American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAA&S) is one of the oldest honorary societies and independent research centers in the United States. It was founded on May 4, 1780, during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other founding fathers of the United States. Its headquarters are in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The first class of new members, chosen by the Academy in 1781, included Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and several international honorary members. The initial volume of Academy Memoirs appeared in 1785, and the Proceedings followed in 1846. In the 1950s, the Academy launched its quarterly journal Daedalus, reflecting its commitment to a broader intellectual and socially oriented program and published by the MIT Press on behalf of the Academy. Membership in the academy is achieved through a thorough petition, review, and election process. The Academy also conducts multidisciplinary public policy research. It has over 5,700 active members.