Kansas Academy
of Science
History of Geology
James S. Aber

Founded as Kansas Natural History Society at Topeka;
named changed in 1871.

Table of Contents
Abstract Introduction
Founding of KNHS Expansion into KAS
KAS in 20th century Related websites

Abstract

The Kansas Academy of Science is the second oldest state academy west of the Mississippi. It was founded by John D. Parker, a young Congregationalist minister, and by Benjamin F. Mudge, who was the foremost Kansas scientist of the time. The KNHS was established with the intent to increase and diffuse knowledge of the natural sciences, particularly in relation to the state of Kansas. Its early existence was quite tenuous. Kansas was still a frontier state with a small, but growing population and few scientific resources. At the organizational meeting in Topeka, Mudge was elected the first President, and Parker was elected as Secretary.

The turning point for the society came in 1870, when its annual meeting was held in Lawrence, at the invitation of Professor F.H. Snow of the University of Kansas. The meeting was well attended, and the decision was made to expand the scope of the organization to include all sciences. The Kansas Academy of Science became official the following year. In 1873, KAS became a coordinate department of the State Board of Agriculture. This arrangment resulted in great benefits for the academy during the remainder of the 19th century. The KAS undertook several major projects--lobbying for establishment of a permanent geological survey, developing a science museum, amassing a science library, and publishing the Transactions. The geological survey finally came to fruition in 1895. The science library and museum were initially successful, but were later discontinued. The KAS continues to publish the Transactions, as well as to hold annual meetings and field trips, and to sponsor other scientific and educational activities.

Introduction and Kansas statehood

The region of Kansas had been a focal point for European exploration and trade since the expedition by Coronado in 1541. France entered the territory with an expedition by Bourgmont in 1724, and a permanent French trading post was established in vicinity of modern-day Fort Leavenworth on the Missouri River--see Fort de Cavagnial. Throughout the first half of the 19th century, Kansas was a crossroads for travel, beginning with the Lewis and Clark journey up the Missouri River. Other well-worn paths included the Oregon-California trail, Santa Fe trail, and Smoky Hill trail. The Pony Express flourished for a brief time, in 1860-61, before the transcontinental telegraph was completed (through Nebraska).

Map of Kansas Territory in 1856. Latitudes 37°N and 40°N formed the south and north boundaries. The eastern boundary was the Missouri River, and the territory extended to the continental divide on the west. The western portion was removed at approximately 102°W when Kansas became a state in 1861. Click on the small image to see a larger version.

Kansas achieved statehood in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War. Following the war, an immigration boom took place in which the state's population had tripled by the end of the decade. Settlement was aided by rapid construction of railroads. Still only about 315,000 people resided in the state in 1870, and the western portions were still in Indian hands. State universities at Lawrence, Manhattan, and Emporia were new and small. The practice of science was trivial in comparison to rapid growth in economic activity.

Founding of Kansas Natural History Society

The Kansas Academy of Science is the second oldest, continuously active state academy of science west of the Mississippi River. At the time of its founding in the late 1860s, the academy had little likelihood for long-term success (Skelton 1998). The academy was co-founded by a minister and a geologist. John D. Parker was a young Congregationalist minister when he arrived in Topeka in 1867. He was appointed professor of natural science at Lincoln College (now Washburn University). He noted the lack of scientific establishments and resources in Kansas and attempted to organize a society in Topeka. He had little success initially. So he contacted geologist Benjamin F. Mudge at the Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University) in Manhattan.

Mudge was one of the most influential scientists in Kansas at the time. Mudge supported the concept, but wanted to move cautiously because a similar attempt to organize an academy in Michigan had failed recently. A call for an organizational meeting was posted in the Kansas Educational Journal. The meeting took place on Sept. 1st, 1868 in Topeka; however, a big storm limited attendence. Mudge was elected first President, and Parker was elected Secretary of the "Kansas Natural History Society" (KNHS). Society goals were stated as:

Increase and diffuse knowledge of the natural sciences,
particularly in relation to the state of Kansas.

Parker (born: Homer, NY, 1831) was trained in theology, but made a lasting mark as an organizer of scientific societies. From Kansas, he was sent to Kansas City, Missouri as a missionary 1875, where he began organizing the Kansas City Academy of Science. This academy was quite active in the late 1800s (now defunct). In 1881 he was commissioned as an Army Chaplain and continued to organize scientific societies wherever he was posted. He helped form the Nebraska Academy of Sciences in 1891 and also organized the California Scientific Association. He was a real "science entrepreneur."

Mudge (born: Orrington, Maine, 1817) was the first Kansas State Geologist (1864). He left the survey in 1865 to become professor of natural history at Kansas State Agricultural College. He was described as the only true scientific geologist west of the Mississippi, and he gained a national reputation through his work with the famous paleontologist, O.C. Marsh. In 1874, Mudge and four other faculty were fired for insubordination and gross misconduct for lobbying the Board of Regents. The real grievance was that they had not been paid for more than a year! Mudge became a geologist for the State Board of Agriculture. He was president or vice-president of the academy until his unexpected death in 1879.

Expansion into Kansas Academy of Science

The KNHS was pitifully small during its first two years. There was little interest and no money. The turning point came in 1870, when Prof. Francis H. Snow invited the group to meet in Lawrence at the University of Kansas. The meeting was a success, and the mission was expanded to include all sciences. The mission and name change to Kansas Academy of Science (KAS) became official in 1871.

