Excerpt from Biographical Memoir of Alexander Agassiz, 1835-1910

Three years later he became interested in coal mining in Pennsylvania, but he still continued active work in zoology. In 1865 he undertook the exploitation of an unprofitable copper mine in Michigan, in which he detected great possibilities. By uniting this mine with an adjoining one and by the application of improved methods of ore treatment, he placed the consoli dated properties upon a productive basis. From this time on, he had no further dread of the narrowness of means which had hitherto hampered him and his father; moreover, he could henceforth liberally aid his father in the furtherance of plans for the symmetrical expansion of the museum, and form for himself generous projects for exploration as well as for mu seum study. In spite of the too serious drafts made by the mining enterprise upon his time and strength, he did not at any time relinquish his interest in its management. He served successively as superintendent, treasurer, and president.

In 1869 his health gave way under the protracted strain of the management of the mine in Michigan, and he was forced to suspend all work in connection with that undertaking. With his wife and children he sailed for Europe in the autumn of that year, and his rest soon found him convalescent. With returning strength he journeyed to various points where he could examine collections of his favorite objects of study, and thus he spent his vacation in the most pleasurable scientific activity.

The titles of the scientific papers noted at the end of this sketch exhibit the wide range of his investigation and the steadfastness of his purpose. At this period he was devoting himself with singleness of aim to embryology and certain phases of systematic zoology. In this work and in his devotion to the museum, he must have given great satisfaction to his father. Who always regarded him as his earliest student in the museum. His methods of study were largely those of his father, and his avoidance of the polemics of Darwinism at this time was an added gratification. This period is regarded by those best qualified to judge as the happiest and most produc tive of the years which he gave to zoology proper.

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