Most
literature collectors began by gathering up brochures
because they are available for free at auto dealerships.
Others bought magazines and books on automobiles to
learn about racing, engineering, styling, etc. Many
needed information for restoring a car. It all led to
swapmeets, car shows and friends with mutual interests.
Along the way most of us discovered the Society of Automotive
Historians — the "pot-of-gold" at the
end of the rainbow. It is with great pleasure that I
introduce you to my friends at the SAH.
The
Society of Automotive Historians www.autohistory.org
The Society of Automotive Historians
encourages research, preservation, recording,
compilation and publication of historical facts
concerning the development of the automobile and
related items, from inception to the present throughout
the world. It was founded in 1969, and now has
nearly 1,000 members in 44 of the United States
and 25 countries. They range from those who write
about automotive history to those who simply enjoy
reading it. For all members, the SAH provides
camaraderie and an information exchange network
through which to locate other persons with similar
interests. The Society=s membership also includes
corporations, museums and other institutions that
support the recording and preservation of automotive
history.
The Society publishes two periodicals devoted
to automotive history. The bimonthly SAH Journal
carries news of the Society and other noteworthy
happenings in automotive history, book reviews,
classified advertisements from members, and short
feature articles. The occasional magazine Automotive
History Review is a forum for in-depth articles
on automotive history, most of which are based
on new independent research.
The Society promotes and recognizes excellence
in automotive history through its annual awards
program. The Nicholas-Joseph Cugnot Award honors
the best book in the field of automotive history
published each year; separate awards are presented
for works in the English language and in languages
other than English. The Carl Benz Award is presented
to the best periodical article or series in the
same period. The Richard and Grace Brigham Award
recognizes the periodical judged to have given
the best overall treatment of automotive history
over all issues in the preceding year. The E.
P. Ingersoll Award is conferred for the best presentation
of automotive history in other than print media.
Student Paper Awards are presented to undergraduate
and graduate-level students for papers on automotive
history topics. The James J. Bradley Distinguished
Service Award is presented to deserving archives
and libraries for exemplary efforts in preserving
motor vehicle resource materials. In addition,
an individual who has made a particular personal
contribution to automotive history may be named
a Friend of Automotive History.
The SAH is a not-for-profit corporation, recognized
by the United States Internal Revenue Service
as a charitable and educational organization.
Contributions to it are deductible to the extent
provided by law.
The Society of Automotive Historians holds its
annual meeting each October in conjunction with
the Antique Automobile Club of America National
Fall Meet in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the premier
old car event in the world. The Society also maintains
a hospitality tent for its members and guests
on the flea market fields. A European meeting
is held annually in Paris at the time of the Rétromobile
show in February.
There are several regional chapters of the Society
which hold local meetings, often with programs
on automotive history, and whose members frequently
collaborate on special projects. The following
persons may be contacted for further information
on joining the respective chapters:
For information on membership in the Society of
Automotive Historians contact:
Society of Automotive
Historians, Inc.
1102 Long Cove Road
Gales Ferry, CT 06335-1812 USA
or visit their web site at www.autohistory.org
Feedback received on April 24,
2008:
Your article on the Society
of Automotive Historians is excellent, but you
left out one important advantage of SAH membership.
You noted the annual meeting held each year at
Hershey, PA, but you failed to mention that SAH
co-sponsors, along with the National Association
of Automobile Museums, a biennial history conference.
These conferences began in 1996 at the Henry Ford.
That museum hosted again in 1998 followed by the
Peterson in Los Angeles in 2000, Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg
in 2002, Packard in Dayton in 2004, Studebaker
in 2006, and Lane Museum in Nashville, April 2-5,
2008. The conferences feature excellent papers
on all aspects of automotive history as well as
tours of local sites of interest to old car lovers.
Most
literature collectors began by gathering up brochures
because they are available for free at auto dealerships.
Others bought magazines and books on automobiles to
learn about racing, engineering, styling, etc. Many
needed information for restoring a car. It all led to
swapmeets, car shows and friends with mutual interests.
