History of AAGC

New York City — September 1946 - July 1986
On September 6, 1946 The American Association for Gifted Children (AAGC) was founded because two friends, Dr. Ruth Strang and Miss Pauline Williamson believed that "the gifted were the most neglected children in our democracy." These two pioneer educational leaders incorporated the first voluntary non-profit organization in the United States devoted exclusively to the needs of gifted, talented and creative children. Established in New York, Dr. Harold Clark, an educational leader and economist, was elected president and led the Association during the first twenty-five years.

Year Events

1946 AAGC incorporated in New York and was located at University of the State of New York. Purposes stated included:

To recognize, appreciate, and stimulate creative work among gifted children.
To review what is now being done for gifted children.
To organize a junior committee of gifted children.
To visit schools and observe gifted children at work.
To correspond with leaders in different fields, schools and industry, and to press for opportunities for gifted children.
To foster the development of a clearer appreciation of the possibilities and capabilities of gifted children and to promote plans to further their interests.
To encourage public sentiment in favor of plans to recognize gifted children at an early stage and to promote their welfare as individuals of a distinctive class.
To publish writings, papers, books, pamphlets, periodicals and other publications for cultivating and fostering the purposes herein set forth.

1951 The Gifted Child, a first in the field, was published by D. C. Heath & Co. It was authored by members of the Association and edited by the Vice-President of AAGC, Dr. Paul Witty.

1958 Four Guideposts for the Education of the Gifted were published and delivered to State Directors of Special Education for parents, teachers, administrators, and gifted students. These publications, written by Dr. Ruth Strang, provided practical strategies for the development of gifted children.

1959 Creativity of Gifted and Talented Children was published, which included the speeches by Paul Witty, James B. Conant, and Ruth Strang delivered to The American Association of School Administrators' annual meeting.
In addition, during the 1950's, AAGC's leaders were active in promoting information about gifted children through radio and television, conferences, and through a number of prestigious publications.

1970 Dr. William Melville, one of AAGC's leaders and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at Wisconsin State University in Platteville, presented a proposal to the American Library Association at their annual conference. The proposal outlined specific strategies for helping interested people learn more about gifted children. As a result of this meeting AAGC developed a project with the American Library Association, to help librarians work more effectively with gifted children.

1974 A meeting was held at the National Arts Club in New York City to pursue ways of assisting gifted young persons in the art field. Among the groups represented were the American Association for Gifted Children, the National Arts Club, and the U. S. Office of Education. As a result of this meeting, a Fine Arts Committee was established which resulted in providing scholarships for short term studies for three artistically gifted children.

1984 AAGC convened a Task Force of specialists in gifted-child education and in health care and allied professions to consider how health care professionals could support the development of gifted and talented children. In April 1985, the findings of the Task Force were published in a comprehensive report, Reaching Out To The Gifted Child: Roles For The Health Care Professions. Anne Impellizzeri was President of AAGC and the Project Director was Trudy Hayden.

Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio — July 1986 - 1989
The American Association for Gifted Children moved to Wright State University School of Professional Psychology in Dayton, Ohio in 1986. The identified purposes in state corporate papers were: "AAGC's programs include research, offering grants, conducting seminars and workshops and publishing to stimulate and recognize efforts regarding gifted children. It works with the White House Office of Gifted and related associations in the field. Current efforts are in the areas of minority gifted and health care professionals. An annual conference is held."
Duke University, Durham, NC — 1989 - Present The American Association for Gifted Children incorporated in 1989 as a non-profit in North Carolina, without members or capital stock, and was located at Duke University, Durham, N. C. Identified purposes included:

To foster a better understanding of the needs and capabilities of gifted children, to encourage research in the field of education and nurturing of gifted children, to recognize, appreciate, and stimulate creative work among gifted children, and to accomplish and encourage other related work relating to gifted children.
To support, both directly and indirectly, the work and operations of public charities qualified under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

Year Events

1991 Mary Jane and Jerome A. Straka Scholarship Fund assets were transferred to TIP from the New York Office. Selection criteria for the Fund were then reviewed and changed. The Straka Scholarship Fund now provides college scholarships to outstanding 4th year math and science students who attend the TIP Summer Residential Program.

1993 Dr. Mark DeLong became President of AAGC with two purposes:

the development of resources for parents; and
the establishment of alliances so that AAGC's voice could be magnified by combining talents.
He developed the Working Papers.
The first Working Paper was published, "Ability Grouping, Myth, Reality, and Implications for the Education of the Gifted." This paper, written by Elham Kazemi and David Goldstein, two researchers from the Duke University Talent Identification Program, is a study about grouping students for instruction in schools, with a focus on grouping high ability students.

1994 The second Working Paper was published, "The Presidential Scholars: A Portrait of Talent and its Development." A study of a group of the 1990 Scholars with a focus on family and other influences on the students' lives. Authors: David Goldstein, Vicky Stocking, Laura Porter, and Evan Berg.
Full Potential, a guide for parents of gifted children, edited by Mark DeLong and Webb Howell, was published by TAG Books. Revised, 1995.
AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. Dr. Mark DeLong organized a panel discussion of three alumni of the Presidential Scholars Program to discuss what the honor had meant to them.

1995 Dr. Irving Alexander was installed as President of AAGC. Dr. Alexander's goals included: re-defining the mission, services and goals of AAGC and raising funds to make the organization independent, with a full time Executive Director.
Dr. Irving Alexander organized a very successful panel discussion for the 1995 National Recognition Week; Presidential Scholars Program. AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. AAGC was the 1995 winner of the Jimmy Carter Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Organization.
Strategic Plan developed by the Board, with the assistance of Margaret Evans Gayle, consultant.

