American Humor Studies Association

This society promotes research and criticism of American humor. The American Humor Studies Association (AHSA) sponsors a scholarly journal, Studies in American Humor, as well as a biannual newsletter, To Wit. For more information, see http://americanhumorstudiesassociation.wordpress.com.

American School of Laughter Yoga

Although the center is located in Los Angeles, California, the online resource provides information on the underlying theories and practice of laughter yoga, tips on how laughter can improve the overall quality of life, as well as online training sessions. For more information, see http://www.laughteryogaamerica.com.

Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor

The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) is a nonprofit association that seeks to promote the most up-to-date research on the connection between humor, laughter, and well-being, as well as provide resources, education, and support for its members who come from various interdisciplinary health care professions. The AATH sponsors two publications: E-zine and Humor Connection. For more information, see http://www.aath.org.

Association for the Study of Play, The

This academic organization promotes interdisciplinary research surrounding the concept of play. The Association for the Study of Play’s (TASP) multidisciplinary scope includes play research from fields such as anthropology, biology, communication, culture studies, education, history, kinesiology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and more. TASP publishes Play Review, a quarterly newsletter, as well as Play & Culture Studies, an annual volume. TASP also holds an annual conference. For more information, see http://www.tasplay.org.

Australasian Humor Studies Network

The Australasian Humor Studies Network (AHSN) was developed to create and maintain a network between humor scholars across Australia and New Zealand. One of the AHSN’s priorities is to provide [Page 832]resources and support to students dealing with humor-related topics in various fields. The AHSN holds annual colloquia and offers an e-newsletter. For more information, see http://sydney.edu.au/humourstudies/about.shtml.

Big Apple Circus—Clown Care

This community outreach program performs circus acts for hospitalized children in more than 16 facilities nationwide. For more information, see http://www.bigapplecircus.org.

Bumper “T” Caring Clowns

This nonprofit volunteer-based organization provides humorous performances for hospital patients and their families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. For more information, see http://www.bumpertcaringclowns.org.

Caring Clowns International

This charity-based organization consists of more than 40 clowns around the world whose primary aim is to bring laughter to those who need it most. The members perform in a variety of venues, from prisons to orphanages. For more information, see http://www.caringclownsinternational.org.

Carolina Health and Humor Association

Carolina Health and Humor Association (Carolina HaHa), a nonprofit organization, provides art therapy programs as well as humor training, health care, and other stress relief methods to promote and support healthy living. For more information, see http://www.carolinahealthandhumor.org.

Centro Ricerca Umorismo

Centro Ricerca Umorismo (CRU) is an Italian resource for humor researchers. The website offers discussions on research in the field and provides information regarding other humor-related organizations. For more information, see http://www.ricercaumorismo.it.

Clowns Without Borders

The members of this organization devote their time to bringing laughter to children in areas of crisis around the world, such as conflict or famine zones, refugee camps, places receiving relief following natural disasters, and other crises. For more information, see http://www.clownswithoutborders.org.

Comedy Cures Foundation

This nonprofit organization provides both live and digital forms of therapeutic comedy programs for children and adults who face difficulties in life such as illness, disabilities, or abuse. For more information, see http://www.comedycures.org.

Comedy Studies

Based in the United Kingdom, this journal offers insight on various interdisciplinary aspects of comedy and comedians. Contributors include writers, academics, comedians, and more. For more information, see http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk.

CORHUM, Association française pour le développement des recherches sur le comique

This organization promotes interdisciplinary research surrounding humor and laughter, including but not limited to the historical, sociological, anthropological, linguistic, and psychological aspects. CORHUM has a biannual publication, Humoresques, which is distributed by the House of Human Sciences. For more information, see http://www.humoresques.fr.

[Page 833]Fools for Health

Based in Canada, members of this group role-play as clown-doctors in hospital settings in order to bring laughter to patients and their families.

Gliner Center on Humor Communication and Health

This center is a branch of the University of Maryland’s Department of Health Services Administration. The purpose of this center is to explore the ways in which humor and laughter can facilitate good health. While maintaining a relationship with the academic research of humor and health, this organization also provides various outreach programs to educate the community on the benefits of humor in relation to good health. For more information, see http://www.sph.umd.edu/hlsa/Gliner/index.cfm.

Ha-P

This organization is geared toward providing information and opportunities to discover the importance of optimism, laughter, and happiness on life. Ha-P offers workshops, from professionals and motivational speakers, and programs such as the Joy Care Leadership. For more information, see http://www.ha-p.com.

Humor Gráfico

Humor Gráfico is an international organization based out of the Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain, that aims to promote the recognition of the cartoonist profession, as well as a cartoonist’s role in culture. For more information, see http://www.humorgrafico.org.

Humor in America

This blog covers American humor and humor studies. The blog invites authors to submit articles on a variety of topics, such as humor theory, the pedagogy of humor, interviews with humor scholars or comedians, humorous literature, and many more. For more information, see http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com.

