SCHOOL OF MINES, COLUMBIA COLLEGE

41 EAST FORTY-NINTH STREET

NEW YORK ... January 5th, ... 1892

My dear Professor Marsh:

I hope you will pardon me for not responding sooner to your
note with regard to the appointment as chairman of the Committee
of the National Academy of Sciences on the Barnard Medal. I was
getting ready to go out of town when the letter came, and put it
in the pile on my desk to be attended to as soon as I returned,
but you know how those piles increase in size.

I of course accept the honor with pleasure.

Very sincerely yours,

C. F. Chandler

41 EAST FORTY-NINTH STREET

NEW YORK... December 20th, 1894

Professor Asaph Hall,

Washington, D. C.

My dear Professor Hall:

You may recollect that President Barnard of Columbia College, left a bequest in the hands of the trustees of Columbia College for the award of a medal for the encouragement of scientific research, once in five years; and that a Committee of the National Academy was appointed on this subject, of which I have the honor to be chairman. The other members were Lewis Boss, J. P. Cooke, E. S. Dana, and G. B. Goode.

I write to inquire if any appointment has been made to fill the place of Professor J. P. Cooke, deceased. I presume the other members are still living as I have not heard of any other death in the Academy.

Very sincerely yours,

forwarded

COLUMBIA COLLEGE,

NEW YORK, January 26th, 1895.

MY DEAR SIR:

As you may be aware, the late Dr. F. A. P. Barnard made
provision in his Will for a gold medal to be conferred, once in five years, by
Columbia College upon the person, who, during the previous five years, had made
such discovery in physical or astronomical science, or such novel application of
science to purposes beneficial to the human race, as in the judgment of the
National Academy of Sciences shall be esteemed most worthy of such honor.
The first medal will be awarded at Commencement, June 12th, 1895, and it
devolves upon the National Academy of Sciences to select and present in ample
time to the Trustees of Columbia College the proper name for this honor.

President Marsh has appointed the following Committee to select the
name:

C. F. CHANDLER, Chairman,
LEWIS BOSS,
C. B. COMSTOCK,
E. S. DANA,
G. B. GOODE,

and this Committee will at once proceed to select one or more names, to be
presented to the National Academy, at its regular meeting in April. The
Committee will be very glad to have assistance from members of the Academy,
and would beg you at your earliest convenience to make any suggestions
that may occur to you that will aid the Committee in arriving at a satisfactory
conclusion in this matter.

Please address your communication to

EXTRACT FROM THE WILL OF THE LATE
DR. F. A. P. BARNARD.

But of the income from this said fund I desire that so much as may be necessary shall be applied in the manner following: The Trustees of Columbia College shall cause to be struck, with suitable devices, a medal of gold, nine-tenths fine, of the bullion value of not less than two hundred dollars, to be styled "The Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science," and shall publicly announce that a copy of the same will be awarded, at the close of every quinquennial period, dating from the probate of this my last Will and Testament, to such person, whether a citizen of the United States or of any other country, as shall, within the five years next preceding, have made such discovery in physical or astronomical science, or such novel application of science to purposes beneficial to the human race, as, in the judgment of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, shall be esteemed most worthy of such honor. And I make it my request that the said National Academy of Sciences shall charge itself with the duty of declaring to the Trustees of Columbia College aforesaid, at the close of every term of five years, as above defined, the name of the person whom they judge worthy to receive such medal, with a statement of the reasons on which their judgment is founded; and that, upon such declaration and nomination, the Trustees shall proceed to award the said medal, and shall transmit the same to the person entitled to receive it, accompanied by a diploma or certificate attesting the fact and the occasion of the award. But, if the said National Academy of Sciences shall judge that, during the five years preceding the date at which, as above provided, this award shall become due, no discovery in physical or astronomical science, or no new application of scientific principles to useful purposes, has been made worthy of the distinction proposed, then it is my wish and request the award shall be for that time omitted.

And I would further desire that the medal above described should bear, if it can be accomplished without interfering with the appropriate artistic device upon its obverse side, the motto, "Magna est Veritas," and upon its reverse the motto, "Deo optimo Maximo, Gloria in Excelsis."

RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

*Resolved*, That one such medal be awarded at Commencement at the close of every quinquennial period, dating from the 17th of July, 1889, to such person, if any, whether citizen of the United States or of any other country, as shall, within the five years next preceding have made such discovery in physical or astronomical science, or such novel application of science to purposes beneficial to the human race, as in the judgment of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, shall be esteemed most worthy of such honor.

*Resolved*, That the Clerk be instructed to transmit to the National Academy of Sciences a copy of that portion of the Will of Dr. Barnard relating to the "Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science," and to ascertain whether such Academy will charge itself with the duty of declaring to the Trustees at the close of every term of five years, the name of the person whom they judge worthy to receive such medal.

The first medal is to be awarded at Commencement in 1895.

41 EAST FORTY-NINTH STREET

NEW YORK May 31st, 189 5

Professor O. C. Marsh,

Yale College, New Haven, Conn.

My dear Professor:

President Low has received a letter from Lord Rayleigh saying that as the award of the Barnard medal is for the discovery of argon in the atmosphere it would not be proper for him to accept it, as Professor Ramsey is jointly and equally entitled to credit for the discovery.

After careful consideration of the question President Low has decided to ask the board of trustees, at its meeting on Monday next, to authorize the giving of two medals for the discovery of argon, one to Lord Rayleigh in conjunction with Professor Ramsey, and one to Professor Ramsey in conjunction with Lord Rayleigh.

Please telegraph me on receipt of this letter if you approve.

Very sincerely yours,

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41 EAST FORTY-NINTH STREET

NEW YORK June 3d, 189 5

Professor O. C. Marsh,

My dear Professor Marsh:

Your telegram is just received.

I wrote to every one of the members of our committee--Professor Boss, General Comstock, Professor Dana and Professor Goode. All telegraphed back hearty approval of the plan to give two medals instead of one. President Low will ask the trustees of Columbia College to authorize him to give the two medals at the last meeting, which will be held this afternoon. It seems to me under the circumstances, inasmuch as the Academy voted to recommend the discoverer of argon, that if there are two discoverers the Academy would include them both. I think if you would get the approval of the council of the Academy, that would answer every purpose.

Consider this an official announcement from me, as chairman of the committee, that the committee of the Academy on the Barnard medal recommends unanimously the giving of a separate medal to Professor Ramsey in addition to the medal to be given to Lord Rayleigh. There is nothing else to be done for Lord Rayleigh refuses to accept the medal if it is sent to him alone.

41 EAST FORTY-NINTH STREET

NEW YORK June 5th, 189 5

Professor O. C. Marsh,

My dear Marsh:

I have written to all the members of the Council and begged them to communicate with you at once, in the hope that this matter of the Barnard medal may be satisfactorily arranged before Commencement.