.jpg) Charnley House, the Society headquarters | |
| Established | July 31, 1940 |
|---|---|
| Address | 1365 N. Astor Street |
| Location | , Illinois ,United States |
| Website | www |
The Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide. Based inChicago, Illinois, United States, the Society's 3,500 members includearchitectural historians,architects,landscape architects,preservationists, students, professionals in allied fields and the interested public.
The Society, originally named theSociety of American Architectural Historians, was founded on July 31, 1940, inspired by the work of Harvard University historianKenneth John Conant. Twenty-five chartering members electedTurpin Bannister the first President, and directed him to edit theJournal of the American Society of Architectural Historians.[1] The name was shortened to its current form a decade later. From 1964 to 1966,Robert Branner served as president. SAH is currently the largest academic organization in the field of architectural history in the US.[2]
As part of its mission to "advance knowledge and understanding of the history of architecture, design, landscape, and urbanism worldwide",[1] the Society publishes several works, most noticeably theBuildings of the United States series, as well as a newsletter and theJournal of the Society of Architectural Historians (ISSN 0037-9808). In addition, in association with theUniversity of Virginia, the Society is developing an online encyclopedia of architecture calledSAH Archipedia. At present,SAH Archipedia allows free access to entries on 100 of the most important buildings in each state it covers, and is being expanded; SAH members have access to the full version, which includes over 19,000 building histories.[3]
Similar and historically related organizations are found in Great Britain, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand: theSociety of Architectural Historians of Great Britain; theSociety for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC); and theSociety of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand.
