In presenting THE O. S. U. NATURALIST to the public, a few words may not
be out of place as to the motives and purposes which were instrumental
in bringing it into existence. The Biological Club of Ohio State
University is composed of professors, instructors and students of the
several departments of natural history in the University. These
departments have been carrying on certain lines of work for some time,
and the more important and technical has been reported in various
publications. Much of the work, however, which is only of local
interest, but still of great value in the development of the natural
history of the state, has had no convenient avenue of publication. For
this reason it was thought advisable to begin a journal in a modest way
in which such material together with other articles might be made
available for immediate use.
The idea had been entertained for some time that such a course would be
desirable. Several members had expressed themselves in favor of a
journal, and Dr. Kellerman had for some years contemplated the
publication of a purely botanical paper which should be devoted largely
to the flora of the state. Finally during the spring of 1900 Mr. Tyler
and Mr. Griggs, students connected with the club, began to arouse
interest in the matter by advocating the founding of a bulletin which
should provide a suitable avenue of publication. By a motion of the
club, a committee to consider the matter was appointed, consisting of
the following members:
Herbert Osborn,
W. A. Kellerman,
F. J. Tyler,
John H. Schaffner,
Max Morse,
R. F. Griggs.
This committee finally agreed upon a plan, which was presented to the
club and adopted, with slight modifications, on the 7th of May, 1900.
The editors are elected annually by the club, and following is the staff
for the coming year:
Editor-in-Chief—John H. Schaffner, A. M., M. S.
Associate Editors—Zoölogy, F. L. Landacre, B. Sc; Botany, F. J. Tyler,
B. Sc.; Geology, J. A. Bownocker, D. Sc.; Archæology, W. C. Mills, B.
Sc.; Ornithology, R. F. Griggs.
Advisory Board—Professor W. A. Kellerman, Ph. D., Department of Botany;
Professor Herbert Osborn, M. Sc., Department of Zoölogy; Professor J. A.
Bownocker, D. Sc., Department of Geology.
THE NATURALIST, while aiming to be strictly scientific and technical in
character, will endeavor to be of especial assistance to the teachers
and amateur scientists of the state. It is believed that the kind of
work contemplated will be of great educational value.
While THE NATURALIST is to be devoted especially to the interests of the
state, other matter which may from time to time be offered, will not be
excluded.
In these days, when specialization is the tendency in all branches of
knowledge, we think there is still room for the old-fashioned naturalist
who was well versed in a number of sciences.
Whatever one’s career may be, we believe that every scientist, and for
that matter every person of education, should be a naturalist first and
cultivate a broad general sympathy with nature, and only after that has
he a right to become a specialist. No apology need therefore be made for
the broad field which THE NATURALIST is to cultivate, and we present it
to the public, earnestly soliciting the coöperation of university and
college professors, high school teachers, students, and amateurs in the
different branches of natural science; and asking that leniency of
judgment which such enterprises merit when begun under special
difficulties. Finally THE NATURALIST is not intended to be a
money-making institution, but it will be improved and enlarged as
rapidly as the income from subscriptions and other resources will
permit.