From the earliest times, men of wisdom have sought to understand the wonders they observed overhead. But astronomy is contagious. The general public has shown ever increasing interest in it and amateur astronomy has become a well patronized hobby.
Hobbyists are gregarious by nature and many amateur astronomers associated into local groups.
Their purpose was both to learn about the heavens and to learn better ways of observing. In time, it became obvious that, in the same way that local clubs could help the individual, local clubs could mutually cooperate in ways that would benefit all. With this view in mind, several amateur and professional astronomers proposed that a federation of astronomical societies be formed. The beginning of the Astronomical League dates back to 1939 when members of eleven amateur astronomical societies met in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. At the last meeting, final plans laid the foundation for a permanent organization constituting a nationwide federation of societies.