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APPENDIX Minutes of the Proceedings of the
B National Academy of Sciences at the
Meeting Held for Organization in the
Chapel of the J~ew York University
on the 22nd, 23rd,
and 24th days of April 1863
In accordance with an appointment made by the Hon. Henry Wilson of Mass.
of which due notice had been given, the members of The National Academy
of Sciences met in the Chapel of the New York University at ~ ~ a. m. on
Wednesday, April 2 2nd, ~ 863.
Mr. Wilson was present and called the meeting to order; and after a brief
statement of the origin and history of the Bill incorporating the Academy,
which was by him introduced into the Senate of the United States called upon
Prof. Agassiz, the first named in the Bill, to take the chair. Prof. Agassiz on
account of temporary ill health declined the honor tendered him; and after
some few pertinent remarks upon the importance of the establishment of the
Academy to the progress of Science, and to the general interests of the
country, nominated Prof. Joseph Henry of Washington, as chairman, & Prof.
Alexis Caswell of R. I. as secretary, pro tempore, both of whom were ap-
pointed and entered upon their respective duties.
The following Resolutions offered by Dr. Gibbs of New York were unani-
mously adopted:
Resolved, that the Academy accepts the Act of Incorporation, & hereby
declares its intention of entering with earnestness & devotion upon the high
course marked out for it by Congress.
598
OCR for page 599
Appends B / 599
Resolved, that the thanks of the Academy be presented to the Hon. Henry
Wilson for the statesmanlike and successful action in the Senate of the United
States for the establishment of a National Academy of Sciences; & that he be
invited at this and at all other times when agreeable to him, to be present at,
and assured of a cordial welcome at, the meetings of the Academy.
The Bill of Incorporation was then read. Thirty-two (32) corporate mem-
bers were present and answered to their names as follows.
Agassiz, L. Dana, l. D. Henry, I. Rogers, F.
Alexander, S. Davis, C. H. Hilgard, l. E. Rogers, R. E.
Bache, A. D. Frazer, l. F. Hubbard, l. S. Rogers, W. B.
Barnard, F. A. P. Gibbs, W. Leidy, J. Rutherfurd, L. M.
Barnard, l. G. Gilliss, l. M. Lesley, I. P. Saxton, I.
Bartlett, W. H. C. Gould, B. A. Newberry, I. S. Silliman, B., Jr.
Caswell, A. Guyot, A. Newton, H. A. Strong, T.
Coffin, J. H. C. Hall, J. Peirce, B. Winlock, J.
On motion of Prof. B. Peirce it was Voted that a committee of nine be
appointed by the chair to draft & report a plan of organization. The chair
appointed the followng: A. Caswell, A. D. Bache, W. B. Rogers, W. Gibbs,
I. F. Frazer, B. Silliman, Jr., B. A. Gould, B. Peirce and L. Agassiz.
Opportunity was given for a general interchange of views upon the plan
most proper to be adopted.
On motion of Dr. Gould it was Voted that members having any propositions
to submit to the committee be requested to present them in writing.
On motion of Dr. Gibbs it was Voted that the chairman & secretary furnish
for the Press such Report of the Proceedings as they may think proper.
On motion of Mr. Hilgard it was Voted that the meeting for Organization be
with closed doors.
On motion of Mr. Hilgard, it was Voted that a committee of five members be
appointed by the chairman to prepare & report upon (1) The form of a
Diploma, (2 ~ The Corporate Seal, (3 ~ A stamp for Books and Property. Messrs.
F. A. P. Barnard, l. E. Hilgard, J. Saxton, L. M. Rutherfurd and J. P. Lesley
were appointed.
It was voted that when we adjourn it be to meet at 8 o'clock this evening.
Adjourned.
ALEXIS CASWELL
Sec'y. pro tem.
o'clock P. M. April 22nd, 1863.
The chairman called the meeting to order agreeably to adjournment.
The Roll was called. Shortly after Roll Call the members present at the
morning were believed to be present with the exception of James D. Dana,
who had left N. Y. for New Haven.
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600 / Appendix B
The committee on organization reported through their chairman a series
of Articles forty-five (45) in number which were recommended for adop-
tions as the Laws of the Academy.
Prof. S. Alexander moved that the Report be printed and referred to a
subsequent meeting for consideration. Motion lost.
On motion of Dr. B. A. Gould it was Voted that the Report be now taken up
for consideration Article by Article in order.
