A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
History
A century of science in America : $b with special reference to the American Journal of Science, 1818-1918
American journal of science; Science -- United States -- History
In 1802 Benjamin Silliman was appointed professor of chemistry and
mineralogy in Yale College. After the Gibbs Collection was brought to
America he spent much time with the owner in studying it and, as a
result, Col. Gibbs offered to place the collection on exhibition in New
Haven if suitable quarters would be furnished by the college. This was
quickly accomplished and in 1810, 1811 and 1812 the collection was
transferred to New Haven and arranged for exhibition by Col. Gibbs.
Later, in 1825, it was purchased by Yale and served as the nucleus about
which the present Museum collection of the University has been formed.
There is no doubt but that the presence at this early date of this large
and unusual mineral collection had a great influence upon the
development of mineralogical science at Yale, and in the country at
large.
In the year 1810 Dr. Archibald Bruce started the “American Mineralogical
Journal,” the title page of which reads in part as follows: “The
American Mineralogical Journal, being a Collection of Facts and
Observations tending to elucidate the Mineralogy and Geology of the
United States of America, together with other Information relating to
Mineralogy, Geology and Chemistry, derived from Scientific Sources.”
Unfortunately the health of Dr. Bruce failed, and the journal lasted
only through its first volume. It had, however, “been most favorably
received,” as Silliman remarks, and it was felt that another journal of
a similar type should be instituted. Such a suggestion was made by Col.
Gibbs to Professor Silliman in 1817 and this led directly to the
founding of the American Journal of Science in 1818 under the latter’s
editorship. Although the field of the Journal at the very beginning was
made broad and inclusive it has always published many articles on
mineralogical subjects. Three of its editors-in-chief have been eminent
mineralogists, and without question it has been the most important
single force in the development of this science in the country. More
than 800 well-established mineral species have been described since the
year 1800, of which approximately 150 have been from American sources.
More than two-thirds of the articles describing these new American
minerals have first appeared in the pages of the Journal. While the
description of new species is not always the most important part of
mineralogical investigation, still these figures serve to show the large
part that the Journal has played in the growth of American mineralogy.
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