Bibliographical Society of America (New York, N.Y.)

The Bibliographical Society of America (BSA) began as the Bibliographical Society of Chicago (BSC) in 1899. Early concerns of the society included bibliographical scholarship related to English works and the accessibility of rare books held in private collections. The BSC elected to produce a publication that contained scholarly work related to bibliography and also relayed the actions of the society and its meetings. In 1901, a meeting of the American Library Association (ALA) spurred the idea of the creation of a national bibliographical society. At the suggestion of the ALA, the BSC appointed a committee and began discussing the possibilities of a national organization. The proceedings of the committee were slow until, in June 1903, it was decided that the time for a national society had come. In 1903 and 1904 membership of the Bibliographical Society of America expanded and increased, and a meeting of the council in October of 1904 marked the true beginning of the BSA.

The Bibliographical Society of America (BSA) is the oldest scholarly society in North America dedicated to the study of books and manuscripts as physical objects. It was incorporated in 1927 with the principal objectives of promoting bibliographical research and issuing bibliographical publications. These objectives continue to be accomplished through a broad array of activities, including meetings, lectures, and fellowship programs, as well as publishing. The Society welcomes those interested in bibliographical problems and projects, and its membership includes bibliographers, librarians, professors, students, booksellers, and collectors worldwide. The majority of the Society’s members are from the United States and Canada, but most European countries, Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand are also represented, together with institutions in Brazil, India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Zimbabwe.

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