Articles 1st, Id, 3d, 4th, 5th, & 6th were adopted without material altera-
tion.
Dr. Leidy moved that article 7th fixing the form of an oath of Allegiance to
be taken by the members be amended by striking out the first part which
refers to having borne arms against the Government or in any manner aided
persons acting in hostility thereto.
After a somewhat protracted debate the motion was put and lost.
The article was then adopted as reported by the committee.
Articles 8th & gth were adopted.
On motion of Prof. Frazer Article moth referring to Elections was amended
by substituting the word 'majority" for the word "plurality."
Pending the consideration of the moth Article the Academy adjourned to
meet at lo a. m. tomorrow.
ALEXIS CASWELL
Secy. pro tem.
Thursday April 23(1, 10 A. M.
Pursuant to adjournment the meeting was called to order by the chairman.
The Roll was called and the following members answered to their names.
Agassiz Henry Gilliss Newberry
Bache Hilgard* Gould, B. A. Newton
Barnard, F. A. P. Hubbard Guyot Peirce
Bartlett Leidy Rogers, W. B. Rogers, F.
Caswell Lesley Saxton Rogers, R. E.
Coffin* Frazer Winlock Strong*
Hall Gibbs Torrey
Prof. Caswell moved a reconsideration of Article 7, fixing the form of the
Oath of Allegiance with a view to offer an amendment which would limit its
administration in its present form to the duration of the present Rebellion &
thus obviate the main objection which had been urged against it.
After a brief debate the motion was withdrawn.
Prof. Peirce gave notice that he would at a later stage of the business offer a
substitute for Article 7th.
Article Both of the organic Laws which was under consideration at the time
of adjournment last evening was resumed.
*Came in after roll call.
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Appendix B I 601
On motion ot Prol. Frazer it was amended by substituting the word
"majority" for the word "plurality" in the election of chairman of the classes.
On motion of Prof. Peirce the paragraph on the division of the members
into sections was amended by adding the words following, viz., "By a special
vote of the Academy a member may inscribe his name in a section of the class
to which he does not belong."
Article moth as amended was then adopted.
On motion of Prof. Bache the committee on Organization was reappointed
and Article ~ lath was referred to them for revision.
Articles ~ ~ to ~3 inclusive were adopted.
On motion of Dr. Gould Article with was referred to the committee on
Organization for revision.
Article With was adopted.
On motion of Prof. W. B. Rogers Article With fixing the requirement of
memoirs and papers from the members was striker out.
On motion of Dr. Gould it was Voted that the Academy adjourn at 3 / p. m.
to meet at lo a. m. tomorrow.
The remaining articles numbered 27 to 45 inclusive (or in the printed copy
26 to 44) were adopted.
On motion of Prof. Bache, Prof. Winlock was added to the committee on
. .
Organlzatlon.
At 4 p. m. the Academy adjourned to allow a short time for the committee
on Organization to revise Articles ~ ~ & 24.
At 4~/: p. m. the meeting was again called to order by the chairman.
The committee reported articles ~~ & 24 revised: and they were then
adopted.
Prof. Peirce agreeably to previous notice moved a substitute for Article 7th
(prescribing the form of the oath) in the words following viz., "All ordinary
members of the Academy shall be citizens of the United States. Every member
shall take the oath of Allegiance prescribed by the Senate of the United States
for its own members; and in addition thereto, shall take an oath faithfully to
discharge the duties of a member of the National Academy of Sciences to the
best of his ability."
After a brief debate the substitute was adopted.
On motion of Dr. Gould Article lath fixing the time of holding the stated
meetings of the Academy was so amended that one of them shall be held on
the third day of January (or if that be Sunday, on the Monday next following);
and the other on the third Wednesday in August.
On motion of Prof. Bache the articles separately passed upon were provi-
sionally adopted as a whole; and a committee of three was appointed to put
them immediately in print with a view to a further revision on another day.
Committee Messrs. Gibbs, Hilgard & Rutherfurd.
On motion of Prof. Frazer it was Voted that a committee of three be
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602 / Appendix B
appointed by the chair to revise the style and arrangement of the articles; and
report at the next stated meeting of the Academy.
Adjourned,
ALEXIS CASWELL
Sec'y. pro tem.
Friday 10 a. m. April 24th
man.
Pursuant to adjournment the Academy was called to order by the chair-
The minutes of the preceding meetings were read & corrected.
