Nolan, Edward J.

Epithet: of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia

Edward James Nolan (1846-1921) served as the librarian at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia from 1869 until his death. During his tenure as librarian, he performed research on and wrote the history of the Academy which was published in 1909.

Edward James Nolan was born in 1846. He was first connected to the Academy in 1862, when he served as an assistant to the library. He then left to study medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with the celebrated anatomist, Joseph Leidy. In 1867, he returned to the Academy as a member, but soon became a permanent part of the staff. In 1869, he was elected librarian and later, he was also elected recording secretary and Editor of Publications. Nolan served as librarian until his death in 1921.

In 1906, the President, Samuel G. Dixon wrote Nolan to start preparation on a history of the Academy, “that we may have it complete on 100th anniversary,” the Academy's Centenary Celebration. Thus, Nolan researched and wrote Short History of the Academy of Natural Sciences which was published in 1909. In 1918, Nolan had attached a memorandum to the bottom of the above letter stating that no money was authorized when the history was complete so that it was never published in full. The work consists of some 700 numbered pages and many sections which are unnumbered. The original is housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Collection 463.

Nolan died on January 7, 1921.