The American Philosophical Society: The Birthplace of American Scholarship
The American Philosophical Society (APS) is the oldest learned society in the United States. It was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since its inception, the APS has been a driving force in advancing knowledge in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, fostering intellectual inquiry, and promoting interdisciplinary research.
Casey Adams
1/31/20254 min read


Origins and Founding by Benjamin Franklin
During the early 18th century, Philadelphia emerged as a center for scientific thought and intellectual exchange in colonial America.
Inspired by the Royal Society of London, Benjamin Franklin—a polymath, scientist, inventor, and statesman—envisioned a society where leading thinkers could collaborate to advance knowledge and discovery.
In 1743, Franklin and a group of like-minded individuals officially established the American Philosophical Society, making it the first learned society in what would become the United States.
Franklin aimed to promote "useful knowledge" by encouraging scientific experimentation, publishing findings, and holding scholarly discussions.
The society’s early membership included many prominent figures of the American Enlightenment, including:
Early Members of the American Philosophical Society
George Washington – First U.S. President; supporter of scientific and agricultural advancements; encouraged infrastructure development and national unity.
Benjamin Franklin – Founder of the APS; scientist, inventor, diplomat, and leading figure of the American Enlightenment. Known for his discoveries in electricity, meteorology, and numerous inventions.
John Adams – Second U.S. President; strong advocate for education, law, and governance, contributing to the intellectual foundations of the new nation.
Alexander Hamilton – Founding Father, economic strategist, and first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; promoted industrialization, financial systems, and national economic policies.
James McHenry – Physician, military surgeon, and U.S. Secretary of War; played a vital role in early American medical and defense policies.
James Alexander – Mathematician, scientist, and lawyer; influential in early American legal and scientific circles.
Thomas Paine – Political philosopher and author of Common Sense and The Age of Reason; advocated for republicanism, reason, and Enlightenment ideals.
Francis Hopkinson – Signer of the Declaration of Independence; artist, scientist, and composer; designed the first U.S. flag and other national symbols.
John Bartram – Renowned botanist and naturalist; studied and cataloged North American plant species, earning him recognition as the "Father of American Botany."
Philip Syng Jr. – Silversmith and inventor; collaborated with Franklin on electrical experiments; designed the inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence.
John Dickinson – Statesman and author of Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania; advocated for colonial rights and was instrumental in drafting the Articles of Confederation.
David Rittenhouse – Astronomer, clockmaker, and surveyor; constructed some of the earliest American telescopes and helped map early U.S. territories.
Benjamin Rush – Physician, educator, and signer of the Declaration of Independence; pioneer in mental health, medical education, and public health reform.
Thomas Jefferson – Third U.S. President; scientist, architect, and polymath; promoted agricultural innovation, exploration, and the advancement of knowledge.
James Madison – Fourth U.S. President; key architect of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights; advocate for political theory and governance based on Enlightenment principles.
Peter Stephen Du Ponceau – Linguist, lawyer, and scholar of Native American languages; contributed to legal studies and early American linguistic research.
Nicholas Biddle – Banker, scholar, and President of the Second Bank of the United States; known for his contributions to finance and literature.
Owen Biddle – Scientist, engineer, and architect; advanced American industrialization and construction methods.
Michael Hillegas – First Treasurer of the United States; played a key role in financing the Revolutionary War and managing the early U.S. economy.
John Marshall – Fourth Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; established judicial review and strengthened federal authority in constitutional law.
Charles Pettit – Lawyer, merchant, and Revolutionary War official; contributed to early American commerce and governance.
John Andrews – Educator and scholar; played a role in advancing early American education and intellectual development.
Philosophical Hall: A Historic Landmark
As the APS grew in prominence, it established a permanent headquarters in Philosophical Hall, constructed between 1785 and 1789.
Located in Independence National Historical Park, just east of Independence Hall, this building became the hub of American intellectual activity.
Philosophical Hall played a vital role in early American scientific and political life, housing meetings, experiments, and scholarly exchanges among some of the greatest minds of the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1965, the hall was designated a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its significance in the history of American scholarship.
Growth and Influence in Science and Humanities
From the 18th century onward, the APS supported pioneering research in a wide range of disciplines, including astronomy, medicine, natural sciences, and anthropology.
The society was instrumental in:
Early American Science: The APS promoted the study of electricity, botany, and navigation, with Franklin’s famous experiments with electricity (such as the kite-and-key experiment) receiving international attention.
Lewis and Clark Expedition: The APS helped fund Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s exploration of the Louisiana Territory (1804-1806), collecting valuable geographical, botanical, and ethnographic data.
Linguistic and Anthropological Studies: The society has been a leading force in the preservation of Native American languages, commissioning early studies on indigenous cultures.
Medical and Public Health Advances: Many APS members contributed to advancements in medicine, vaccination, and epidemiology, shaping early American healthcare.
The American Philosophical Society Today
The APS remains an active scholarly institution with around 1,000 elected members—a group that has included some of the most renowned scientists, writers, and thinkers of modern times.
As of April 2020, the society had inducted 5,710 members since its founding.
The society’s contributions to modern research and education include:
1. Research and Grants
The APS funds fellowships and research grants to support work in various academic disciplines. These grants help scholars conduct original research, archival work, and field studies.
2. Publications and Journals
The APS publishes academic works, including the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, which feature cutting-edge research in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
3. The American Philosophical Society Museum
Located in Philosophical Hall, the APS Museum houses an extensive collection of scientific instruments, rare manuscripts, maps, and artifacts, including original documents related to Franklin and other founding members.
4. The APS Library
The APS maintains one of the most comprehensive research libraries in the United States, featuring over 13 million manuscripts, rare books, and historical documents, including:
Early scientific publications and maps
Correspondence from Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Charles Darwin
Ethnographic materials on Native American cultures
5. Regular Meetings and Conferences
The society holds biannual meetings and academic conferences, bringing together scholars from various disciplines to discuss and present new research.
Legacy and Significance
The American Philosophical Society has played an unparalleled role in the intellectual and scientific development of the United States.
From its Enlightenment-era origins to its modern contributions in scholarship and research, the APS has remained at the forefront of scientific discovery, historical study, and intellectual exchange.
Founded on Franklin’s vision of "useful knowledge," the APS continues to shape the academic world, ensuring that the pursuit of knowledge remains a defining feature of American scholarship.

