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American Journal of Science
open-in-new
<p>The <i>American Journal of Science</i> (<i>AJS</i>) is the United States of America's longest-running <a href="/facts/Scientific_journal/A4Slzknw">scientific journal</a>, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor <a href="/facts/Benjamin_Silliman/chKNgEbI">Benjamin Silliman</a>, who edited and financed it himself. It was initially called the <i>American Journal of Science and Arts</i> until a name change in 1880, but its focus was always on natural sciences and especially on <a href="/facts/Geology/WGvVRIYF">geology</a> and related subjects. </p><p>In early years, the journal was often referred to as "Silliman's Journal", and the publication became associated with <a href="/facts/Yale_University/KUdS6jt1">Yale University</a> due to his long tenure there (1804–1853). The editorship long remained in the family of Professor Silliman, as he was assisted by his son, <a href="/facts/Benjamin_Silliman_Jr./2szUSfh1">Benjamin Silliman Jr.</a>, from 1838. On the death of the elder Silliman in 1864, he was succeeded as chief editor by his son-in-law, <a href="/facts/James_Dwight_Dana/EMneX5eh">James Dwight Dana</a>, and then from 1895 till 1926 by Dana's son <a href="/facts/Edward_Salisbury_Dana/uQpWx0SY">Edward Salisbury Dana</a>. Associate editors included the botanist <a href="/facts/Asa_Gray/Q6yv52zq">Asa Gray</a> and the zoologist <a href="/facts/Louis_Agassiz/W3DJ3zFN">Louis Agassiz</a>. </p><p>The current editors are Mark T. Brandon, professor at <a href="/facts/Yale_University/KUdS6jt1">Yale University</a>, C. Page Chamberlain, professor at <a href="/facts/Stanford_University/JEQeF9z2">Stanford University</a>, Francis Macdonald <a href="/facts/UC_Berkeley/MXVEjklr">UC Berkeley</a>, and Ann Pearson <a href="/facts/Harvard_University/Lhy9L1cx">Harvard University</a>. </p>