The History and Scope of The Lepidopterists' Society

The Lepidopterists' Society was the idea of Charles L. Remington and Harry K. Clench when they were both students in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In March 1947, they mailed a letter to many lepidopterists of their acquaintance announcing the organization of an association to "promote the scientifically sound and progressive study of Lepidoptera by: (1) distributing a periodical on Lepidoptera; (2) facilitating the exchange of specimens and ideas by both the professional worker and the interested amateur in the field." The association was proposed to be called the Lepidopterists' Union, but the word "Society" was soon substituted for "Union."
Within a month the first issue of the periodical was printed at facilities of the Harvard Biological Laboratory and distributed to interested persons and the Society came into being. The initial membership list contained 220 names.
Soon thereafter, Harry Clench left Cambridge for further studies at The University of Michigan and Charles Remington carried on the organizing of the Lepidopterists' Society.
A Constitution and By-Laws for the Society were adopted at the first annual meeting in December 1950. The first president was James H. McDunnough of Canada. The international flavor of the Society is indicated by the fact that seven countries were represented by the first twenty five presidents.
There are now members in over 60 countries (the majority being from all 50 United States and 10 Canadian provinces). The Lepidopterists' Society embraces a wide range of interests and viewpoints concerning the study and appreciation of moths and butterflies. The Society has always boasted dedicated amateurs among its ranks, often in leadership roles.
To see the times, places, and sponsors of all previous annual meetings of The Lepidopterists' Society, click HERE.
To view a file showing the history of the Comstock Award, click HERE. (It is an Excel file; you need Microsoft Excel to open it.)