Overview
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) was founded on March 3, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. The NAS came into being with 50 charter members, who over the years would be joined by the election of the nation’s most distinguished scientists.
Over the years, the National Academy of Sciences has broadened its services to the government. During World War I it became apparent that the limited membership—then numbering only about 150—could not keep up with the volume of requests for advice regarding military preparedness. In 1916 the Academy established the National Research Council at the request of President Wilson to recruit specialists from the larger scientific and technological communities to participate in the Academy’s advisory work to the government. Recognizing the value of scientific advice to the nation in times of peace as well as war, Wilson issued an executive order at the close of World War I asking the Academy to perpetuate the National Research Council. Subsequent executive orders, by President Eisenhower in 1956 and President Bush in 1993, have affirmed the importance of the National Research Council and further broadened its charter.
Under the authority of its charter, the National Academy of Sciences established the National Academy of Engineering in 1964 and the Institute of Medicine in 1970 (which became the National Academy of Medicine in 2015). Much like the National Academy of Sciences, each of these organizations consists of members elected by peers in recognition of distinguished achievement in their respective fields.
Additional Information and Archives
Our Archives collects, maintains, and preserves the essential documentation of the activities, policies, and procedures of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the National Academy of Medicine. Our holdings consist of several collections largely organized by offices, study units, and major units. The main collection is made up of the Central Policy Files of the executive offices, and spans the institution’s history from its founding in 1863 up through the present. The Archives also houses a small collection of photographs capturing events in the institution’s history. Visit the Archives page for information about its collections, access policies, and services.