1996 Consultant, Margaret Evans Gayle was hired to develop additional resources to implement the Strategic Plan.
Homeschooling Newsletter published, with a Resource Guide as an Insert.
AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. This was the 19th grant award for Presidential Scholars from the Dodge Foundation. Margaret Gayle, Consultant to AAGC and Judy Hammes, Secretary of AAGC attended the Award Ceremonies.

1997 The third Working Paper was published, "New Media, Education, and the Gifted." An essay exploring the ways that emerging telecommunications technology and multi-media tools may radically alter educational systems and how those changes might benefit gifted learners. Author: Mark R. DeLong.

Year	Events
1946	AAGC incorporated in New York and was located at University of the State of New York. Purposes stated included: To recognize, appreciate, and stimulate creative work among gifted children. To review what is now being done for gifted children. To organize a junior committee of gifted children. To visit schools and observe gifted children at work. To correspond with leaders in different fields, schools and industry, and to press for opportunities for gifted children. To foster the development of a clearer appreciation of the possibilities and capabilities of gifted children and to promote plans to further their interests. To encourage public sentiment in favor of plans to recognize gifted children at an early stage and to promote their welfare as individuals of a distinctive class. To publish writings, papers, books, pamphlets, periodicals and other publications for cultivating and fostering the purposes herein set forth.
1951	The Gifted Child, a first in the field, was published by D. C. Heath & Co. It was authored by members of the Association and edited by the Vice-President of AAGC, Dr. Paul Witty.
1958	Four Guideposts for the Education of the Gifted were published and delivered to State Directors of Special Education for parents, teachers, administrators, and gifted students. These publications, written by Dr. Ruth Strang, provided practical strategies for the development of gifted children.
1959	Creativity of Gifted and Talented Children was published, which included the speeches by Paul Witty, James B. Conant, and Ruth Strang delivered to The American Association of School Administrators' annual meeting. In addition, during the 1950's, AAGC's leaders were active in promoting information about gifted children through radio and television, conferences, and through a number of prestigious publications.
1970	Dr. William Melville, one of AAGC's leaders and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at Wisconsin State University in Platteville, presented a proposal to the American Library Association at their annual conference. The proposal outlined specific strategies for helping interested people learn more about gifted children. As a result of this meeting AAGC developed a project with the American Library Association, to help librarians work more effectively with gifted children.
1974	A meeting was held at the National Arts Club in New York City to pursue ways of assisting gifted young persons in the art field. Among the groups represented were the American Association for Gifted Children, the National Arts Club, and the U. S. Office of Education. As a result of this meeting, a Fine Arts Committee was established which resulted in providing scholarships for short term studies for three artistically gifted children.
1984	AAGC convened a Task Force of specialists in gifted-child education and in health care and allied professions to consider how health care professionals could support the development of gifted and talented children. In April 1985, the findings of the Task Force were published in a comprehensive report, Reaching Out To The Gifted Child: Roles For The Health Care Professions. Anne Impellizzeri was President of AAGC and the Project Director was Trudy Hayden.

Year	Events
1991	Mary Jane and Jerome A. Straka Scholarship Fund assets were transferred to TIP from the New York Office. Selection criteria for the Fund were then reviewed and changed. The Straka Scholarship Fund now provides college scholarships to outstanding 4th year math and science students who attend the TIP Summer Residential Program.
1993	Dr. Mark DeLong became President of AAGC with two purposes: the development of resources for parents; and the establishment of alliances so that AAGC's voice could be magnified by combining talents. He developed the Working Papers. The first Working Paper was published, "Ability Grouping, Myth, Reality, and Implications for the Education of the Gifted." This paper, written by Elham Kazemi and David Goldstein, two researchers from the Duke University Talent Identification Program, is a study about grouping students for instruction in schools, with a focus on grouping high ability students.
1994	The second Working Paper was published, "The Presidential Scholars: A Portrait of Talent and its Development." A study of a group of the 1990 Scholars with a focus on family and other influences on the students' lives. Authors: David Goldstein, Vicky Stocking, Laura Porter, and Evan Berg. Full Potential, a guide for parents of gifted children, edited by Mark DeLong and Webb Howell, was published by TAG Books. Revised, 1995. AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. Dr. Mark DeLong organized a panel discussion of three alumni of the Presidential Scholars Program to discuss what the honor had meant to them.
1995	Dr. Irving Alexander was installed as President of AAGC. Dr. Alexander's goals included: re-defining the mission, services and goals of AAGC and raising funds to make the organization independent, with a full time Executive Director. Dr. Irving Alexander organized a very successful panel discussion for the 1995 National Recognition Week; Presidential Scholars Program. AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. AAGC was the 1995 winner of the Jimmy Carter Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Organization. Strategic Plan developed by the Board, with the assistance of Margaret Evans Gayle, consultant.
1996	Consultant, Margaret Evans Gayle was hired to develop additional resources to implement the Strategic Plan. Homeschooling Newsletter published, with a Resource Guide as an Insert. AAGC, through a grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation awarded 141 scholarships to outstanding graduating seniors across the nation. This was the 19th grant award for Presidential Scholars from the Dodge Foundation. Margaret Gayle, Consultant to AAGC and Judy Hammes, Secretary of AAGC attended the Award Ceremonies.
1997	The third Working Paper was published, "New Media, Education, and the Gifted." An essay exploring the ways that emerging telecommunications technology and multi-media tools may radically alter educational systems and how those changes might benefit gifted learners. Author: Mark R. DeLong.