The Society encourages contributions towards the endowment of the Meetings, an APS tradition that reaches back to the year of its founding.
The titles of the gift levels below pay tribute to the first eight members of the American Philosophical Society in 1743 (not including the founder, for whom Benjamin Franklin Hall is named). These eight “Men of Speculation,” along with Franklin, embody the tradition of APS Meetings, bringing together leading thinkers and doers of their times to share observations, experiments, and research.
The descriptor following each name is the stated role of that individual in the operation of the Society, as established in its founding Proposal. (Franklin was Secretary.) Engaging profiles of these men are provided in Dr. Whitfield J. Bell Jr.’s Patriot Improvers, which consists of short biographies of Society members between 1743-1768.
| MEETING PATRON CIRCLES OF SUPPORT | ||||
| $1,000,000 | John Bartram Circle: Botanist |
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| $500,000 | Phineas Bond Circle: Natural Philosopher |
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| $250,000 | Thomas Bond Circle: Physician |
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| $100,000 | William Coleman Circle: Treasurer |
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| $75,000 | Thomas Godfrey Circle: Mathematician |
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| $50,000 | Thomas Hopkinson Circle: President |
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| $25,000 | William Parsons Circle: Geographer |
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| $10,000 | Samuel Rhoads Circle: Mechanician |
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Members and friends may join a circle of Meeting Patrons at any time. Meeting Patrons are recognized on a prominent plaque in Benjamin Franklin Hall. Planned gifts (including intended bequests, if sufficiently documented) as well as outright gifts are accepted for this purpose. For further information, please contact Annie Westcott at 215-440-3441 or westcott [at] amphilsoc [dot] org.