Filling in the Gaps: A Survey of Nineteenth Century Institutions Associated with the Exploration and Natural History of the American West

SYNOPSIS. In many historical studies emphasis is placed on thescientist as an individual and little on the institutions thatsupported him or her. This article details the institutionsthat supported the explorer/naturalists of the American Westduring the nineteenth century. The institutions are arrangedin chronological order of their founding. In discussing eachinstitution I include information concerning its founding, itsstructure, the way in which it supported naturalists and theirstudies, and important naturalists associated with it.