History of the Florida Entomological Society

Abstract

Eleven men interested in entomology and related subjects met in Science Hall on the campus of the University of Florida, the afternoon of January 5, 1916. The group gathered for the expressed purpose of organizing an entomological society and they proceeded in businesslike manner. The name Florida Entomological Society must have seemed so appropriate for the new organization that it was adopted without consideration of any other name. J. R. Watson, who was so intimately associated with the Society until his death in 1946, was selected as temporary chairman, and E. W. Berger as temporary secretary. A committee of three was appointed to draw up constitution which was adopted at the first regular meeting on January 17, 1916. At that meeting the first permanent officers of the Society were elected. They were: President, J. R. Watson; Vice-President, Wilmon Newell; Secretary-Treasurer, R. N. Wilson; and Member of the Executive Committee, H. S. Davis. The records and proceedings of the Society are not clear on the matter of charter members, but apparently all persons who affiliated with the Society during the first five meetings in 1916 were considered as charter members. These included E. W. Berger, T. N. Bradford, K. E. Bragdon, H. S. Davis, H. L. Dozier, J. C. Goodwin, Fritz Hatcher, S. P. Harn, A. C. Mason, Wilmon Newell, F. M. O'Byrne, W. E. Pennington, Frank Stirling, T. Van Hyning, Shirley B. Walker, J. R. Watson, and R. N. Wilson. The Florida Entomological Society has the distinction of being the first entomological society organized in the South and it is among the twelve oldest in the United States. Notices of its establishment appeared in the February 4, 1916, issue of Science, the February number of Journal of Economic Entomology and in the March, 1916, number of Entomological News. Each of these reports named the officers of the new society and the item in Science gave the titles of papers read at the first meeting. Entomological News wished the Society a long and useful life. Few scientific organizations have enjoyed the rapid growth achieved by the Florida Entomological Society. During the first year its membership quadrupled and by the end of 1917 the Society had 100 active members and 20 associate members. However, as so often happens with individuals and organizations, the period of healthy growth and active interest enjoyed by the Society during its formative years, at times gave way to apathy and loss of interest, as well as reduction in members. In the beginning, monthly meetings were held except during summer, when many of the members were away on vacation. Occasionally special meetings were called when distinguished entomologists such as Doctors Herbert Osborn, H. T. Fernald, 0. A. Johannsen, W. S. Blatchley, and others visited the University of Florida campus. Sometimes the Society held