1834. The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania presented the thanks of the State for the report on weights and measures received from the Institute.

1837. The general interest created by the Institute's work gave rise to a movement for the establishment of a school of arts. The project failed at that time, but resulted later in the founding of the Department of Science of the University of Pennsylvania.

1838. The report of the Committee on Uniformity of Weights and Measures was printed. (The present laws of the State are based on this report.)

1839. November JOURNAL contained full translation of Daguerre's original communication to the French Academy describing his discoveries in photography (the Daguerreotype).

1840. Professor A. D. Bache's report on education in Europe appeared in the JOURNAL. (This report was made for use in connection with the organization of Girard College.)

1843. The Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated $4000 to be devoted to the purchase of instruments for the equipment of stations throughout the State for the systematic observation and collection of meteorological facts; the expenditure being left in the hands of the Institute.

This is the earliest instance on record of the appropriation, in any country, of public funds for the collection of facts relating to the weather. 1850. The School of Design for Women was founded by the Institute, Mrs. Sarah Peters, first Directress.

1863. Monthly reports of Meteorological Phenomena at Philadelphia were published in the JOURNAL. (These were continued to 1869.)

1864. The shape and proportion of screw threads used in machine construction were investigated by a special committee. The report of this committee was presented in 1865 and recommended for adoption by machine builders throughout the United States a uniform and simplified system of screw threads.

A few years later this was officially adopted by the Government, and under the designation of the "U. S." or "Franklin Institute Standard" is now in universal use.

1869. Resolutions passed by the meeting in August and addressed to Congress suggested an exhibition to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the United States and resulted in the holding of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876.

Solar Eclipse Expedition to Iowa in August, Dr. Henry Morton, Director. The services of the observers were gratuitous, the instruments were borrowed and the transportation for the party and equipment was furnished by the railroads.

1872. Committee on the mode of determining the horsepower of steam boilers published its report.

1873. The Institute approved Professor Lesley's recommendation of a more thorough Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, and asked the Legislature

to give prompt and full effect to the same. (The beginning of the Second Geological Survey.)

Committee on Conflagrations and Deaths from Petroleum Used in Lamps. A full report. Resolutions were sent to the Governor and Legislature, requesting the appointment of a commission to investigate the subject, determine tests, and to make laws relating to the burning of oils in lamps.

1874. Fiftieth anniversary. Held great industrial exhibition at Thirteenth and Market Streets-the site of the Wanamaker store.

1875. City Councils appropriated money for the expenses of an expert commission to be nominated by The Franklin Institute and to act in conjunction with the Chief Engineer of the Water Department. To this commission was referred the subject of the present and future water supply of Philadelphia.

1876. The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art housed and fostered by the Institute.

1882. Report of the Special Committee on the pollution of the Schuylkill River presented its report suggesting the construction of an intercepting sewer along the Eastern banks of the Schuylkill from Manayunk, with an outlet below the densely populated portions of the city.

1883. Special Committee on the prevention of fires in theatres presented an exhaustive report which contained thirty-eight recommendations intended to make places of amusement more safe.

1884. Without Federal or State aid the Institute held the first great International Electrical Exhibition.

The first International Conference of Electricians was held during the progress of the exhibition.

During and immediately after the exhibition the most complete and extended series of tests attempted to that time were made to determine the characteristics of all the more important types of electrical apparatus and appliances then commercially used.

The organization of The American Institute of Electrical Engineers this year resulted from the holding of the Electrical Exhibition and the International Conference of Electricians held under the auspices of the Institute.

1885. Novelties exhibition held in the buildings erected for use of the electrical exhibition.

1887. The Institute organized the Pennsylvania State Weather Service. Voluntary observers made regular reports on the weather conditions of the State. An appropriation was made by the State to cover cost of clerical services and printing. The service was in operation until 1891, when the State discontinued the appropriation.

1890. Joseph M. Wilson's voluminous report on schools, with particular reference to trade schools, appeared in the JOURNAL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE during the year. (This report served as a basis for the organization of the Drexel Institute.)

1894. Germantown Junction branch of the drawing school established.

1897. A communication from the Board of Health of the City of Philadelphia requested the Institute to appoint a committee to confer with the Board of Health with a view of taking action to abate or modify the smoke nuisance. A full report appeared in the JOURNAL.

