What’s in a Name
As we continue the dialog about a possible name change for our Association, we’d like to rerun a newsletter article from our March 2008 edition of the AAA newsletter. David Burr, Ph.D. President at the time, wrote the following article. For more information about the name change discussion, view an article from the January 2018 newsletter from current President Phil Brauer, Ph.D.
What’s in a Name?
As anatomists, we know better than most the importance and power of terminology. This is one reason that AAA has supported for many years, both with time and money, the work of the Federative International Committee for Anatomical Terminology (FICAT). This is also the reason that, at its second meeting in 1889, AAA appointed a Committee on Anatomical Nomenclature. (1)
The way that words are used often influences perception. Likewise, our perceptions - of ourselves and our world – can be discovered in the words we use.
As many of you know, AAA was founded in 1888. But you may not know that it was founded as the Association of American Anatomists. This implies, of course, a more parochial organization, not a society open to, or at least welcoming of, international members. However, in 1908, AAA’s name was changed slightly – keeping the same acronym – to the American Association of Anatomists.
This may seem a small alteration, but the implications are enormous. It signifies a clear change in the perception of what the organization wanted to be, what its goals and aspirations were. It signifies the inclusion of members who are not American, even though the organization is U.S. based.
This change has turned out to be prescient, or perhaps AAA has evolved because of the change in perception. We now boast 432 international members, more than 21% of our membership. This is greater than the total membership of 419 in 1908, the year of the name change. (1)
AAA has had a scientific exchange program with the Japanese Association of Anatomists for 10 years, and has had discussion with the German Anatomischer Gesellschaft about other scientific exchange programs. We are currently developing a joint Training Program with the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. We’re making plans to build relations with our counterparts in China and will have a strong presence at the 2009 meeting of the International Federation of Anatomical Associations in Capetown. Over the past 100 years, AAA truly has become the international society that it aspired to be.
Whether you trace AAA’s beginnings from its American birth or from the roots of the current name, we are celebrating a milestone birthday this year. This is the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Anatomists and the 120th anniversary of AAA. We can only hope that at 100 we are all as healthy and vital as our organization is today.
I hope you will join me in wishing your association a Happy Birthday – and many, many more!
Reference
As we continue the dialog about a possible name change for our Association, we’d like to rerun a newsletter article from our March 2008 edition of the AAA newsletter. David Burr, Ph.D. President at the time, wrote the following article. For more information about the name change discussion, view an article from the January 2018 newsletter from current President Phil Brauer, Ph.D.
What’s in a Name?
As anatomists, we know better than most the importance and power of terminology. This is one reason that AAA has supported for many years, both with time and money, the work of the Federative International Committee for Anatomical Terminology (FICAT). This is also the reason that, at its second meeting in 1889, AAA appointed a Committee on Anatomical Nomenclature. (1)
The way that words are used often influences perception. Likewise, our perceptions - of ourselves and our world – can be discovered in the words we use.
As many of you know, AAA was founded in 1888. But you may not know that it was founded as the Association of American Anatomists. This implies, of course, a more parochial organization, not a society open to, or at least welcoming of, international members. However, in 1908, AAA’s name was changed slightly – keeping the same acronym – to the American Association of Anatomists.
This may seem a small alteration, but the implications are enormous. It signifies a clear change in the perception of what the organization wanted to be, what its goals and aspirations were. It signifies the inclusion of members who are not American, even though the organization is U.S. based.
This change has turned out to be prescient, or perhaps AAA has evolved because of the change in perception. We now boast 432 international members, more than 21% of our membership. This is greater than the total membership of 419 in 1908, the year of the name change. (1)
AAA has had a scientific exchange program with the Japanese Association of Anatomists for 10 years, and has had discussion with the German Anatomischer Gesellschaft about other scientific exchange programs. We are currently developing a joint Training Program with the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. We’re making plans to build relations with our counterparts in China and will have a strong presence at the 2009 meeting of the International Federation of Anatomical Associations in Capetown. Over the past 100 years, AAA truly has become the international society that it aspired to be.
Whether you trace AAA’s beginnings from its American birth or from the roots of the current name, we are celebrating a milestone birthday this year. This is the 100th anniversary of the American Association of Anatomists and the 120th anniversary of AAA. We can only hope that at 100 we are all as healthy and vital as our organization is today.
I hope you will join me in wishing your association a Happy Birthday – and many, many more!
Reference
- Pauly, J.E. (ed). The American Association of Anatomists, 1888-1987. Essays on the History of Anatomy in America and a Report on the Membership – Past and Present. Baltimore: Williams &Wilkins, 1987.
