The Semi-Centennial Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union November 13-16, 1933

Abstract

THE Semi-centennial Meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union in attendance, program, exhibits and field trips was the largest and one of the most successful meetings in the history of the organization. The American Museum of Natural History in New York, where the Union was founded half a century ago, was the place selected in which to review its record and celebrate its jubilee meeting. Unlike the initial meeting of 1883 when, on invitation of three officers of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, 21 individuals assembled to found the Union, the convention of 1933 brought together not only a large number of members but the officers and members of two vigorous off shoots of the Union, the U. S. Biological Survey and the National Association of Audubon Societies and representatives from many colleges, universities, museums and conservation organizations in Canada and the United States. A full week was spent in conference, discussion and exchange of ideas regarding modern bird study in all its phases. As a record of ornithological activity a memorial volume entitled 'Fifty Years' Progress of American Ornithology' prepared for the occasion was distributed at the meeting. The public sessions were held in the Education Building of the Museum and the headquarters were at the Hotel New Yorker, Thirty-fourth Street and Eighth Avenue. Direct connection with the Museum was provided by the Eighth Avenue Subway. Business Session3:-The meetings on Monday included two sessions of the Council at 10 A. M. and 2 P. M., a meeting of the Fellows at 4 P. M., and a meeting of the Fellows and Members which lasted from 8 P. M. until after midnight. At the meeting of the Fellows an amendment to the By-laws was adopted increasing the number of Members that may be elected at any meeting from five to ten, and John T. Zimmer of New York was elected to fill the single vacancy in the list of Fellows.