The Genetics Society of America was established in 1931 out of the combination of the Joint Genetics Section of the American Society of Zoologists and the Botanical Society of America, with the aim of facilitating communication among scientists with an interest in research and education in genetics and cognate fields. Periodically, the Society has taken an active stance on issues of public policy relating to genetics, most notably in the debate over the putatively heritable correlation between race and intelligence, the teaching of evolution in American schools, and the issues surrounding recombinant DNA and the genetic modification of organisms.

The official organ of the GSA, Genetics remains one of the most important journals in the field.

The Records of the Genetics Society of America provide documentation of the Society's founding and early activities. Files on membership, finances, yearly meetings, and the International Congresses of Genetics provide a sense of the growth of the Society and the discipline and the extension of contacts between American and European

The bulk of the early portion of the Genetics Society collection consists of Records maintained by Secretaries of the Society from 1932 onward. The lack of a continuous home for the Society contributed to the loss of some Records, and to a degree of inconsistency in the organization of those that survived, and the quantity and quality of documentation consequently varies over the years, depending on the interests and habits of the Secretary. In most cases, the bulk of material consists of correspondence to or from the Secretary, with committee reports and Treasurer's Records.

Of special interest are 0.5 linear feet of Records documenting the tumultuous career of the Committee on Genetics, Race, and Intelligence, 1974-1975, which was established in the wake of Arthur Jensen and William Shockley to formulate an official response.

One linear foot of material relates to the Committee on Historical Documents which, during the 1980s, sought to encourage geneticists to preserve the historical record of their field. Among the items in the collection are letters to geneticists inquiring about plans for the disposition of their papers, along with their replies.

The collection is organized chronologically by year, and alphabetically within each year.

Provenance

Gift of the Genetics Society of America, 1967-1982.

Preferred citation

Cite as: Genetics Society of America Records, American Philosophical Society.

African American History Note

Of special interest are the records and correspondence documenting the Committee on Genetics, Race, and Intelligence, 1974-1975, which was established to respond to Arthur Jensen and William Shockley.

This note is currently under review for revision.

Genetics Note

This collection contains materials which relate to the history of genetics. It is said that a strong reason for establishing the Genetics Society of America was wide dissatisfaction with the implicit endorsement of eugenics by the older American Genetic Association, to which many geneticists belonged. Many geneticists by 1932 felt that there were both a sufficient number of geneticists and strength of the discipline to warrant a separate society that would unite the animal and plant geneticists in their meetings and programs, if held separately from the times of the botanical and zoological meetings. It was also argued that a separate society would create added support for the periodical Genetics.

• American Institute of Biological Sciences
• American Society of Zoologists
• Botanical Society of America
• Genetics Society of America.
• Genetics Society of America. Committee on Genetics, Race, and Intelligence

• Dunn, L. C. (Leslie Clarence), 1893-1974
• Glass, Bentley, 1906-2005
• Jensen, Arthur Robert

• Biology
• Biology, genetics, eugenics
• Genetics
• Genetics -- Societies, etc.
• Human genetics
• International Congress of Genetics
• Race
• Race, race relations, racism