275 Years of Promoting Useful Knowledge

The American Philosophical Society:

Celebrating 275 Years
of Promoting Useful Knowledge

To mark the 275th anniversary, this timeline highlights key events that helped define the APS during its illustrious history.

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About this Project

Madalina Veres, Postdoctoral Mellon Fellow in Digital History, researched, wrote, and created the timelines. Bayard Miller built this gallery and served as technical adviser. David Gary provided project management and oversight. Editorial assistance was provided by Elizabeth R. Moran Fellow Julie Fisher. Digitization for the project was done by Joseph DiLullo.

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Resources

Click on the links below to consult the sources that informed this project.

Manuscripts

Vaux, George. George Vaux to James and Susannah Vaux, September 12-13, 1803. Letter. American Philosophical Society, Vaux Family Papers, 1690-1996, Mss.Ms.Coll.73.
Vaux, George. George Vaux to James and Susannah Vaux, September 14-15, 1803. Letter. American Philosophical Society, Vaux Family Papers, 1690-1996, Mss.Ms.Coll.73.
American Philosophical Society News 11, no. 3 (1996).
“Dedication of Library Hall of the American Philosophical Society, November 11, 1959 Remarks Made at the Dinner at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4, (1960): 357-370.
Hindle, Brooke. David Rittenhouse. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1964.
“Laying of the Cornerstone of Library Hall. Remarks Made at the Ceremony.” American Philosophical Society Yearbook (1958): 201-209.
Lingelbach, William E. “Franklin Medal Lecture: The Story of ‘Philosophical Hall.’” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 94, no. 3 (1950): 185-213.
Lingelbach, William E. “Old Philadelphia: Redevelopment and Conservation.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 93, no. 2 (1949): 179-207.
Lingelbach, William E. “The American Philosophical Society Library from 1942 to 1952 with a Survey of Its Historical Background.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 97, no. 5 (1953): 471-492.
Shryock, Richard H. “The Planning and Formal Opening of Library Hall,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4 (1960): 349-356.
Wolf, Edwin. At the Instance of Benjamin Franklin: A Brief History of the Library Company. Philadelphia: Library Company of Philadelphia, 1995.

Printed Sources

Vaux, George. George Vaux to James and Susannah Vaux, September 12-13, 1803. Letter. American Philosophical Society, Vaux Family Papers, 1690-1996, Mss.Ms.Coll.73.
Vaux, George. George Vaux to James and Susannah Vaux, September 14-15, 1803. Letter. American Philosophical Society, Vaux Family Papers, 1690-1996, Mss.Ms.Coll.73.
American Philosophical Society News 11, no. 3 (1996).
“Dedication of Library Hall of the American Philosophical Society, November 11, 1959 Remarks Made at the Dinner at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4, (1960): 357-370.
Hindle, Brooke. David Rittenhouse. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1964.
“Laying of the Cornerstone of Library Hall. Remarks Made at the Ceremony.” American Philosophical Society Yearbook (1958): 201-209.
Lingelbach, William E. “Franklin Medal Lecture: The Story of ‘Philosophical Hall.’” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 94, no. 3 (1950): 185-213.
Lingelbach, William E. “Old Philadelphia: Redevelopment and Conservation.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 93, no. 2 (1949): 179-207.
Lingelbach, William E. “The American Philosophical Society Library from 1942 to 1952 with a Survey of Its Historical Background.” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 97, no. 5 (1953): 471-492.
Shryock, Richard H. “The Planning and Formal Opening of Library Hall,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 104, no. 4 (1960): 349-356.
Wolf, Edwin. At the Instance of Benjamin Franklin: A Brief History of the Library Company. Philadelphia: Library Company of Philadelphia, 1995.