American Institute of Architects

• Acronym: AIA

• American

On 23 February 1857, thirteen architects gathered at Richard Upjohn's New York City office to establish an architectural society that would promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members and elevate the standing of the profession, naming it the New York Society of Architects. The assembly included H W Cleaveland, Henry Dudley, Leopold Eidlitz, Edward Gardiner, Richard Morris Hunt, J Wrey Mould, Fred A Petersen, John W Priest, John Welch, Joseph C Wells, Richard Upjohn's son, Richard, and son-in-law, Charles Babcock. In 1857, no significant schools of architecture or architectural licensing laws existed, so anyone who built, such as bricklayers, carpenters, masons, carpenters could call themselves an architect.

One result of this meeting, was to invite 16 other architects, including A J Davis, Thomas U Walter and Calvert Vaux, to a second meeting, to be held on 10 March 1857. At the second meeting the draft constitution and bylaws were read and accepted by the architects without changes, except one, at the suggestion Thomas U Walter, the group changed their name to The American Institute of Architects. - AsNotedIn