Snow (born: Fitchburg, Massachusetts, 1840) was, like Parker, trained in theology. He took a position at the University of Kansas in 1866 (or early 1867?). He and Mudge agreed to divide their labors. Mudge concentrated on fossils; Snow worked on living organisms. Snow focused mainly in ornithology and entomology; he became chancellor of the University of Kansas in 1890. It is a remarkable commentary that Mudge and Snow had such freedom of action and broad-ranging abilities that they could separate their work between geology and biology. It is also noteworthy that two of the three most important people in the early academy were trained in theology. Similar developments would be highly unlikely nowadays.

In 1873, the young Kansas Academy of Science became a coordinate department of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Mudge's long friendship with Albert Gray (Secretary of Ag.) undoubtedly was a factor. KAS received great benefits through this arrangement.

By the late 19th century, the Kansas Academy of Science was a strong, growing, and influential organization. During this period, KAS undertook some major projects, which had immediate impact on science in Kansas.

  1. Transactions of the KAS -- The Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science (TKAS) is the official scholarly publication of the academy. It began in 1872 and was a major outlet for all manner of science publication in Kansas during the late 19th century and first half of the 20th century. As of 1962, more than 22,000 pages of scientific work had been published, comprising more than 2750 articles by more than 1400 authors (Schoewe 1965). The TKAS continues today with a traditional paper bulletin plus online versions of titles, abstracts, and selected articles.

    Cover of a recent issue of the Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. The KAS logo appears in lower left corner; it is a modification of the state seal.

  2. Geological survey -- A state geological survey existed for only two years in the 1860s, first under Mudge and then under Swallow. KAS worked consistently to reestablish a permanent survey. It was promoted on the basis of economic need for raw materials (coal, salt, oil, etc.) necessary for industrial development. KAS was for three decades the main outlet for geology in Kansas with more than 110 geological papers published in the TKAS. A permanent Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) was established finally in 1895 at the University of Kansas. The KGS has grown to become one of the most respected state geological surveys in the U.S.--see KGS.

  3. Science museum -- A museum of minerals, fossils, birds, and other specimens was housed and displayed in the state capitol. The collection was started by Mudge and Snow. The Kansas mineral display at the St. Louis World Fair won many awards. The museum was forced to move out of the statehouse, and the collections were damaged and disorganized during the move. Most of the materials were eventually dispersed to various departments at the University of Kansas.

  4. Science library -- The need for a scientific library was recognized early. It was built up through exchanging TKAS issues with other organizations, as well as direct purchases and private donations. By 1911 at least 6000 bound volumes were shelved, labelled, and indexed. Friction developed between KAS and the Kansas State Historial Society because of duplication of holdings and exchanges with other organizations. In 1930, the KAS library was divided among libraries at the University of Kansas, Kansas State Agricultural College, and Fort Hays State College, to which KAS sold its library for $5000 in order to raise funds for printing of the TKAS.

KAS in the 20th century

The Kansas Academy of Science has experienced growth, periods of instability, and finally a decline during the 20th century. The strong influence of the late 19th century continued into the early 20th century, most noteably with the TKAS. However, the library and museum both eventually were abandoned and dispersed to other state organizations. Financial support from the state varied from year to year, which led to some lean times. Nonetheless, KAS leaders and members persevered and the academy gradually grew to a membership in the range of 600 to 800 in the mid-portion of the century (late 1940s to early '70s). The membership consisted of a core of science faculty at state universities and science students at those universities.

Mid-century growth of KAS was part of a national trend following World War II. Federal support for science education and research led to a favorable situation for state universities. Science was a "golden grail" for the United States through the NASA Apollo missions and other high-profile programs. However, the latter third of the century has seen a shift in support for science at the federal level and in other facets of society. Military-related research remains strong and biomedical research has grown substantially in the late 20th century (Greenberg 2001). However, the Kansas Academy of Science has never played a significant role in these scientific arenas. The natural sciences have remained relatively constant, in spite of emergence of environmental concerns. Combined with loss of state financial support, KAS has encountered some difficult times in recent decades. Membership has declined to less than 400 total, and library memberships have plummeted, as libraries faced huge cost increases for acquiring scientific journals.

The downward membership trend may be attributed also in part to increasing specialization of scientific disciplines, in which a regional, all-purpose scientific society holds little interest for many younger scientists and science students. KAS has gradually developed a natural history emphasis dominated by biology, geology, and other field sciences. Laboratory and theoretical work comprise only about 20% of TKAS articles in recent years. On this basis, KAS has slipped out of the mainstream of modern science. KAS appears to be returning to the original natural history society from which it began.

During the late 1980s and '90s, KAS leadership undertook several initiatives to revitalize the academy. Some of the more successful ventures include a fall field-trip series to a different part of the state each year, a distinguished lecture series, and online resources, as well as annual meetings and quality publications. Continued innovation will be necessary to maintain the Kansas Academy of Science into the 21st century.

Fall field trip, Oct. 1995. Participants observe a prairie preserve in the Flint Hills near Cassoday, east-central Kansas. Photo date 10/95; © J.S. Aber.
Leaders of KAS at a council meeting in 2003 at Lake Kahola, KS. From left, standing: James Taylor, Johanna Foster, Larry Skelton. From left, kneeling: George Potts, Stan Roth and Mike Everhart. Photo date 6/03; © J.S. Aber.

Related websites

References


Return to history of geology syllabus or schedule.
GO 521 © J.S. Aber (2007).