The three pages of H. N. Gardiner’s hand-written notes that are reproduced here record the creation of the American Philosophical Association at the Murray Hill Hotel in New York on November 2, 1901. The first meeting of the newly created association was held on March 31, 1902 at Columbia University. The Western Philosophical Association was already in existence and had held its first meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 1-2, 1901. In 1920-21 the two associations merged under the banner of the American Philosophical Association, an organization with two divisions. In 1924 the Pacific Division organized itself as a third division of the association, holding its first meeting on the University of California campus.

If what is now called the Eastern Division of the APA first met in 1902, it is reasonable to ask why the present meeting is not the one-hundredth instead of the ninety-eighth. The answer is that on occasion the Division met two times in one year and on still other occasions, especially during the Second World War, it met not at all. Thanks to some excellent and efficient detective work by Elizabeth Radcliffe and Janet Sample in the National Office, we can be confident that this is our ninety-eighth meeting in our one-hundredth year.

For your convenience, a typewritten copy of the minutes follows the hand-written copy.

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Transcript of the handwritten notes:

November 2^nd 1901

The following instructors and professors of philosophy in the institutions here named met to-day at a luncheon in the Murray Hill Hotel, New York, to consider the formation of a philosophical Association: W. G. Everett and A. Meiklejohn (Brown University), D. Irons (Bryn Mawr College), H. G. Lord (Columbia University). J. E. Creighton (Cornell University), J. A. Leighton Hobart College), J. G. Hibben (Princeton University), H. N. Gardiner and R. B. Perry (Smith College), A. C. Armstrong Jr. (Wesleyan University), G. M. Duncan and E. Hershey Smith (Yale University). Prof. G. M. Duncan occupied the chair. Letters expressing sympathy with the object under consideration were read from Professors Josiah Royce, G. Santayana, and D. S. Miller (Harvard University), G. S. Fullerton (University of Pennsylvania), William Caldwell (Northwestern University), J. G. Russell (Williams College) and others unable to be present. After some informal discussion, it was voted unanimously to form a philosophical Association.

The Association then organized with the following officers:

President, Professor J. E. Creighton

Vice-President, Professor A. J. Ormond (Princeton)

Secretary, Professor H. N. Gardiner.

It was voted that the Secretary also serve as Treasurer; also, that for the present regular fees, but that the expenses be met by assessments.

It was voted, after some discussion, that the Association be called the American Philosophical Association.

It was voted that the Executive Committee consist of the above-named officers and four additional members. The four chosen were Messrs, Armstrong, Everett, Duncan and Hibben.

Some talk followed on conditions of membership in the Association and a number of names were suggested.

It was voted to refer the list of names to the Executive Committee with power to act.

It was voted that the Executive Committee be empowered to draw up a Constitution and submit the same at the regular meeting.

It was voted that the first regular meeting be held about Easter in New York, the precise date to be determined by the Executive Committee.

The meeting then adjourned.

H. N. Gardiner, Secretary.

Meeting of the Executive Committee

At the meeting of the Committee immediately after adjournment, the list of names of those suggested for membership was slightly revised and the secretary was authorized to invite by printed letter all whose names were approved to connect themselves with the Association. The question of inviting women to membership was left to be decided by the Association.

It was voted that a Constitution be drafted by the President and secretary and submitted to the other members of the Committee.

H. N. G.