Indiana ornithologist Amos W. Butler was frustrated by unsuccessful efforts to obtain information from other scientists in the state, the lack of association with other persons involved in scientific pursuits and the lack of opportunity to see scientific books. He was able to interest other people in organizing the Brookville Society of Natural History of 1881 which was the forerunner of the Indiana Academy of Science.

Dr. Butler corresponded with noted scientists of Indiana concerning the organization of a state society during the winters of 1883 and 1884. The American Association for the Advancement of Science also discussed the matter in 1884. The Brookville Society of Natural History was asked to take the initiative in forming an Indiana state society. Much of the organizational work was done in the town hall at Brookville, Indiana, which would be called the "birthplace" of the Indiana Academy of Science.

The first meeting of the society was held December 29, 1885 in the Marion County Courthouse, Indianapolis. Approximately 40 people attended the meeting and the society was permanently organized and a constitution and by-laws were adopted.

The men who organized the Indiana Academy of Science were of high stature which insured that the organization become respected. It has continued to be an association with many outstanding members many of whom are known internationally. There are many memorial halls around the state that are dedicated to members of the society. Some of the early members had a great impact on the improved quality of life in Indiana. Some of the charter members helped establish health care, disease control, reportin of vital statistics, exposed problems in food processing which led to establishment of pure food laws, helped develop better foods by making horticultural improvements, developed microscopic and laboratory techniques, investigated state natural resources and their uses, and made contributions to the knowledge of teaching skills.

The society was incorporated December 21, 1887 with certificate of filing of the articles of association with the Secretary of Stae of Indiana. There were twenty-eight signers of the first constitution who also signed the Articles of Association.

It was decided to host annual meetings in the fall or winter at a meeting place located centrally in Indiana. The first committees appointed reflect some of the early interests of Academy members: Biological Survey, Cooperation of educational Soceities, Plan for Publication, State Library, Incorporation, Legislation for Destruction and Restriction of Weeds, Legislation for Protection of Native Birds, Dividing the Academy into Sections, Preservation of Aboriginal Earthworks near Anderson, and Relations of the Academy to State. The first paper sessions included papers from various fields of study given in general sessions.

The first Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science published in 1892 covered the 1885 to 1891 activities . This and the 1893 and 1894 volumes were financed by individual and business contributions and printed in Terre Haute. A plan to seek state aid for publication was launched in 1890 and was approved in March of 1895.

Associated with the desire for a publication by members of the Academy, there was the need to obtain access to and provide for dissemination of scientific publications. The Academy originally provided for a librarian in its first constitution of December 29, 1885. In 1898 a tentative agreement between the Academy and the Indiana State Library gave custody of Academy materials to the State Library although they remained Academy property. John S. Wright played a prominent part in the arrangement as a member of the Academy Library Committee and provided financial help. Later, in 1899 the Academy acquired the library of the Brookville Society of Natural History and investigated having the entire collection cataloged by the State Library. An initial IAS/ISL agreement was further revised in 1905 and 1907. The 1907 agreement remains in effect today. Essentially, the current agreement provides that in return for housing and maintaining the Academy collection, the State Library will have use of the material. Also, the agreement stipulates that the State Library will use exchange copies of Academy publications to build the Academy's collection, and that the State Library will pay for non-member distribution of Proceedings.