PHILADELPHIA, PA [November 6, 2024]— The American Philosophical Society (APS) is pleased to announce the creation of its new Center for the History of Science. This center will serve as a hub for scholarship focused on one of the APS Library and Museum's core collecting areas, building on the rich history of scientific innovation in both Philadelphia and the Society itself, which has spanned nearly 300 years. The center’s inaugural project, "America’s Scientific Revolutionaries," is inspired by the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This project will explore the contributions of early American scientists during the Age of Revolutions, enriching public understanding of the historical significance of scientific thought and innovation in the formation of the United States.
“‘America’s Scientific Revolutionaries’ is a perfect way to launch our new Center for the History of Science. The Society’s fostering of scientific research has indeed been revolutionary, from the time of our nation’s founding to the present. Likewise, we hope this project will highlight the contributions of the Society’s pioneering elected members from the institution’s inception to today and show how relevant the past remains,” Patrick Spero, the Society’s incoming CEO, said.
Founded in 1743, the APS has long championed research in the sciences, with notable members such as Benjamin Franklin, David Rittenhouse, and Thomas Jefferson playing pivotal roles in early American scientific endeavors. Franklin’s research on the Gulf Stream and Rittenhouse’s observation of the 1769 Transit of Venus were first published by the APS. The Society has continued to support cutting-edge scientific research that has often pushed the frontiers of knowledge. In the 19th century, the Society was involved in many of the most ambitious scientific exploring expeditions, such as the Lewis and Clark expedition and Elisha Kent Kane’s exploration of the arctic. In the 20th century, it launched a grant program that funds direct research in all corners of the globe. And in the 21st century, it was one of the early funders for research in astrobiology, a field that is laying the groundwork for what life on other planets could look like. The project hopes to highlight the crucial early chapter of this history during the Age of Revolutions and raise awareness of the pathbreaking scientists who have shaped what we know about the world.
“While names like Franklin, Jefferson, and Rittenhouse are familiar,” noted Michelle McDonald, Director of the Library & Museum, “the archives are filled with documentation about many more scientists who have not received the same level of recognition. ‘America’s Scientific Revolutionaries’ aims to uncover the contributions of these lesser-known scientists and physicians in early America, showcasing how their work shaped a distinct national identity.”
This project complements other APS efforts leading up to the semiquincentennial anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, and includes:
- Reflective Conversations: In-person events and a podcast series featuring contemporary scientists and historians.
- Conference Presentations: Regular updates and feedback sessions to engage the scholarly community.
- Educational Videos: Short-form content designed for younger audiences.
- Social Media Campaigns and Publications: To amplify the reach of project findings.
- “America’s Scientific Revolutionaries” is generously supported by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, which supports efforts to enhance science and technology education.
Center for the History of Science
The history of science is a core collecting area for the APS’s Library & Museum, alongside early American History and Native American and Indigenous languages and cultures. While the latter two fields already have dedicated research centers, history of science collections make up over half of the Library & Museum’s holdings, including over 500 manuscript collections, 195,000 rare books, and more than 100,000 images.
Robert M. Hauser, Executive Officer of the APS, said, "The Center for the History of Science will play a highly visible role in the future activities of the APS, including support for new and existing fellowships, sponsorship of conferences and symposia, and curation and growth of the Society's uniquely valuable collections of scientists' papers, scientific books, documents, and recordings, and historic artifacts."
Adrianna Link, inaugural Curator of the Center for the History of Science, notes, "the APS's holdings related to the history of science represent the largest single collecting area within the Library & Museum. More critically, these materials document more than 300 years of ideas and discoveries from across the sciences. It's truly an exciting moment to be able to work with these collections and to identify new ways to share their stories with our audiences." In addition to its work on “America’s Scientific Revolutions,” the bulk of the Center’s activities will concentrate on making the Library & Museum’s history of science collections more discoverable through processing, dedicated programs, outreach, and other projects.
Link holds a Ph.D. from the Department of History of Science and Technology at The Johns Hopkins University, where she specialized in the history of 20th century American anthropology. She was previously Assistant Director for Library and Museum Programming and has deep knowledge of the Society’s collections.
From Newton to NASA: Highlights from the Collection
The APS’s history of science collections reflect a broad range of topics, with significant strengths in genetics, evolutionary biology, biomedicine, and the history of physics. Highlights include:
- Manuscripts and materials documenting early American science, including the journals of Lewis and Clark and the papers of Benjamin Franklin.
- The papers of Nobel Laureates—physicists Val Fitch and Sheldon Glashow; microbiologist Salvador Luria; pathologist Peyton Rous; medical researcher and physician Daniel Carleton Gajdusek; cytogeneticist Barbara McClintock; and biomedical researcher and physician Baruch Blumberg (who also served as APS President from 2005-2011).
- The Valentine Darwin Collection, which includes thousands of editions of Charles Darwin’s works—the largest collection of Darwin materials located outside of the U.K.
- The personal papers of notable women scientists including Florence Sabin, Mildred Cohn, Beatrice Mintz, Rose Mooney-Slater, and Jenny Glusker.
- Correspondence, notes, and papers of scientists and physicians affiliated with the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, including Simon Flexner, James B. Murphy, Peter Olitsky, and Eugene Opie, among others.
Research Fellowships & Funding Opportunities
The APS’s Library & Museum also continues to support researchers through various fellowships dedicated to the history of science. Notable opportunities include:
- The John C. Slater Predoctoral Fellowship in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine provides nine months of support to advanced Ph.D. students working on topics related to the history of science.
- The Jacques Barzun Fellowship for Collections and Programming in the History of Biology offers hands-on experience to an advanced doctoral candidate, recent M.A., or Ph.D. recipient with expertise in the history of modern biology.
- 25-30 Short-Term Resident Research Fellowships each year. These provide 1-3 months of support for researchers who show a demonstrated need to use the Library & Museum’s collections.
The APS is also part of the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine (www.chstm.org), which supports research using collections housed across its member institutions.
About the American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, established in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of “promoting useful knowledge,” is the nation’s oldest learned society. An intellectual bedrock of the early United States, the APS counts nearly all of the nation’s founders as Members of the Society. Today, election to Membership honors those who have made exceptionally significant contributions to science, the arts and humanities, and public life. Over 90 APS Members are Nobel laureates.
Beyond Membership, the APS promotes useful knowledge through grants, publications, and a world-class research library. The Society sustains an informed citizenry through twice-yearly meetings and topical conferences and symposia. The APS Press is the oldest continuously operating scholarly press in the country and it is dedicated to publishing research that reflects a broad range of useful knowledge.