awaken a spirit of scientific 
investigation among the people.” This article was, unfortunate- 
ly, too limited. It should have embraced literature also, and 
the society from the first to this time has done so. 
Its object was two-fold: first, to study science ourselves, and 
second, to awaken a spirit of scientific investigation among the 
people. ‘T’o accomplish this, or even to maintain the existence 
of a society, it was necessary to broaden the field and embrace 
literature. Though this was not set forth in the constitution 
I know it was true and it is proven by the records at an early 
day by the appointment of, among other committees, one on 
literature. How well the association has fulfilled its mission I 
will endeavor to show by the records. 
The Scientific Association of Peoria was formally organized 
April 17, 1875, with the following corps of officers: President, 
Dr. W. H. Chapman; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. B. L. T. Bourland, 
Dr. J. T. Stewart and Dr. Frederick Brendel; Corresponding 
Secretary, Prof. S. H. White; Recording Secretary, Miss Emma 
A. Smith; Treasurer, Sidney Pulsifer. 
The first work of the society was to organize a summer school 