On the suggestion of the chairman Mr. F. Rogers was appointed assistant
secretary pro tem.
On motion of Prof. Peirce it was Voted that in the minutes of the proceed-
ings all titles of members shall be omitted, and the prefix "Mr." used.
The committee on the Revision of the Laws was announced from the chair;
viz., Mr. Frazer, Mr. Davis & Mr. Caswell.
On motion of Mr. Rutherford it was Voted that all the Articles of the Laws
with the exception of Article 43th, relating the "Alteration of Laws" (on page
of the printed copy) be permanently adopted.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that the Secretary be directed to call
the Roll; and that each member be requested when his name is called to assign
the Class and Section in which he wishes his name to be enrolled.
The roll was called, and the selections were as follows, viz.:
CLASS A. MATHEMATICS & PHYSICS.
Sec. I. Mathematics. J. G. Barnard, Peirce, Strong and Winlock.
Sec. a. Physics. Bache, Bartlett, F. A. P. Barnard, Henry and W. B. Rogers.
Sec. 3. Astronomy, Geography and Geodesy. Caswell, Coffin, Davis, Gilliss, Gould, Hub-
bard and Rutherfurd.
Sec. 4 Mechanics. Frazer, Hilgard, F. Rogers and Saxton.
Sec. 5. Chemistry. Gibbs, Silliman, B., Jr., and Torrey.
CLASS B. NATURAL HISTORY
Sec. I. Mineralogy and Geology. Lesley and Newberry.
Sec. 2. Zoology. Agassiz.
Sec. 3. Botany.
Sec. 4. Anatomy and Physiology.
Sec. 5. Ethnology.
On motion of Mr. Gibbs it was Voted that a committee of two be appointed
to arrange a book for the signatures of the members. Mr. Gibbs and Mr. W. B.
Rogers were appointed said committee.
The Secretary then administered to the chairman the oath of allegiance to
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Appendix B / 603
the Government, and of Fidelity to the Academy in the following words.
(nomine mutate)
"I (A.B.) do solemnly affirm that I have never voluntarily borne arms
against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have
voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel or encouragement to persons
engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have neither sought nor expected to
exercise the functions of any office whatever under any authority or pre-
tended authority in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a
voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power or con-
stitution within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto. And I do further
affirm that to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domes-
tic: that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this
obligation freely, without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion; and
that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of a member of the National
Academy of Sciences. So help me God."
The chairman then administered the same oath to all the members, whose
names are as follows.
Agassiz Davis Hubbard Rutherford
Bache Frazer Lesley Saxton
Barnard, F. A. P. Gibbs Newberry Silliman, B., Jr
Barnard, l. G. Gilliss Peirce Strong
Bartlett Gould, B. A. Rogers, F. Torrey
Caswell Hilgard Rogers, W. B. Winlock
Coffin
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that the Academy do now proceed to
the election of officers.
On motion of Mr. Gibbs it was Voted that a committee of two be appointed
to collect and count the votes. Messrs. Gibbs and F. A. P. Barnard were
appointed the committee.
The chairman after a few remarks of warning and encouragement to the
members before leaving the chair called for nominations for President of the
Academy.
A. D. Bache was nominated.
The ballot was taken and on the Report of the tellers, Alexander Dallas Bache
was declared by the chairman to be elected President of the Academy.
The chairman pro tem. then retired from the chair.
Mr. Caswell moved that Mr. Strong be appointed a committee to conduct
the President elect to the chair. Carried.
The President on taking the chair returned his thanks to the Academy for
the honor they had done him, and proceeded with the business.
Nominations for Vice-President were called for.
lames D. Dana was nominated.
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604 / Appendix B
The ballot was taken and fames D. Dana was declared to be elected
Vice-President.
For Foreign Secretary, Louis Agassiz was nominated. The ballot was taken
and Louis Agassiz was declared to be elected.
For Home Secretary, Wolcott Gibbs was nominated. The ballot was taken
and Wolcott Gibbs was declared to be elected. The Home Secretary requested
the secretary pro tem. to retain his place till the close of the meeting.
For Treasurer, Fairman Rogers and L. M. Rutherfurd were nominated.
The ballot was taken and Fairman Rogers was declared to be elected.
