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American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743 by founding father Benjamin Franklin, continues to operate to this day. Through research grants, published journals, the upkeep of an extensive library, and regular meetings, the Society continues to advance careful study in a wide variety of disciplines (in the humanities and the sciences).
American Philosophical Society - History of the Society
From the beginning, the Society attracted some of America's finest minds. Early members included George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, David Rittenhouse, and John Marshall. The Society also drew philosophers from other nations as members, including Alexander von Humboldt, the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron von Steuben, and Tadeusz Kościuszko.
After the end of the American Revolution, the Society looked for leadership to Francis Hopkinson, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence. Under his influence, the Society received land from the government of Pennsylvania, along with a plot of land in Philadelphia where Philosophical Hall now stands.
Illustrious names have continually added themselves to the APS's membership roster, showing the breadth and depth of the society's reach. People from such diverse interests and backgrounds as Charles Darwin, Robert Frost, Louis Pasteur, Elizabeth Cady Agassiz, John James Audubon, Linus Pauling, Margaret Mead, and Thomas Edison became members of the Society. The Society continues to attract names of high renown today, with a current membership list of approximately 700.
American Philosophical Society - Society Awards
In 1786, the Society established the Magellanic Premium, a prize for achievement in "navigation, astronomy, or natural philosophy", the oldest scientific prize awarded by an American institution, which it still awards. Other awards include the Barzun prize for cultural history, the Franklin medal, the Lashley award for neurobiology, the Lewis award, and the Jefferson medal for distinguished achievement in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.
American Philosophical Society - Society Publications
The APS has published the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society since 1771. Currently five issues appear each year. The Proceedings have appeared since 1838: they publish the papers delivered at the biannual meetings of the Society. The Society has also published the collected papers of Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Henry, William Penn, and Lewis and Clark.
American Philosophical Society - External link
The American Philosophical Society
Category: Learned societies
Other related archives1743, Alexander Hamilton, Alexander von Humboldt, American Revolution, Baron von Steuben, Barzun prize, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Darwin, David Rittenhouse, Declaration of Independence, Francis Hopkinson, George Washington, John Adams, John James Audubon, John Marshall, Joseph Henry, Learned societies, Lewis and Clark, Linus Pauling, Louis Pasteur, Magellanic Premium, Margaret Mead, Marquis de Lafayette, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Robert Frost, Tadeusz Kościuszko, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, William Penn, astronomy, humanities, leadership, neurobiology, sciences
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