Dr. Increase Al. Lapham The Name of this American Scientist Would be Most Appropriate for Schlitz Park, p. 2

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county. This book is now rare and commands a great price by
collectors.
Dr. Lapham was a firm believer in museums as educational
institutions, and as early as 1859 had made a valuable archaeolog-
ical collection, which he deposited in the museum of the Wisconsin
University, where it remained until destroyed by the burning of
Science Hall in 1884.
Dr. Lapham was spirited and always stood ready to
do what he could for the advancement of the commonwealth and the
enlightenment of its people. With the hope of interesting the citi-
zens of Milwaukee in the resources of the state, he gave a series
of lectures on Wisconsin during the years 1851 and 1852. His
lectures on the antiquities of the state, especially those de-
livered to the Young Men's Association, have been repeatedly re-
ferred to in scientific articles the world over.
A reference to the files of the Sentinel, during the sum-
mer of 1852, under the heading "Rambles in the Interior" by Dr.
Lapham, will disclose much interesting information.
What may well be regarded as the crowning accomplishment
of Dr. Lapham's life may be found in the Smithsonian Contributions
to Knowledge, entitled "Lapham's Antiquities of Wisconsin", pub-
lished in 1854. The systematic exploration of the ancient re-
mains of Wisconsin was undertaken and accomplished to a remarkable
degree by him on behalf of the American Antiquarian Society, for
which he received no other compensation than the scientific en-
joyment which the prosecution of the work itself afforded him.
The cost of printing this valuable record was assumed by the
Smithsonian Institution.
The work has proven of great value as an accurate and faith-
ful record of the interesting earthworks of this state, which are
so rapidly being obliterated by the march of improvement. This
book is among the most sought after of all the Smithsonian publi-

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