American Geographical Society

Founded in 1851, the American Geographical Society (AGS) is the oldest professional geographical organization in the United States. It is known globally as a pioneer in geographical research and education, whose mission is to link the business, government, professional, and scholarly worlds in the creation and application of geographical knowledge, methods, and techniques to address economic, social, and environmental problems.

For 158 years, the AGS has informed public policy. Specific priorities and programs evolve, but the commitment of service to government, the business community, and the world at large continues unchanged. Throughout World War I, President Woodrow Wilson commissioned the AGS to lead “The Inquiry,” a massive analysis of foreign intelligence to support the peace negotiations that would follow. As part of that effort, the AGS was responsible for drafting his famous “14 Points” and for supporting the American delegation at the Paris Peace Conference. Earlier, the AGS played an instrumental role in siting the Panama Canal, the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable, and the Transcontinental Railway.

From its earliest days, the AGS was a leading proponent and sponsor of Arctic, Antarctic, and Andean exploration. A notable artifact from that era is the AGS Fliers’ and Explorers’ Globe, which has been signed by 80 of the world's most renowned explorers of the past century.

Through its journals, the Geographical Review and FOCUS on Geography, and through consulting, lectures, and educational travel services, the AGS presents clear, concise, and relevant geographical information that can be understood by policymakers and the public as well as by professional geographers.

The AGS is best known for its pioneering work in exploration and cartography, its invaluable geographical research library, and its research, mapping, and consulting services for government and business at the highest levels. In 1978, its library, then valued at $15,000,000, was given to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Then and now, the American Geographical Society Library contains the largest collection of geographical literature, maps, charts, and globes in the Western Hemisphere and perhaps the world.

From 1925 to 1945, the AGS mapped all of Latin America at 1:1,000,000 scale, the most authoritative maps of that area until well after World War II. Currently, the AGS is promulgating a new world standard for cartographic representation of land mines, minefields, and mine actions.

In 1912, AGS sponsored the Transcontinental Excursion, a 13,000-mile lecture and study tour on which more than 40 of the world's most prominent foreign geographers and 100 American geographers traversed the country by rail from New York to the Pacific Coast and back. A New York Times correspondent traveled along and sent news dispatches from every stop. Today, the AGS continues to sponsor educational trips around the globe that include lectures by leading geographers.

The AGS is led by a council of 27 professional geographers and other devotees of geography from academia, business, and government. Most AGS fellows are Americans, but 40% of its journal subscriptions are from outside the United States. Individuals, corporations, and businesses wishing to support the AGS can join its Galileo Circle or Humboldt Club. Its office is located at 120 Wall Street in New York City.

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