THIS brief history of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia was prepared as a contribution to the volume issued in commemoration of Founders' Week, so successfully celebrated from the fourth to the tenth of October, 1908.
The length of the article was determined by the number of pages available in the distribution of the matter composing the book and the story is, therefore, necessarily "short." The Notices of Morton and Ruschenberger have been of assistance in preparing the earlier portion.
The sketch may be regarded as merely preliminary to a detailed history of the Academy to be issued in connection with the proposed celebration of the Centenary of the society in 1912. It is sent out in this form with the hope that it will, by eliciting comment, criticism, and perhaps correction, help to make the larger work of more permanent value. Any assistance to this end will be gratefully accepted by the author.
of Philadelphia, November, 1909.
