Idaho Academy of Science
Records, 1958-1961
ca. 1 ft.
MSS 31
The Idaho Academy of Science was organized on May 10, 1958, in Boise by a group of college professors and others interested in the promotion of science in Idaho. Approximately 50 people were in attendance. Temporary officers were elected, and a constitution and bylaws committee was appointed by the president, Dr. William H. Baker. Those documents were adopted at another meeting held in November 1958 at Boise Junior College. The group’s first annual meeting at which scientific papers were read was held in 1959 at the University of Idaho, with 31 papers presented. The Idaho Academy of Science affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1960.
This collection includes correspondence of various officers of the academy, membership lists, meeting minutes, publications, and other records. The bulk of the collection is dated 1958-1961, the first four years of the organization’s existence, though there are a few files from 1971. Much of the information in the collection deals with the organization, internal affairs, and business of the academy. A proposal for a medical school in Idaho and supporting documents make up a significant file (Box 3). Two persons who figure prominently in the papers are two of the academy’s founders, John J. Gallagher and Earl J. Larrison. The Journal of the Idaho Academy of Science and the academy’s newsletter, The Retort, are housed elsewhere in Albertsons Library. Consult the library’s catalog for their location.
Collection number: MSS 31
Inclusive dates: 1958-1961, 1971
Size of collection: ca. 1 ft.
Transferred from: Boise State Biology Dept., date unknown Processed by: Brian Brown, 1990
Finding aid typed: 2006
Box and Folder List
The collection is divided into 8 series and housed in 4 boxes.
Series I: General materials
Box 1: General materials
Folder 1 Historical accounts of the founding
Folder 2 Constitutions
Series II: Correspondence
Box 1: Correspondence
Folder 3 Correspondence: 1958
Folder 4 Correspondence: 1959: Jan-July (Larrison)
Folder 5 Correspondence: 1959: May-Nov (Larrison-Gallagher)
Folder 6 Correspondence: 1959: Nov-Dec (Larrison-Gallagher)
Folder 7 Correspondence: 1960: Jan-Feb (Gallagher)
Folder 8 Correspondence: 1960: Feb-Mar (Gallagher)
Folder 9 Correspondence: 1960: Apr-Aug (Gallagher)
Folder 10 Correspondence: 1960: Aug-Dec (Gallagher)
Folder 11 Correspondence: 1960-1961 (AAAS affiliation)
Folder 12 Correspondence: 1971 (Fred Fritchman)
Folder 13 Correspondence: Form letters, 1960
Series III: Minutes and Meeting Files
Programs for the first three annual meetings (1959-1961) with lists of papers presented at them are located with Publications (Box 2, Folder 12).
Box 2: Minutes
Folder 1 Minutes (incomplete): 1958-1961
Folder 2 Pocatello meeting, 1960
Folder 3 Attendance register book: 1959-1961
Series IV: Membership
Box 2: Membership
Folder 4 Membership lists: 1959-1960
Folder 5 Membership lists: 1972
Folder 6 Membership applications: 1959-1960
Folder 7 Membership applications: 1960-1961
Folder 8 Membership resignations: 1958-1960
Folder 9 Newsletter subscriptions: 1960
Series V: Financial records
Box 2: Financial records
Folder 10 Budgets: 1958-1961
Folder 11 Dues collection: 1960
Series VI: Publications
Box 2: Publications
Folder 12 Annual meeting programs (1st-3rd): 1959-1961
Folder 13 Newsletters: 1958-1961
Folder 14 Other: 1959-1961
Series VII: Miscellaneous
Box 2: Miscellaneous
Folder 15 AAAS Operational Guide
Folder 16 History of the Academy Conference, 1926-1952 (publication)
Folder 17 Petitions
Folder 18 Miscellaneous
Series VIII: Proposals
Most of the papers in this box relate to a proposal to start a medical school in Idaho.
Box 3: Proposals
Folder 1 Medical school: Suggestions, by R.A. Lyman: 1960
Folder 2 Medical school: Appendix A
Folder 3 Medical school: Appendix B
Folder 4 Medical school: Appendix C
Folder 5 Medical school: Appendix D
Folder 6 Medical school: Appendix E
Folder 7 Medical school: Appendix F
Folder 8 Medical school: Appendix G
Folder 9 Medical school: Appendix H
Folder 10 Medical school: Appendix I
Folder 11 Medical school: Appendix J-K (Resolution and Proposal)
Folder 12 Medical school: Miscellaneous
Folder 13 Medical school: Summary of Progress, by E.V. Simison: 1961
Folder 14 Medical school: Summary of cost analysis, by Lloyd Call: 1961
Folder 15 State and Local Intergovernmental Science Policy Planning Program: 1971
Box 4
Official seal (embossing tool)