page_title: American Ornithological Society
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: American Ornithological Society / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Letter sent to invite ornithologists to a convention to create the American Ornithologists' Union, 1 August 1883
context_page_description: The American Ornithological Society is an ornithological organization based in the United States. The society was formed in October 2016 by the merger of the American Ornithologists' Union and the Cooper Ornithological Society. Its members are primarily professional ornithologists, although membership is open to anyone with an interest in birds. AOS is a member of the Ornithological Council. The society publishes the two scholarly journals, The Auk and The Condor as well as the AOS Checklist of North American Birds.
  In 2013, the American Ornithologists' Union announced a close partnership with the Cooper Ornithological Society, including joint meetings, a centralized publishing office, and a refocusing of their respective journals to increase efficiency of research. In October 2016, the AOU announced that it was ceasing to operate as an independent union and was merging with the Cooper Ornithological Society to create the American Ornithological Society.
context_section_description: The American Ornithologists' Union was founded in 1883. Three members of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Elliott Coues, J. A. Allen, and William Brewster, sent letters to 48 prominent ornithologists inviting them "to attend a Convention of American Ornithologists, to be held in New York City, beginning on September 26, 1883, for the purpose of founding an American Ornithologists' Union, upon a basis similar to that of the "British Ornithologists' Union."  The addressees were selected mainly because of their "scientific standing, but somewhat with regard to geographical representation, it being desirable to make the gathering as catholic and non-sectional as possible."  Twenty-five responded to the letter and 21 were present at the first meeting.
  The founding convention was held in the library of the American Museum of Natural History on September 26, 1883. Founding members of the AOU include those present at the inaugural convention, listed below. In addition, the members of the new Union unanimously enrolled two others as founding members: Professor S. Baird, who was unable to attend due to his duties at the Smithsonian, and J. A. Allen, who could not attend due to physical disability. 
  From Iowa: Charles Aldrich.
  From New York: Harry Balch Bailey, Eugene Pintard Bicknell, Daniel Giraud Elliot, Albert Kenrick Fisher, Joseph Bassett Holder, Edgar Alexander Mearns, and Clinton Hart Merriam.
  From Massachusetts: Charles Foster Batchelder, William Brewster, Charles Barney Cory, and Henry Augustus Purdie.
  From Oregon: Charles Bendire.
  From Maine: Nathan Clifford Brown.
  From New Brunswick: Montague Chamberlain.
  From the District of Columbia: Elliott Coues, D. Webster Prentiss, and Robert Ridgway.
  From Louisiana: Robert Wilson Shufeldt.
  From Canada: Thomas McIlwraith.
  From Ohio: John Maynard Wheaton.
caption: Original letter to AOU founders, dated August 1, 1883
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