The story
In the United States, sociology was first taught as a college-level course at either Yale University in 1875 or at Indiana University in 1885. The country's first sociology department was established at the University of Kansas in 1889, with the first sociology graduate program established at the University of Chicago in 1892. The American Journal of Sociology became America's first explicitly sociological journal when it was founded at the University of Chicago in 1894.
At first, American sociology was strongly influenced by European thought. German social science was particularly influential at this time. Early figures in American sociology, such as Albion Small, Edward A. Ross, and Frank Wilson Blackmar became involved in an effort to distinguish American sociology from activities in Europe.
Founding
In the summer of 1905, George Washington University professor C. W. A. Veditz began a discussion among sociologists throughout the United States, writing to several dozen people to gauge the need for or interest in forming a sociological organization. Sociologists debated whether there was a need for a separate organization from the American Economic Association, American Political Science Association and the American Historical Association, which most sociologists at the time were members of. Ultimately, a consensus was reached that the time had come for a society of sociologists in the U.S.
In early December, Veditz and eight others wrote to about 300 people inviting them to a special session during the American Economic Association (AEA) and American Political Science Association meetings later that month to discuss the potential formation of a sociological society. On December 27, approximately 50 people, including one woman, gathered in McCoy Hall at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, the group motioned to form a new society of sociologists. There was debate as to integrating this new society with an existing organization, such as the AEA. The group ultimately decided that the new society ought to be an independent entity.
At the end of the day of the initial meeting, those gathered at the meeting formed a five-person committee to develop a plan for the new society and how it should be governed. The committee members would re-convene the next afternoon to review the proposed structure of the society. Council members would include Edward A. Ross, W.F. Wilcox, Albion Small, Samuel Lindsay, D. C. Wells, and William Davenport. Lester Frank Ward was elected president, William Graham Sumner as first vice president, Franklin Giddings as second vice president, and C.W.A. Veditz as secretary and treasurer. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was also a charter member of the society. When the committee left Baltimore, the American Sociological Society was established. A constitution had been adopted, officers were elected, and plans were made for the second annual meeting of the new society.
First century
In 1917, George E. Vincent gave a presidential address titled "Countryside and Nation" which addressed economic and social conditions surrounding American agriculture. Vincent's address has since been highlighted as a foundational moment for rural sociology.
According to Don Martindale, the Midwest exerted a strong influence over early American sociology. By the middle of the 20th century, more than half of the presidents of the American Sociological Society were University of Chicago graduates. The perceived domination of Chicago sociologists in the society and at the American Journal of Sociology prompted some society members to believe that they held "an undue influence in the affairs of the Society". In 1935, this led to an annual meeting with "a distinctively anti-Chicago character". A coordinated effort among those resistant to the Chicago influence, involving what Faris called "behind-the-scenes politicking", led to the election of a non-Chicago secretary and the establishment of the American Sociological Review.
In 1953, during the annual meeting in Berkeley, California, each of the (living) past presidents of the society composed a voice recording to address the coming generation of sociologists.
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In 1981, in celebration of the association's 75th anniversary, Lawrence J. Rhoades prepared a 90-page publication entitled A History of the American Sociological Association, 1905–1980, commonly referred to as the "1981 Rhoades History". The publication provides a brief overview of the founding and early years of the association, as well as highlights of key activities and events in the decades since.
In 2005, in celebration of the association's 100th anniversary, ASA published a 201-page book entitled A History of the American Sociological Association, 1981–2004. The publication picks up where the 1981 Rhoades history concludes, continuing the story and capturing the association's history from 1981 through 2004. It was the culmination of over two years of detailed research by Katherine J. Rosich.
From Wikipedia’s article on American Sociological Association, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5