On proceeding to the election of Councillors, doubts were expressed
whether it could with propriety be done at this time inasmuch as it was
uncertain whether members not present would accept their appointment as
Academicians under the Bill. Whereupon statements of members present
showed that the following persons named in the Bill of Incorporation, but not
present at this meeting, had signified their intention to accept their appoint-
ments as Academicians; viz., Mr. B. Silliman, Sen., Mr. I. Wyman, Mr. A.
Gray, Mr. I. L. Leconte, Mr. G. Engelmann, Mr. W. Chauvenet, Mr. M. F.
Longstreth and Mr. John Rodgers.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that we proceed to the election of four
members of the council.
Nominations for councillors were then called for, when the following names
were announced.
Mr. Henry, Mr. Prazer, Mr. W. B. Rogers, Mr. Davis, Mr. Rutherfurd, Mr.
Torrey, Mr. Lesley, Mr. Gilliss, Mr. Newberry and Mr. Gray.
Mr. Henry expressed a wish not to be elected, and hoped he might be
allowed to withdraw his name.
After the first ballot, on Report of the tellers, Mr. Charles H. Davis was
declared to be elected.
After the second ballot, Mr..lohn Torrey was declared to be elected.
After the third ballot, Mr. L. M. Rutherfurd was declared to be elected.
After the fourth ballot, Mr. [. P. Lesley was declared to be elected.
On motion of Mr. Frazer the committee on elections was discharged.
On motion of Mr. Davis it was Voted that the address with which the Hon.
Henry Wilson inaugurated the first meeting of the National Academy of
Sciences be entered upon the Journal in full; and that he be requested to
furnish a copy for that purpose.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that the thanks of the Academy be
returned to the temporary chairman and secretary for the able manner in
which they have discharged their duties.
Mr. B. Silliman, lr., moved a recess for half an hour, or from ~ :45 to 2: ~5
p.m. Carried; and the meeting adjourned.
At ~:~5 the meeting was called to order by the President.
On motion of Mr. B. Silliman, fir., a further recess was voted for a short
time in order to give Class A an opportunity to organize.
At `~:45 p. m. the meeting was again called to larder by the President.
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Appendix B / 605
Reports of the organization of classes were received, from which it ap-
peared that the following class officers had been elected. Viz.-
Class A. Benjamin Peirce, chairman.
Benjamin A. Gould, secretary.
Class B. Benjamin Silliman, Sen., chairman.
I. S. Newberry, secretary.
The committee on the Diploma and Seal reported progress and also the
following resolution which was passed, viz.,
Resolved that the committee on the Diploma and Seal be continued with
instructions to report at the next stated meeting; and that Mr. F. Rogers and
Mr. C. H. Davis be added to the committee.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that in article ~8 in the printed Laws
(on pp. 6 & 7) another specification be added in the following words "~2
rough minutes read for correction." And also that in No. 3 of the same article,
the word "correction" be striker out and the word "adoption" inserted in its
place.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that the August stated meeting of this
year be dispensed with.
On motion of Mr. Gibbs it was Voted that the thanks of the Academy be
tendered to Chancellor Ferris for the use of Rooms in the University.
Mr. F. Rogers moved to amend Article Pith of the Printed Laws on p. 9 by
adding at the beginning of the second paragraph the words "short communica-
tions or," and by substituting for the word "printed" the words, "published
without delay." Carried.
On motion of Mr. Frazer article ~7 of the printed laws on p. 9 was amended
by adding at the close of it the words following, viz., "The Academy will not hold
itself responsible for the opinions expressed in such papers."
Mr. B. A. Gould moved the following resolutions.
Resolved that no more than ten Foreign Associates be elected at any one
stated meeting. Carried.
On motion of Mr. B. A. Gould article sth on page ~ of the printed Laws was
amended by inserting at the beginning of the second paragraph the words,
"For ordinary members."
Mr. Gould also moved that a committee of three be appointed to draft and
present to the committee on Revision for incorporation in their Report. A
Rule prescribing the mode of electing Foreign Associates. Carried. Mr. Agassiz,
Mr. Gould, and Mr. B. Silliman, Jr., were appointed said committee.
On motion of Mr. Frazer it was Voted that the President be requested to
place his name on the committee of weights and measures when appointed.
At 4 o'clock p. m. on motion of Mr. Peirce, The Academy adjourned to
meet in the city of Washington on the third day of January ~864.
ALEXIS CASWEEL
Sec'y. pro tem.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
pro tem
