Page:A Short History of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (1909).djvu/41

Rh prosecution of his studies in comparative anatomy. He was induced to resume the duties of the Curatorship in June, 1891, succeeding his dear friend, Dr. Leidy. He held the position until 1904, when he declined a re-election, and was succeeded by William S. Vaux, Jr.

The heirs of Joshua T. Jeanes, who died suddenly January 3, 1880, gave to the Academy $20,000, the sum which he had indicated his intention of bequeathing in a pencil memorandum on the margin of his will. The interest of Mr. Jeanes in the society was due to the association of his brother, Joseph, with all matters likely to advance its interests since his election to membership in May, 1853. It was through the liberality of Joseph Jeanes, in association with William P. Wilstach, that provision was made for the publication of Leidy's fine work, The Extinct Fauna of Dakota and Nebraska, constituting the seventh volume of the quarto Journal. His contributions for the increase of the library were frequent, and, in truth, every department benefited by his desire to advance the cause of science. In June, 1898, his sister, Anna, conveyed to the Academy a gift of $20,000, to be known as the Mary Jeanes Museum Fund.

The Mineralogical Section was founded in 1877. In 1879 its scope was broadened and its name changed to the Mineralogical and Geological Section. Reports of its work were, for a time, contributed to the Proceedings. Its meetings are held regularly, and much good is effected by a series of annual field excursions in the Spring and Fall.

A severe loss was sustained in May, 1882, in the death of William S. Vaux, who had been elected a member in 1834. He had served the society effectively and generously for more than forty-eight years, during which time, except when absent from the city, he seldom allowed a day to pass without a visit to the Hall in the discharge of his duties as Curator, which position he had held continuously since 1838. He was earnestly interested in all the building enterprises, and gave liberally to them himself, contributing to the last building fund the largest sum given by an individual. He bequeathed to the Academy his collections of minerals and archæological specimens, with the exception of ten of