1899. National Export Exposition held in conjunction with the Commercial Museum of Philadelphia.

1901. Resolutions passed to promote commerce by the improvement of waterways and approving the creation of the Department of Commerce.

1902. The metric system fully discussed at the monthly meetings. Resolutions passed petitioning the national government to enact such laws as will ensure its proper use.

1906. Resolutions passed urging the improvement of national waterways, particularly the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.

1914. Conducted meeting in Philadelphia celebrating thirtieth anniversary of the International Electrical Exhibition.

1915. First awards of The Franklin Medal.

1917. Established and maintained a recruiting and examination station for applicants for admission to the aviation service of the United States Army. Established School of Navigation for the United States Shipping Board. Conducted Free Radio School for men of the selective draft.

1920. Published "The Physics of the Air" by W. J. Humphreys, C.E., Ph.D.

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CHARTER AND BY-LAWS

THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE

MECHANIC ARTS

An Act, to incorporate The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the subscribers to the association called The Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts, and all such persons as may hereafter be admitted members of the same, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be, a body politic and corporate, by the name and style of "THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE MECHANIC ARTS," to have perpetual succession, to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, in all courts of record or elsewhere, to use a common seal, and break, alter, and renew the same at pleasure, and to take, hold, and enjoy lands, tenements, and hereditaments; Provided that the yearly income of the real estates held by them shall not exceed two thousand dollars.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the objects of the said corporation shall be the promotion and encouragement of manufactures and the mechanic and useful arts, by the establishment of popular lectures on the sciences connected with them, by the formation of a cabinet of models and minerals, and a library, by offering premiums on all objects deemed worthy of encouragement, by examining all new inventions submitted to them, and by such other measures as they may judge expedient. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the members of the said corporation shall consist of manufacturers, mechanics, artisans, and persons friendly to the mechanic arts; they shall pay such sum annually, or in gross, as shall be required by the by-laws of the said corporation for an annual, or life, subscription; Provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the said corporation from electing honorary or corresponding members, who may be exempted from such payments and other duties of membership, in such manner and to such extent as may be prescribed by the by-laws of the said corporation.

SEC. 4.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the officers of the said corporation shall be a president, two vice-presidents, a recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, a treasurer, and twenty-four managers, who shall, together, constitute a board of managers of the said corporation, and such other officers as the said corporation shall deem needful; two-thirds of the managers shall be manufacturers or mechanics; the

THE INSTITUTE'S ACTIVITIES

THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE was organized in the year 1824 to meet a demand in America for an Institution similar to that founded by Count Rumford in London in 1799. The founders intended it not only as an appropriate memorial to the name of Franklin, but as a means of continuing for all time a work which throughout his long life he perhaps regarded as his best, namely, the discovery of physical and natural laws and their application to increase the well-being and comfort of mankind.

The Hall of the Institute is located on the east side of Seventh Street, between Market and Chestnut Streets, and was built from plans furnished by John Haviland, architect. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate Masonic and other ceremonies, on the eighth day of June, 1825, at noon. The funds for the purchase of the lot and the erection of the building were provided by the issue of a building loan, which was freely taken by members and friends of the enterprise, and has long since been repaid. The building was completed, and the Institute took possession of all except the second floor (which was occupied by the United States Courts until 1830) in 1826. ́ Upon the first floor are located the lecture-room (capable of accommodating about 300), and laboratories and offices. The second floor is occupied by the library, to which special attention is paid elsewhere. The third floor is given up entirely to the use of the School of Mechanic Arts.

THE LIBRARY

The plan of the founders contemplated "the formation of a library of books relating to science and the useful arts, and the opening of a readingroom;" and, accordingly, in 1827, the first Committee on Library was appointed.

The books forming the nucleus of the library were stored in the residence of a member of the committee until early in the year 1829, when the first reading room was opened. During the next year a special committee of twenty issued an appeal for books and contributions of money in aid of the library.

The founding of the JOURNAL, in 1826, by opening the way to the establishment of exchange relations with other societies and with the leading magazines and periodicals devoted to science and the useful arts, proved an invaluable help in promoting its growth, and thus, early, gave to the library the distinctive character which it has since maintained. From the nucleus formed by this useful agency has grown a reference library of scientific literature, in some branches unique, and, in extent and completeness, second to none in the United States, embracing the publications of the principal scientific and technical societies of the world, and the leading periodicals devoted to science and the arts.