Tabla de Contenidos: “…The National Academy of Sciences -- Copyright -- Foreword -- Contents -- 1 The Academy's Antecedents -- The European Academies and the Royal Society -- The American Philosophical Society -- The American Academy of Arts and Sciences -- The College of Physicians of Philadelphia -- Concern for a National University -- The Columbian Institute -- The National Institute -- 2 Scientists and Scientific Organizations in Mid-Century America -- The Smithson Bequest -- Bache and Henry -- The Program of the Smithsonian -- Growth and Spread of Scientific Societies -- Louis Agassiz and His Influence on American Science -- The American Association for the Advancement of Science -- 3 The Incorporation and Organization of the Academy -- The Lazzaroni" and Their Influence -- The Outbreak of the Civil War -- The Permanent Commission -- The Drafting of the Academy Bill -- Reaction to the New Academy -- The Organization Meeting -- 4 The Government Calls upon the Academy -- ALEXANDER DALLAS BACHE (1863-1867) -- Early Problems and Activities -- The Illness and Death of Bache -- 5 Postbellum Years and the Crisis within the Academy -- JOSEPH HENRY (1868-1878) -- Crisis within the Academy -- The Hall Expedition to the Arctic -- Dearth of Government Requests -- The Philosophical Society and the Cosmos Club -- The Committee on Weights and Measures -- Removal of Restriction on Membership -- The Silliman-Whitney Controversy -- The Centennial Observance -- Illness and Death of Henry -- Establishment of the U.S. …”