BULLETIN OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Vol. 21, pp. 69-86 March 31, 1910 PROCEEDINGS OP THE PRELIMINARY MEETING OP THE PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY, HELD AT BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, DECEMBER 30, 1908, AND ALSO PROCEED­ INGS OP THE FIRST ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT CAM­ BRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 29, 1909. H e rd m a n P. C le la n d , Secretary CONTENTS The Paleontological Society: Page Preliminary meeting for the organization of a Paleontological Society. 69 Report of the Organization Committee of the Paleontological Society. 71 First annual meeting of the Paleontological Society : Report of the Secretary............................................................................ 72 Election of officers..................................................................................... 72 Election of members......................... ........................................................ 73 Program ..................................................................................................... 73 Constitution and By-Laws of the Paleontological Society.......................... 77 Officers and members of the Paleontological Society.................................. 83 P r elim in a r y Meetin g for t h e Organization of a P aleontological S o c i e t y The meeting for the purpose of organizing a paleontological society was called to order by Prof. Charles Schuchert, in the Geological Labora­ tory of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, at 9.10 a. m., December 30, 1908. Mr. T. W. Stanton was appointed Secretary pro tempore. The following persons were present and by their signatures signified their intention to take part in organizing the Paleontological Society of America: H. M. Ami, Ralph Arnold, R. M. Bagg, Jr., R. S. Bassler, J. W. Beede, E. W. Berry, E. C. Case, William Bullock Clark, John M. Clarke, Harold J. Cook, Edgar R. Cumings, August P. Foerste, J. W. Gidley, Charles W. Gilmore, A. W. Grabau, Edwin Kirk, P. H. Knowl- ton, E. B. Loomis, R. S. Lull, W. D. Matthew, Henry Fairfield Osborn, Charles S. Prosser, P. S. Raymond, E. S. Riggs, T. E. Savage, Charles Schuchert, H. W. Shimer, T. W. Stanton, E. O. Ulrich, Charles D. Wal­ cott, Stuart Weller, David White, Henry S. Williams, S. W. Williston. (69) Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/21/1/69/3412691/BUL21-0069.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 70 PROCEEDINGS OS' THE BOSTON-CAMBRIDGE MEETING Professor Schuchert outlined the history of the movement for the organization of a paleontological society, and presented a preliminary plan drawn up by the temporary committee, of which he had acted as chairman. At the New Haven meeting of the Society of American Vertebrate Paleontologists, in 1907, there was a general discussion in which several members favored the formation of a society of broader scope, in which workers in all branches of paleontologic research could be united. As a result of this discussion and of a suggestion that grew out of it, Professor Schuchert invited Messrs. John M. Clarke, F. B. Loomis, William J. Sinclair, T. W. Stanton, B. 0. Ulrich, C. D. Walcott, David White, and S. W. Williston to cooperate with him as a committee to consider ways and means of organizing a paleontological society. This committee sent out a circular to all the paleontologists of the coun­ try inviting them to vote on the general question of organization and on several details, such as whether the society should be independent or a section of the Geological Society of America, what kind of a publication is practicable, etcetera. The committee also issued the call for this meeting, and outlined a constitution modeled after that of the Geological Society. The principal features of the proposed constitution were pre­ sented to the meeting by the chairman. On motion of Dr. C. D. Walcott, an executive committee on organiza­ tion, with full power to act for the society, was formed, consisting of Charles Schuchert, F. B. Loomis, S. W. Williston, David White, H. F. Osborn, and T. W. Stanton. Prof. William Bullock Clark, as a member of the Council of the Geo­ logical Society of America, read a resolution adopted by that Council, expressing sympathy with the movement to organize the paleontologists and suggesting a joint committee to adjust details of affiliation. On motion, the Executive Committee of the Paleontological Society was empowered to act for the paleontologists with a committee to be ap­ pointed by the Council of the Geological Society of America to adjust relations with that Society. The Executive Committee was authorized to elect the officers of the Society for 1909. At 10 a. m. the meeting adjourned. (Signed) T. W. S ta n to n , Secretary pro tem. Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/21/1/69/3412691/BUL21-0069.