150 years "Deutsche Ornithologen-Gesellschaft"

In 1845 thirty-two ornithologists are invited by E. Baldamus (1812-1893) to a meeting where they form a section within the "Gesellschaft deutscher Nat urforscher and Arzte" (Society of German Natural Scientists and Physicians) . This first official convention (there have been informal gatherings since 1822) is presided over by J. F. Naumann (1780-1857). One consequence of th e meeting is the establishment of the journal Rhea by. F.A.L. Thienemann (1 793-1858). The next two official conventions are held in Dresden. (1846) an d Halle a. d. S. (1847), and then there is a 3-year pause. Number 4 is conv ened by Naumann, Baldamus and v. Homeyer (1809-1889) in Leipzig, from the 1 (st) to the 3(rd) of October, 1850. This meeting, at which the first draft of the statutes is produced, marks the birth of the present-day society. At the 5(th) Convention, held June 11-13, 1851 in Berlin, the proposals drawn up in Leipzig are confirmed. The organization now called the "Deutsche Orn ithologen-Gesellschaft" (D.O.-G.) is headed by a six-member executive commi ttee (first president, until 1857, is J. F. Naumann). Only three years late r the society comprises 107 members, and by 1858 there are just 230. The journal Rhea ceases publication after only two issues (1 each in 1846 a nd 1849). In 1849 Baldamus founds the Naumannia, which becomes the first of ficial publication of the D.O.-G. A dispute has arisen between Baldamus and Jean Cabanis (1816-1906) regarding the content of Naumannia, so Cabanis is invited onto the editorial board along with Baldamus, but the disagreement s between them persist. There seems to be no prospect of a reconciliation w ith Baldamus, so in 1853 Cabanis establishes the Journal fur Ornithologie, which in 1854 becomes the official organ of the D.O.-G. In 1858 Naumannia b ecomes extinct. However, arguments within the Society regarding questions o f leadership and content are as lively as ever. Cabanis decides to extricat e himself by starting up a new society. In J. Ornithol. 15, 1867 he calls f or the establishment of a "Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft", abbrevia ted D.O.G, which adopts the Journal fur Ornithologie as its flagship public ation. The president of the new society is Cabanis. The old "Deutsche Ornit hologen-Gesellschaft" continues to exist in parallel. Between 1870 and 1874 the altercations within and between the two organizations gradually subsid e, and by May 1875 there is sufficient tranquillity that they fuse to form the "Allgemeine Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft" (General German Orni thological Society) DOG. At this meeting, in Braunschweig, Eugen Ferdinand v. Homeyer, who has been a member of both societies, is elected president; he holds the office from 1876 to 1883. This society is active into the Seco nd World War until 1944.