Humor Project, Inc., The

This online resource focuses on the positive power of humor by offering up-to-date information regarding humor-related conferences, publications (both academic and nonacademic), life-coaching tips, and discussion boards. For more information, see http://www.humorproject.com.

International Society for Humor Studies

This scholarly organization supports the advancement of humor studies and research. The majority of the society’s members are academics from a wide variety of disciplines. The International Society for Humor Studies (ISHS) publishes the quarterly journal, HUMOR: International Journal of Humor Research, and holds annual conferences and workshops. The society is a hub for connections in the field of humor research; it offers information and resources about other organizations, as well as connections with the researchers themselves. For more information, see http://www.hnu.edu/ishs.

International Society for Luso-Hispanic Humor Studies, The

The International Society for Luso-Hispanic Humor Studies (I.S.L.H.H.S.) promotes the study of humor in the Spanish and Portuguese languages to encourage the expansion of communication and research in the field of humor. For more information, see http://ilhhumorsoc.org.

International Studies in Humour

International Studies in Humour (ISH) accepts interdisciplinary research in the field of humor for its biannual publication. For more information, see http://www.doc.gold.ac.uk/ephraim/Humor-E-Journals/IntStudiesHumour/Global/links-webpage.htm.

[Page 834]International Summer School and Symposium on Humour and Laughter

Also known as the Humour Summer School, this organization focuses on providing students and established researchers with the fundamental theories and methods in humor-related research, as well as past and present approaches used in the field. The annual course is held at various international locations. For more information, see http://www.humoursummerschool.org.

Israeli Journal of Humor Research

This international e-journal is the publication of the Israeli Society for Humor Studies, with an interdisciplinary academic focus in the field of humor. For more information, see http://www.israeli-humor-studies.org/site/index.asp?depart_id=122789.

Israeli Society for Humor Studies, The

This society, based in Israel, supports international interdisciplinary research in the field of humor. The society publishes two e-journals: Israeli Journal of Humor Research and Humor Mekuvvan: A Research Journal in Humor Studies. For more information, see http://www.israeli-humor-studies.org/122789/The-Israeli-Society-for-Humor-Studies.

Japan Humor and Laughter Society

This society’s primary goal is to minimize professional and academic barriers of humor researchers and increase understanding of the relationship between humor and laughter. Members of the society include academic professors, as well as nonacademic professionals.

Laughter Heals Foundation

The primary purpose of this nonprofit organization is to promote physical and mental healing through laughter. For more information, see http://laughterheals.org.

Lawhaha.com

This online news source was started by law professor Andrew McClerg. The website touches on topics of legal education, legal oddities, and humorous law-related stories. For more information, see http://lawhaha.com.

Le Rire Médicin

Le Rire Médicin is a French association of medical professionals dedicated to bringing humor to hospital patients. Founded in 1988, this association organizes training workshops for hospital clowns. For more information, see http://www.leriremedecin.asso.fr.

Museum House of Humour and Satire

Located in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, this museum exhibits cultural artifacts and historical records revolving around the local carnivals and humor folklore of Gabrovo. The exhibits not only portray the history of Gabrovo but also showcase the hardships that led to the distinct Gabrovo humor so ingrained in that culture. Artwork, antique wagons, masks and other carnival attire, and instruments are among the many pieces one can find at the Museum House of Humour and Satire. For more information, see http://www.humorhouse.bg/enindex.html.

North East Texas Humor Research Conference

The North East Texas Humor Research Conference (NETHRC) is a regional organization that holds annual conferences focusing on multidisciplinary areas of humor research. The conferences are held in the North East Texas area and typically include plenary, roundtable, paper, and poster sessions, as well as workshops.

[Page 835]Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association

The Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association (PCA/ACA) consists of scholars and nonscholars who share common ideas and interests about a specific topic in the field of popular culture. Such topics may include film, advertising, politics, literature, gender studies, and many more. The PCA/ACA publish two journals: the Journal of Popular Culture, which is a peer-reviewed journal with a broad interdisciplinary focus published six times a year, and the Journal of American Culture, which focuses mainly on the arts. The PCA/ACA also offers regional, national, and international annual conferences. For more information, see http://pcaaca.org.

Rx Laughter

This nonprofit group seeks to aid individuals dealing with life’s greatest challenges, such as trauma, addiction, grief, illness, or pain, by means of laughter and comedy entertainment. For more information, see http://www.rxlaughter.org.

Umorismo Formazione

This Italian organization offers educational activities surrounding humor and humor theory, such as workshops, laughter therapy, comedy lessons, and training models aimed toward improving the social and cultural quality of life. For more information, see http://www.lescuoledirecitazione.it/piemonte/torino/umorismo-formazione.

Audrey C. Adams