ASN History & Archives

History

In 2005, the American Society for Nutrition was formed from a merger of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences (formerly the American Institute for Nutrition, established 1928); the American Society for Clinical Nutrition (established 1961);  and the Society for International Nutrition (established 1996). A roster of Past Presidents of ASN and predecessor Societies is available on our website.

View ASN’s historical timeline and learn more in the 1969 Beaumont Bugle article featuring our Society. Additional information can be found by perusing the ASNS 75th anniversary online exhibit, as well as the JN 75th anniversary special issue (published in 2003). This issue contained an historical overview entitled “The American Society for Nutritional Sciences (1979–2003): Years of Action and Change.” AJCN celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2012 (press releaseflyer). For the Society’s 50th anniversary in 1978, a special book was printed: “History of the First 50 Years 1928-1978.” A special symposium was organized in 1978 to commemorate JN‘s 50th anniversary; proceedings were published in JN.

Archives

The Society Archives are housed at the Annette and Irwin Eskind Biomedical Library (EBL) [pictured below], at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The Archives were deposited at EBL in 1980 through the efforts of William J. Darby, MD, PhD, American Institute of Nutrition President (1958-1959) and AIN Fellow (1984). E. Neige Todhunter, PhD (AIN Fellow, 1983) and Patricia B. Swan, PhD (ASNS Fellow, 2003) also served the ASN Archives as honorary curators, archivists and research collaborators. The founding days of the Society are archived at EBL via many early records, photographs and memorabilia.

Courtesy: Eskind Biomedical Library Special Collections

The ASN Archives inventory is available on the EBL website. Requests to access the ASN Archives for research purposes can be sent to the EBL or to ASN.

Profiles in Nutrition

The Profiles in Nutrition videos are a series documenting the accomplishments and careers of esteemed ASN members. This series is maintained in partnership with the ASN History of Nutrition Committee and was created during the Presidency of Teresa A. Davis, PhD. Learn more about donating to keep the video series active and suggest potential profiles by emailing us.

History of Nutrition Committee

The mission of the History of Nutrition Committee is:

  • To support the preservation of historical information about ASN and its role in the development of nutrition science and to facilitate in the interpretation of the history of nutrition science and practice.
  • To assist in the identification and celebration of significant historical events, landmark discoveries or ASN anniversaries.

Throughout the Years

2019

ASN 2028 Adopted

2018

Nutrition 2018 launches, June 9-12, Boston, MA

2017

Vision 2028 Summit held in preparation for ASN’s Centennial

2017

Current Developments in Nutrition launched

2011

Advances and Controversies in Clinical Nutrition Conference launched

2010

Advances in Nutrition established

2006

ASNS, ASCN and SINR merged; ASN founded

1990

Society for International Nutrition Research founded

1960

American Society for Clinical Nutrition founded

1952

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition established

1940

AIN joined the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

1934

First AIN Annual Meeting

1928

The Journal of Nutrition established

1928

American Institute of Nutrition (later the American Society for Nutrition Scientists) founded