Chapter 2: Formation of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science

Written by on January 1, 2025

An Idea is Born (December 1923)

In December 1923, at the American Association of Academies of Science meeting in Cincinnati, OH, two botanists and an entomologist, got together and proposed to form a State Academy of Science in Pennsylvania.  They included C.R. Orton, a Professor of Botany at Pennsylvania State College, E.M. Gress, the State Botanist of Pennsylvania, who was in the Department of Agriculture, and W.A. McCubbin, an entomologist at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.  These three formed a committee that canvassed interest in forming the Academy.  Below is a list of other scientists from Pennsylvania who were present at the Cincinnati meeting, many of whom became founding members of the Academy.

  • C.H. Arndt, an instructor of Botany and Minister at the University of Pennsylvania
  • J.B. Hill, an instructor of Botany at the University of Pennsylvania
  • H.E. Hodgkiss, an Entomologist at the Pennsylvania State College
  • Stuart W. Frost, an Entomologist at the Pennsylvania State College
  • Frank D. Kern, a Professor of Botany and Dean of the Graduate School at the Pennsylvania State College
  • W.S. Krout, of the Pennsylvania State College
  • E.L. Nixon, of the Pennsylvania State College
  • W.S. Beach, of the Pennsylvania State College
  • J.P. Kelley, of the Pennsylvania State College
  • H.D. Fish, of the University of Pittsburgh
  • J.L. Cartledge of the University of Pittsburgh
  • H.C. Hinshaw of the University of Pittsburgh
  • T.L. Guyton of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

First Organizational Meeting Held in Harrisburg, PA (April 18, 1924)

On April 18, 1924, a meeting was called to order by Frank D. Kern in the Senate Caucus Room (now called the majority caucus room) of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.  Forty-two people attended this meeting out of over 1,000 people who were interested in forming the Academy (Lebanon Daily News, April 19, 1924).  During this meeting, Frank D. Kern was chosen as a permanent chairman and S.H. Derickson of Lebanon Valley College, was chosen as secretary.  Two committees were formed, the Constitution and Nominating Committee.

Those on the Constitution Committee included:

  • George H. Ashley, State Geologist of Pennsylvania
  • George W. Martin of Washington and Jefferson University
  • C.R. Orton of the Pennsylvania State College

Those on the Nominating Committee included:

  • Benjamin L. Miller of Lehigh University
  • H.D. Fish of the University of Pittsburgh
  • E.M. Gress of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
  • F.N. Maxfield of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction
  • Ralph N. Kocher of Reading Boys High School

During the meeting, the nominating committee presented the following people to become the first officers of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science:

  • President: Otto E. Jennings of the University of Pittsburgh
  • Vice-President: C.E. McClung of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Secretary: Joseph S. Illick of the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters
  • Assistant Secretary: Thomas L. Guyton of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

All of those present at this first meeting were considered to founding members of the Academy (Appendix AAA).  Those people who were members at this meeting up until the adoption of the Constitution at the next meeting on November 28, 2024 were considered to be Charter Members of the Academy.

First Executive Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (November 28, 1924)

On November 28, 2024, the first Executive Committee meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science was held in the Senate Caucus Room of the Pennsylvania State Capitol.  Governor Gifford Pinchot was present at this meeting as well as over 50 scientists.  Some of the more notable papers presented at this meeting included:

  • “Need for Extension of State Forests” by Edgar A. Ziegler of PSU-Mont Alto (Waynesboro Record Herald, November 28, 1924).
  • “Surveying for the Soils” by John T. Austen of PSU-Mont Alto (Waynesboro Record Herald, November 28, 1924).
  • “Serological Studies in the Control of Hog Lungworm” by George Zabrowski of AAA (The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA, November 29, 1924).
Beachfront hotel in Wormsleysburg, PA in 1930s.

Figure 2.1 – Beachfront Hotel on the Susquehanna River in Wormleysburg, PA — Credit: West Shore Historical Society.

That evening a dinner was held at the Beachfront Hotel (Figure 2.1) across from the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg; now the location of Duke’s Restaurant.  Two speakers, (Titusville Herald, November 28, 1924) presented at the meeting.  One was H.C. Cowles of the University of Chicago, who presented on “The Present Function of a State Academy,” and was considered one of the most prominent scientists in the country (Altoona Mirror, November 4, 1924).  The other paper was given by Edward Hart of Lafayette College, who spoke on “Pennsylvania’s Men of Science” (Bradford Era, November 29, 1924).  Other papers were presented as well during this meeting.

First Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (April 10 and 11, 1925)

On April 10, 1925 the First Annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science was called to order in the Senate Caucus Room of the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Go to Chapter 3: Pennsylvania Academy of Science in the 1920s

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