History: Celebrating 65 Years

The nation's oldest and largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging has crossed a milestone.  For the past 65 years, GSA has been committed to providing resources and opportunities for its members.  Now in 2010, faced with a growing baby boomer population, the demand for aging-related professionals has accelerated.  GSA is proud to continue supporting its members in this vastly changing environment.  Celebrating 65 years of excellence, GSA is stronger than ever.

1939: The Society is conceived after a group of 24 scientists and physicians (some of them participants at a 1937 Woods Hole conference) formed the Club for Research on Ageing.

1945: The Society is formally established in New York, NY, to "promote the scientific study of aging." The office is located in St. Louis, MO.

1946: The first Annual Scientific Meeting is held in New York, NY.

1946: The first issue of The Journal of Gerontology is published.

1952: GSA membership is divided into four sections: two basic science sections (Biological Sciences and Psychological & Social Sciences) and two applied sections (Social Work & Administration and Health Sciences).

1954: A Society newsletter is started.

1960: A student membership category is created.

1961: The Gerontologist begins publication.

1969: GSA moves its headquarters to Washington, DC.

1974: The Association for Gerontology in Higher Education is founded as a separate organization.

1974: GSA is instrumental in the founding of the National Institute on Aging.

1987: GSA forms its Task Force on Minority Aging Issues.

1988: GSA begins its Interest Group Program.

1994: The National Academy on an Aging Society is founded.

1995: The Public Policy & Aging Report is first published.

1996: Geron.org opens its doors and brings GSA into the digital age.

1998: AGHE is incorporated as a GSA unit.

2007: The first issue of the Journal of Aging, Humanities, and the Arts is published.