Prof. Mather, I believe, through Prof. Emmons, first suggested to
the New-York Board of Geologists in November, 1838, in a letter
proposing a number of points for their consideration. I quote
from him the following paragraph relating to the meeting. As to
the credit he has here given me of having personally suggested
the subject, I can say only that I had been in the habit for
several years of making this meeting of scientific men a sort
of hobby in my correspondence with such. Whether others did the
same, I did not then, and do not now know. Were this the proper
place, I could go more into detail on this point; but I will
merely quote Prof. Mather's language to the Board:--
* * * * "Would it not be well to suggest the propriety of a
meeting of Geologists and other scientific men of our country at
some central point next fall,--say at New-York or Philadelphia?
There are many questions in our Geology that will receive new
light from friendly discussion and the combined observations of
various individuals who have noted them in different parts of our
country. Such a meeting has been suggested by Prof. Hitchcock;
and to me it seems desirable. It would undoubtedly be an
advantage not only to science but to the several surveys that are
now in progress and that may in future be authorized. It would
tend to make known our scientific men to each other personally,
give them more confidence in each other, and cause them to
concentrate their observation on those questions that are of
interest in either a scientific or economical point of view. More
questions may be satisfactorily settled in a day by oral
discussion in such a body, than a year by writing and
publication."[A]
[Footnote A: In the letter alluded to, on examination, we
discover another passage bearing on the point, which, owing to
the Professor's modesty we suspect, he did not read. Prof. Mather
adds. "You, so far as I know, first suggested the matter of such
an Association. I laid the matter before the Board of Geologists
of New-York, specifying some of the advantages that might be
expected to result; and Prof. Vanuxem probably made the motion
before the Board in regard to it."]
Though the Board adopted the plan of a meeting, various causes
delayed the first over till April, 1840, when we assembled in
Philadelphia, and spent a week in most profitable and pleasant
discussion, and the presentation of papers. Our number that year
was only 18, because confined almost exclusively to the State
geologists; but the next year, when we met again in Philadelphia,
and a more extended invitation was given, about eighty were
present; and the members have been increasing to the present
time. But, in fact, those first two meetings proved the type, in
all things essential, of all that have followed. The principal
changes have been those of expansion and the consequent
introduction of many other branches of science with their eminent
cultivators. In 1842, we changed the name to that of the
Association of American Geologists and Naturalists; and in 1847,
to that of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science. I trust it has not yet reached its fullest development,
as our country and its scientific men multiply, and new fields of
discovery open.