National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-11
-IN1HROPOLOGY,



A Society Organized to Promote Scientific
Investigation.
In response to a call for meeting of persons
interested in forming an organization to pro.
mote the study and diil'use knowledge of Amer.
lean archaeology, about thirty gentlemen assem-
bled in the regents room at the Smithsonian
Institution last evening. DIR. J. NJ. Toner was
called to the chair aud Professor Otis T. Mason
was chosen as secretary. DR.. De Haas stated
the objects of the meeting.
Professor Mason advised that the society en-
brace all who are devoted to the natural his
tory of man under the name of anthropOlOgy
which has been adopted in Great Britain,
France, Germany, Italy, aud Spain that there
should be subsections of archaeology, ethnol-
ogy, anatomy, biology, demography, and lin
guistics, and that each section, under its proper
chairman should be charged with the work of
its special branch.
DR.. Snodgrass thought if the name anthropo-
logical was adopted some people would come in
to discuss matters which the society would not
care to consider.
Colonel Mallery favored the wide and general
scope suggested by Professor Mason.
DIR. DE Haas thought the work to be done in
this country was mnently archaeological,
and while recognizing the Importance of other
branches of investigation, he thought it would
DC proper NluI tnt Hullc OF UrCnte OlOBlCal De
made prominent.
DIR. Fletcher considered the name anthropo-
logical as the most comprehensive and there
fore the most desirable.
After further discussion, the meeting, by
vote, adopted the name Of The Anthropolog-
ical Society of Washington"
During the discussion DR.. Reynolds made an
interesting statement regarding the archGolog-
ical history of the Potomac Valley. Ho said
| hp had iOun1 that this Vnllny nonaI1a nj
and had supported an immense population
| There are evidences that there have been mil.
| lions here. In the shell heaps beginning sixty
miles below here they had evidences that the
river alone was capable of supporting millions
| They had left no mounds, but had left every
other indication Of aboriginal life. His idea
was to form an archaeological society, and
take their spades and horses and unearth these
Indians. There were thousands of graves be.
tween here and the sea to be unoarthed, and
not only graves but traces of encampments
and potteries, where they made their pipes
and other interesting remains. He suggested
| that they issue circulars and send them to
every postmaster between this city and the
Severn River, to be distributed to the ply
sicians and clergymen, asking suggestions and
assistance
DIR. Toner Professor Mason, Colonel Mallery
and DIR. De Haas were selected as a committee
to draw up constitution and y.laws. vot,
OF thanks was rendered to Professor Baird fol
the use of the room for the meeting.
Mr.. Rhees announced that Professor Bairt
was very much interested in the object foi
which the society was formed and had in
structed him to offer them all the facilities
which the Smithsonian Institute afforded.
Tho meeting was adjourned to meet at til,
same place next Monday night.
The following gentlemen were enrolled az
members of the socicty Joseph MEREDITH
Toner, NJ. d. Elmer Il. Reynolds, NJ. d.. j
A. Burdick, William j. Rhees, Lennox w
Simpson, Robert Fletcher, NJ. d.. Otis Bigel wv
Colonel Garrick Mallery, Lieutenant w. w
Rcisinger, U. S. NJ; Lester +. Ward, Miles d,
Haas, NJ D.; Edwin p. Upham, f. II. Cush
ing, John g. Lang, G. Brown Goode, George III
Boehmer, Joseph NJ. Wilson, S. York Alice
James Y, Morgan, NJ. d.; p. w. Norris, ]. L
Snodgrass, A. Wellington Adams, NJ, d., an'
| Miles Rock