SECTION 2 THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES- Historical Summary of Activities, With Particular Emphasis on the Administration of Fellowship Programs PREPARED FOR THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS BY DOROTHY M. BATES ANALYST IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CONTENTS Page Establishment and early history of the Academy - Committees appointed by the Academy on behalf of the Government 1. Committees appointed in accordance with acts of Congress.. 2. Committees appointed at the request of joint commission and 4. Committees appointed at the request of the Treasury Depart- 5. Committees appointed at the request of the Navy Department. 6. Committees appointed at the request of the War Department. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL "The National Academy of Sciences is a private nonprofit corporation dedicated to the furtherance of science for the general welfare and required by its congressional charter to act as an official adviser on scientific matters to the Federal Government.” 1 ESTABLISHMENT AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE ACADEMY Although the National Academy of Sciences was not established until 1863, there is evidence that the idea of such an institution had been in the minds of many of the early statesmen. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and Adams all expressed genuine interest in the progress of science, and actively favored the establishment of institutions for the diffusion of knowledge.2 Throughout the first half of the 19th century, the need for a national scientific academy continued to be felt. This need was voiced in 1851 by Alexander Dallas Bache, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: *** I would throw out for your consideration some reasons which induce me to believe that an institution of science, supplementary to existing ones, is much needed in our country, to guide public action in reference to scientific matters. * Our country is making such rapid progress in material unprovements, that it is impossible for either the legislative or executive departments of our Government to avoid incidentally, if not directly, being involved in the decision of such questions. Without specification, it is easy to see that there are few applications of science which do not bear on the interests of commerce and navigation, naval or military concerns, the customs, the lighthouses, the public lands, post offices or post roads, either directly or remotely. If all examination is refused, the good is confounded with the bad, and the Government may lose a most important advantage. If a decision is left to influence, or to imperfect knowledge, the worst consequences follow. Such a body would supply a place not occupied by existing institutions, and which our own is, from its temporary and voluntary character, not able to supply.3 National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Organization and members 1954-55. Washington, D. C., December 1954. 115 p. at p. 1. 2 The scientific interests of these men are discussed in The Origin of the National Scientific and Educa tional Institutions of the United States, by G. Brown Goode, Annual report of the American Historical Association for the year 1889. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1890. pp. 53-161. 3 Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 6th meeting, 1851 (1852) pp. xlvii-li, as quoted by Frederick W. True, A History of the First Half Century of the National Academy of Sciences, 1863-1913, at pp. 7-8. Washington, 1913, 399 pages. |