MA PREFACE ANY of the members of the National Academy of Sciences, especially those elected in recent years, have frequently expressed the wish to become acquainted with its early history, particularly that of the formative period of the organization, and also with the work it has done in behalf of the Government. As the information on these subjects which can be gathered from the early publications of the Academy is neither in connected form nor very extensive, it was decided in 1909 to have prepared for publication, in connection with the semi-centennial celebration of the Academy, a volume containing as complete an historical summary as could be brought together in the time available. A committee was appointed to take charge of the matter, and in the summer of 1910 the services of Dr. Frederick W. True were secured as editor. Besides consulting the early records of the Academy, it was necessary to seek information from outside sources. The work of preparing this history, which has been arduous, is highly appreciated by the members of the committee in charge, who have realized the varied and baffling nature of the undertaking and desire to express their approval of its accomplishment. It is believed that the information assembled in this volume will afford a good insight into the nature of the activities of the Academy. The bibliographical references which it contains will enable those who desire more detailed knowledge to find it in the original documents. As the Academy has established a series of publications known as the Biographical Memoirs, containing records of the lives and works of its members, it has not been thought necessary to attempt the preparation of new biographical sketches, but the volume contains brief notices of the lives of the incorporators, or original members, drawn chiefly from those included in the series mentioned. It was hoped that a list of the scientific communications presented to the Academy during the half century, some two thousand in number, with references to the places of publications, might be added to the volume, but it was found impossible in the time available to compile the necessary data. The completion of this undertaking is therefore necessarily deferred until a later date. ARNOLD HAGUE, Chairman of Committee. JANUARY 10, 1913. |