50 Years Ago

The report of Dr. C. P. Haskins, president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington ...comments on the slight change during half a century in the structure and basic orientation of the Institution; although when the Institution was founded, the idea, let alone the practice, of scientific investigation in the United States was almost unknown, except as an integral but subsidiary part of university work, and an editorial in Science during 1903 expressed grave doubts as to the function or future of an organization devoted to such an idea...[Dr Haskins] believes, despite the radical changes in the American scientific scene, that this conception of the Institution has stood the test of half a century and is as relevant today. The Institution has been able to play an important part in technological change in times of national emergency; and today...continues to pursue its aims of research towards the same goals and in essentially the same manner as it has throughout its working life.

From Nature 20 April 1957

100 Years Ago

Apparently, the British government is indifferent to any increase of facilities for the advancement of knowledge, for it makes no attempt to show active interest in organisations and institutions concerned with science and higher education. The Carnegie Institute at Pittsburg was dedicated last week in the presence of a large and distinguished company, but neither the British ambassador nor any member of the British embassy was present...The German Emperor was represented by a special commission of six members of the highest rank; France and Italy were also represented...The omission is only another instance of the failure of British statesmen to understand the significance of anything relating to science or progressive learning.

From Nature 18 April 1907