Evening star., 1917-11-04
WORK Of SOCIETY IN
1865 DESCRIBED
Columbian Institute Forerm-
ner of Many Scientific Bu-
reaus in Capital. !

government at Washington with their
thousands of employees dealing with
me country's problems in every
branch Of science and the important
learned societies and scientific estab-
Iishments of the National Capital were
Influenced in their early growth and
development in a greater or less de-
gree by a scientific society which
lourished In Washington during the
early years of the last century. The
Columbian Institute for the Promotion
of Arts and Sciences, now all but for
gotten, was the first learned society
established in Washington. its organi-
zation dating from June. 1916, sixteen
years after the occupation OF the city
as the federal capital and less than
two years after the invasion by the
British troops.
The population Of Washington was
at that time little moro than 10000.
and the repair and reconstruction OF
the public buildings was still in the
initial stage. The history. organiza-
tfon and achievements Of this society
t1are fully described in an interesting
bulletin of the United States National
Museum by Richard Rathbun, assist
ant secretary of the Smithsonian In
stitution, in charge Of the National
Museum.
Nucleus for National Museum.
The objects of the Columbian Insti-
tute. which was chartered by Congress
in 1913 for a term Of twenty years.
were as a whole very diversified. those
specifically named in the beginning
having been almost wholly of q utili.
tartan nature, such as the government
has from time to time assumed, and
made the basis of the work of several
scientific bureaus. -Four years later.
however. an organization was adopt.
ed which gave to the institute the lati.
tude of a comprehensive learned SO.
ciety.
Among all the activities planned only
n few were in any way conspicuously
carried out. in default OF the neces.
sary support. the most important ana
material of these being the establish
ment of botanic garden and mu-
scum.
Starting with a cabinet OF minerals.
which remained predominant in this
connection. this feature soon developed
into a general though small museum.
containing specimens OF zoology. bot.
any. ethnology. archaeology. fossils. etc.
Transferred to the National Institu-
tion in 1s41. some of the objects are
now readily distinKuishable in the
United States National Museum. form
ing, it may be claimed, the nucleus OF
its collections.
Occupied an Enviable Position.
However unfortunate in the realiza-
tion of its ambitions. the Columbian
Institute nevertheless occupied an en-
viabIe position among the earlier as
sociations of this country for the
breadth and Importance of it's objects.
even if they be regarded only in the
nature of suggestions. which have
since been so fully recognized in the
organization of the government and
elsewhere, and for it's hearty and un
selfish efforts to carry them out.
The membership of this institute in
cluded a great many Of the prominent
men of every walk Of life in Washing
ton. among them John Quincy Adams.
Andrew jackson. John c. Calhoun.
Henry Clay and well known repre-
sentatives of the Army, the govern
ment service. the medical and other
professions.