America (Organization formed)
an organization formed in 1899 by Walter E. Bentley, an actor who had formerly been a clergyman. Its object was to foster a better understanding between the stage and the church, to urge that no theatrical performances be given on Sunday, and to promote the wel fare of actors. It is affiliated with a British organization of similar aims and has had a steady growth. Its membership is over 5,000, and it has at its call 1,500 chaplains in more than 400 cities of America.
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America's Cup
a yachting trophy, originally known as the Queen's Cup, offered as a prize to the yachts of all nations by the Royal Yacht Squadron of Great Britain, in 1851. The first contest for it was held Aug. 22 of that year, when it was won by the American yacht "America," whose owners deeded it in trust to the New York Yacht Club. The C 205 Ayくいいい THE AMERICA'S CUP subsequent success of American yachts in keeping the cup caused it to become me popularly known as the America's Cup. Since the first contest in 1851 there have been, at various intervals, 32 other contests, all of which, except one on Oct. 19, 1871, were won by American boats. The last five challenges coming from the Royal Ulster Yacht Club were represented by Sir Thomas Lipton and were sailed by four different boats of English design, "Shamrock I.," "II.," "III.," and "IV." His challenge of 1914, though accepted, ld not be fought out on account of the war. It was renewed in October, 1919. A series of races, held off Sandy Hook in midsummer, 1920, between "Shamrock IV." and the American defender "Resolute," was won by the latter.
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American Law Institute
an association of American jurists and lawyers organized February, 1923, to promote the clarification and simplification of the law, to secure the better administration of justice, and to carry on scientific legal work with a view to removing the uncertainties and complexities which at present cause useless litigation, prevent resort to the courts to enforce just rights, make it impossible for the legal profession to give accurate advice in many cases, and create delays and needless expense. AMERICAN LEGION. (See UNITED STATES, 1922-23).
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American Legion
zation composed of members who served in the United States army or navy during the World War. It was incorporated Sept. 16, 1919, though it had been informally organized in Paris in the preceding March. The preamble to its constitution sets forth its objects as being "to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a hundred per cent. Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association in the Great War; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state, and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and good will on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom, and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness." The legion aims to be non-political and not to promote candidacy of persons seeking public office. Its first national convention was held at Minneapolis, Minn., Nov. 10-11, 1919. Col. F. W. Gailbraith, national commander for and patriotic organizations for various 1921, was killed in an accident on June 9, John W. Emery, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was elected on June 14, 1921, to succeed F. W. Gailbraith. The national headquarters are in New York City.
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American Literature
. See Literature
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American Museum of Natural History, The
The. It is located in Central Park , New York City. It was founded in 1869. It is one of the greatest and most important natural history museums in the world. It ranks with the National or Smithsonian Museum, at Washington, D. C., and is excelled only by the British Museum in London. It was begun by private citizens, but is now a public institution, and free to all. The material exhibited is rich and varied, and is arranged with a view to the greatest educational value. There are large collections of shells; skeletons of now extinct or rare animals; a great variety of living mammals; birds, alive and dead; models of cliff dwellings in Colorado; pottery of the mound-builders; stone implements used by people in the so-called Stone Age , and a large collection of rocks and precious stones. See Kensington ; Smithsonian; Hornaday ; Meteorite 2026 Editor's Note: Still one of the world's great museums — its dinosaur halls and 94-foot blue whale are New York icons, and Night at the Museum made them film stars. In 2022 it removed the Theodore Roosevelt statue from its steps, the one flanked by subordinate Native and African figures, in a reckoning its founders never foresaw. (Ed: BR 2026-06-12)
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American Ornithologists' Union
a society of students of birds. The society was founded in 1883. Its membership is limited to twenty-five honorary members, among whom are the most eminent ornithologists of foreign countries; fifty active members residents of North America ; one hundred corresponding members, and associate members, resident in North America. Any person interested in birds may become an associate member. An annual meeting is held in one of the Atlantic cities. The Auk, Cambridge, Massachusetts, a quarterly magazine, is the official organ of the A. O. U., as the union is called. See Birds; Ornithology ; Audubon 2026 Editor's Note: This is the body that officially names North America's birds — and in 2023 its successor, the American Ornithological Society , made headlines by resolving to rename every bird still named after a person, shedding honorees tied to slavery and grave-robbing. The union merged into the AOS in 2016. (Ed: BR 2026-06-29)
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American-Scotch Pig-iron
A common name for some brands of American pig-iron, in which the silicon is high, and for which reason they have gradually supplanted the original Scotch irons which were formerly imported as softeners. See SCOTCH IRON; SOFTENERS.
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Americus
a city of Georgia, the county-seat of Sumter co., about 70 miles S. W. of Macon. It is on the Central of Georgia and the Seaboard Air Line railroads. The center of an important agr cultural region, it also has extensive industries, including cotton oil, fertilizer, and monument works. It is the seat of the State Ag Agricultural College, and its important buildings include a library, large hotel, and a Y. M. C. A. building. Pop. (1910) 8,063; (1920) 9,010.
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