The author takes a statistical "snapshot" of the Society of American Archivists at three different periods in its history—each separated by twenty-five years—to illustrate the continuity and changes that have occurred. For the years 1940, 1965, and 1990, the author examines the composition of the Society's membership, its leadership, its scholarly journal, its annual meetings, and the perspective of its presidents. The article concludes with some comparisons with allied professional organizations, such as the American Library Association, the American Historical Association, and the Organization of American Historians, placing the Society's experience in a larger context. A briefer version of this article was delivered 28 August 1997 as the author's presidential address at the annual meeting of the Society of American Archivists held in Chicago.

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