Clubs & Organizations

On August 21, 1878, the American Bar Association (ABA) was formed in Saratoga Springs, New York. Its mission is to serve as a national representative of the legal profession, promote justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law. 

John Muir was born on April 21, 1838, in Dunbar, Scotland. Considered the “Father of the National Parks,” he dedicated most of his life to exploring wilderness and protecting it, most famously Yosemite Valley in California.

On April 6, 1876, the American Chemical Society was founded in New York City. It was the first organization in the country devoted entirely to chemistry.

On February 23, 1857, a group of 13 architects met in New York City and discussed founding an organization to “promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members.”  That organization became the American Institute of Architects.

On February 8, 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was officially founded.  The world’s largest youth organization, the Boy Scouts has grown from a British youth group to a worldwide movement with members in almost every country around the globe.

On December 1, 1941, the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), was established in Washington, DC. Unpaid volunteers formed the Civil Air Patrol, using privately owned aircraft and their own funds to support the military.

On November 10, 1919, the American Legion held its first convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Legion has been a champion for military service members for over a century.

Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard was born on September 28, 1839, in Churchville, New York. She was a leading figure in the temperance and women’s suffrage movements in the late 1800s, though she wouldn’t live to see the passage of the 18th and 19th Amendments that achieved her goals.

On July 20, 1875, the first convention of the American Bankers Association (ABA) was held in Saratoga Springs, New York. The ABA works on behalf of banks of all sizes and is the largest financial trade group in the US.