PROCEEDINGS

AT A MEETING COMMEMORATIVE OF

THE LIFE AND SCIENTIFIC WORK

OF

SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD,

HELD JANUARY 11, 1888,

UNDER THE JOINT AUSPICES OF THE

ANTHROPOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETIES OF WASHINGTON.

INTRODUCTION.

On August 19, 1887, SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Director of the U. S. National Museum, and U.S. Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, died at Wood's Holl, Massachusetts, his post of duty in the last named office. His death at once excited throughout the world feelings and expressions of profound regret. At that time nearly all of his Washington associates in scientific pursuits were absent from the city, on field duty or in vacation, and were thus unable to jointly testify to the affection and respect in which he was held by them.

And especially the scientific societies of Washington, none of which meet during the summer months, were unable to immediately take any action in the matter or to give organized expression to the sentiments of their members.

With the resumption of meetings, however, it was determined that such expression should be given with all ceremonial completeness, and as the senior of the Washington scientific societies, and the one with which Professor Baird had been most closely connected, the Philosophical Society took the initial steps in arranging a joint meeting with the Anthropological and Biological Societies, a meeting which might enable the members and their friends to testify not only their profound respect for this foremost scientific leader, but also their affectionate regard for the man.

The appended invitation and programme, which was mailed to all members of the Philosophical, Anthropological, Biological, and Chemical Societies, and of the Cosmos Club, sets forth the form taken in those arrangements:

SIR:

WASHINGTON, January 4, 1888.

The Philosophical Society in conjunction with the other scientific societies of the city will hold a meeting on Wednesday evening, January the eleventh, in commemoration of the life and services to science of the late SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Director of the National Museum, and United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.

Members of the societies, and ladies and gentlemen whom they may desire to invite, will assemble in the lecture-room of the Columbian University, on the southeast corner of H and Fifteenth streets, at a quarter past eight o'clock.

Your presence on this occasion is earnestly desired.

C. E. DUTTON,

ROBERT FLETCHER,

J. H. KIDDer, Committee of Management.

Opening of the meeting, by the President of the Philosophical Society.

Professor Baird as Administrator, Mr. W. B. TAYLOR, of the Smithsonian Institution.

Professor Baird in Science, Mr. W. H. DALL, President of the Biological Society.

The Personal Characteristics of Professor Baird, Mr. J. W. POWELL, President of the Anthropological Society.

Mr. GARRICK MALLERY, President of the Philosophical Society, called the meeting to order at the time and place above named.