Michigan academy of science, arts and letters

In March of 1892, University of Michigan zoology professor J. E. Reighard addressed a circular letter to well-known men in Michigan discussing the possible formation of a state society of naturalists "to comprise zoologists, botanists and physiologist." This effort was unsuccessful, but in 1894, Professors F. C. Newcombe, botany, J. B. Steere, zoology, and W. P. Lombard, physiology, Called for a meeting to organize a society whose role would be to co-ordinate scientific research and improve methods of teaching.

At a meeting on June 27, 1894, officers were elected for the newly formed Michigan Academy of Science. W. J. Beal was elected President, J. B. Steere, Vice President, and F. C. Newcombe, Secretary-Treasury. Sixteen persons attended from the University of Michigan; also represented were the Agricultural College at East Lansing, the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, Hillsdale, Alma and Adrian Colleges, and the cities of Detroit, Grand Rapids, Bay City, and Ann Arbor.

The Michigan Academy grew in numbers; members were added from new fields of interest. In recognition of its expanded interest sections, the Academy changed its name in 1921 to the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters. By 1950 there were eighteen interest sections including: Anthropology, Botany, Economics, Fine Arts, Folklore, Forestry, Geography, Geology and Mineralogy, History and Political Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sanitary and Medical Science, Sociology and Zoology. The Academy encompassed people beyond the Colleges and universities and offered a forum for the presentation and publication of papers in the above fields.

From 1899 to 1921, the state legislature appropriated funds directly to the Academy for the publication of papers. In 1921 the University of Michigan Press undertook the publication of the annual volume of Papers. As a result of receiving a four-year grant from the Kellogg Foundation in 1963, the Michigan Academy reorganized. A permanent secretariat was established to undertake the organizational and publication duties, which had previously been carried out by volunteers. The annual Papers were replaced by a quarterly journal, The Academician .

Through most of its history, i.e. the years documented by these records, the Michigan Academy was administered by a Council, which met twice yearly. The Council consisted of the Executive Officers, the Section Chairmen, the chairmen of standing committees and the past Presidents. The standing committees of the Academy were: membership, public welfare, state land policy, honorable mention, preservation of natural resources and the Junior Academy.

"All persons engaged in research, the promotion of literature or the arts, or the dissemination of knowledge" were eligible for membership. The annual two-day membership meeting combined a business session, an address by the outgoing President and the reading of papers before the various sections. Besides its stimulation of research and publication the Academy prepared resolutions on public policy and lobbied in support of those resolutions.

In 1946, the Junior Academy was formed to encourage scholarly work among high school and college age persons. The Junior Academy affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and sponsored the State Science Talent Search.

According to the Academy's website housed at Alma College (http://www.alma.edu/michiganacademy/), in 2006, over half of its members were faculty and graduate students supporting Michigan colleges and universities, while others included "independent scholars, scholars from other states, and people engaged in relevant research in business and government." Activities included an annual meeting and two publications, The Academician and the Academy Letter, a newsletter published three times per year.

From the guide to the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letters records, 1894-1980, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)