Lithuanian Science Society

.First row: Jonas Jablonskis, Žemaitė, Petras Kriaučiūnas, Jonas Basanavičius, Liudvika Didžiulienė, Jonas Dielininkaitis; second row: Vincas Palukaitis, Antanas Vileišis, Baltramiejus Čepulis, Adomas Sketeris, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Jonas Ambrozaitis; third row: Juozas Kairiūkštis, Jonas Spudulis, Mečislovas Silvestraitis, Mikalojus Kuprevičius.]

The Lithuanian Science Society was a scientific, cultural, and educational organization that was active between 1907 and 1940 in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was founded in 1907 on the initiative of Jonas Basanavičius.

The founding assembly of the organization took place on April 7th, 1907. The assembly elected Jonas Basanavičius as chairman, Stasys Matulaitis and Povilas Matulionis as vice-chairmen, Jonas Vileišis as secretary, Antanas Vileišis as treasurer, and Antanas Smetona as bookkeeper. Other members of the organization included Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas, Juozas Bagdonas, and Petras Vileišis. Jonas Basanavičius served as chairman until his death in 1927.

The society conducted research into the Lithuanian language and its dialects, along with anthropological, archaeological, and historical research. It operated a library, archives, a reading room, and a museum, and was involved in the publication of Lithuanian textbooks. The society also published the scholarly journal "Lietuvių Tauta" (The Lithuanian Nation). [cite journal|title=DR. JONAS BASANAVIČIUS — FOUNDER OF AUŠRA|accessdate=2008-03-28|publisher=Lituanus] . In 1911 Vilnius city magistrate decided to demolish The Uppercastle, and use the hill for city water supplies reservoire. Lithuanian Science Society and especially Jonas Basanavičius initiated protests and won the case cite journal|title=Daktaras Jonas Basanavičius|journal=Aidai|date=5 May, 1977 |first=Gražutė |last=Šlapelytė - Sirutienė|coauthors=|volume=|issue=|pages=|id= |url=http://aidai.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2072&Itemid=198|format=|accessdate=2008-07-12 ] . The remains of the Castle were spared. Society also acted in favour of preserving Lida and Trakai Castles .

The society resided in Viliešis Palace. In 1938 the society was banned by Polish authorities, [cite web|title= Scientific Library|publisher=Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore|url=http://www.llti.lt/en/bibliot.htm|accessdate=2008-03-28] which were then in control of Vilnius. It resumed its activities in 1939, after Lithuania regained the city. The property of the society was transferred to the Institute of Lithuanistics in 1940, and later to the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. Most of the exhibits were later transferred to the Lithuanian Museum of History and Ethnography; the numismatic collection went to the Lithuanian Art Museum.

Honorary members

*Adalbert Bezzenberger
*Baudouin de Courtenay
*Phillip Fortunatov
*Aleksey Shakhmatov
*Tadeusz Wroblewski

References