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 s e c r e t a r y ' s r e p o r t 71 R eport op t h e Organization Co m m ittee of t h e P aleontological Society Pursuant to the call of the chairman, the Executive Committee of the Paleontological Society met with a special committee of the Geological Society of America in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, at 10 a. m., February 13, 1909, for the purpose of adjusting the relations between the two societies. There were present Messrs. F. B. Loomis, David White, and T. W. Stanton, representing the Paleontologi­ cal Society of America, and Messrs. W. B. Clark, J. M. Clarke, H. E. Gregory, and E. 0 . Hovey, representing the Geological Society of Amer­ ica. W. B. Clark acted as chairman of the conference. From the preliminary discussion it was evident that the majority of those interested in the organization of a paleontological society were in favor of making it a section of the Geological Society of America, as ex­ pressed in a previous vote, and that the Geological Society was willing to recognize such a section and to assist it by increasing facilities for pub­ lishing paleontologic papers and in other ways, so far as its financial condition would allow. A provisional draft of a “Constitution and By-Laws of the Paleonto­ logical Society of America,” based on those of the Geological Society and prepared by Professor Schuchert, was read by paragraphs and informally discussed, and amended so as to make it consistent with the form of organization agreed upon, namely, a section of the Geological Society of America. On the suggestion of Dr. J. M. Clarke, it was decided to adopt “The Paleontological Society” as the name of the organization, the qualifying phrase “of America” being unnecessary, since there is no other paleon­ tological society. After the adjournment of the conference, the Executive Committee reassembled and ratified the Constitution and By-Laws as amended in the joint session.1 Under the authority granted at the preliminary meeting in Baltimore on December 30, 1908, the committee proceeded to elect officers for the remainder of this year as follows: President, J. M. C la r k e . First Vice-President, J. C. Merriam. Second Vice-President, T. W. S ta n to n . Third Vice-President, David W hite. Treasurer, W. D. M atthew. Secretary, H. F. C le la n d . Editor, C. R. Eastman. 1 The Constitution and By-Laws of the Paleontological Society are published as pages 77-82 of this volume. Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/21/1/69/3412691/BUL21-0069.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 7 2 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE BOSTON-CAMBRIDGE MEETING It is understood that this board will hold office only until the close of the first annual meeting, and that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws they must prepare and send out a list of nominations for their successors within thirty days. It was also agreed that the selection of the First, Second, and Third Vice-Presidents, respectively, from the Vertebrate, Invertebrate, and Botanical Sections is not a permanent arrangement, but that the order of precedence should be changed from time to time. Adjourned. T. W. S ta n to n , Secretary. F irst A nnu al M eetin g of t h e P aleontological S ociety The first annual meeting of the Paleontological Society was called to order by President John M. Clarke at 10 o’clock a. m., Wednesday, De­ cember 29, 1909, in the Nash Lecture Hall of the Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Repost of the Secbetary To the Members of The Paleontological Society: During the year notices of the organization of The Paleontological Society, with a statement of the qualifications for membership, were sent to the paleontologists of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. To these a prompt and encouraging reply was received from the majority of the paleontologists to whom the notices were sent. As a result of these circular letters and of the correspondence carried on by members of the Council, the membership of the Society at present is as given in the accompanying list (pages 83-86). The following resolutions were adopted by the Council: Resolved, That the Council of the Paleontological Society invites the entire membership of the Society of American Vertebrate Paleontologists to enroll as members of the Paleontological Society; and further Resolved, That the members of the Vertebrate Paleontological Society shall immediately on such adhesion and qualification be enrolled in the membership of the Paleontological Society without further formality. Election of officers.— At the meeting of the Council held at the rooms of the President, in Copley Square Hotel, December 28, 1909, the ballots were opened. Forty-two votes were received, all of which were cast for the officers who were nominated by the Council. Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-pdf/21/1/69/3412691/BUL21-0069.pdf by guest on 26 September 2021 ELECTION OP OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 73 The officers and Council for the year 1910 are as follows: President: Charles Schuchert, New Haven, Conn.