Fun Facts from the ASA’s History

In 1984, the ASA Archives and Historical Materials Committee was formed and chaired by Churchill Eisenhart. Other members were H. A. David, Margo Anderson, and Meyer Fishbein, with Stanley Yates of the Iowa State University Library as an ex officio member and Fred C. Leone as a consultant.

The first section established by the ASA was the Biometrics Section, which focused on the application of statistics within the biological sciences. The second section established was the Section on Statistical Education (now the Section on Statistics and Data Science Education), with the goal to improve academic statistical education.

Statistician Elizabeth L. Scott produced empirical evidence that women weren’t being allowed to use the world’s biggest telescopes in their own names, and then used the big telescopes story and statistical analyses of gender data to raise consciousness and promote equal opportunities for women in statistics, science, and academe. This year, the Committee of Presidents of Statistical Societies, of which the ASA is a part, established the Elizabeth L. Scott Lecture. The first lecture will be given at the Joint Statistical Meetings in 2020.

The first ASA annual meeting outside Boston took place in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1908.

Help Us Celebrate Our 180th Birthday by Joining the ASA!

The American Statistical Association invites you to be part of the larger ASA community throughout the year. Of course, you will gain access to a wide variety of benefits—publications, networking, professional services, professional development—but just as important is the community that comes with it! Membership includes admission to our vast network, including the possibility of new relationships with your colleagues and, by extension, their knowledge and expertise. You will also have access to the following:

• Discounts on ASA meetings throughout the year, including JSM, the Conference on Statistical Practice, the Women in Statistics and Data Science Conference, the Symposium on Data Science and Statistics, and additional regional conferences


• Opportunities to connect online with your peers through the ASA Community


• Access to ASA chapters, sections, and outreach groups  throughout the year


• Career opportunities and resources such as the ASA JobWeb, accreditation, and meetings-based Career Service


• Online access to news and research through ASA journals and Significance magazine, in addition to Amstat News


• Advocacy for ASA members and statistically sound science policy

We are offering $50 off your first-year regular member dues when you join in the month of November! Visit www.amstat.org/join, and be sure to use the promotion code Happy180ASA to receive your discounted first-year membership. If you prefer, contact our Member Services Department at 1 (888) 231-3473 for help!

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Don’t forget to link to www.amstat.org/asaday.