The ''American Journal of Science'' (''AJS'') is the United States of America's longest-running scientific journal, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor

Benjamin Silliman Benjamin Silliman (August 8, 1779 – November 24, 1864) was an early American chemist and science educator. He was one of the first American professors of science, at Yale College, the first person to use the process of fractional distillation ...

, who edited and financed it himself. Until 1880, it was also known as the ''American Journal of Science and Arts'', but its focus was always on natural sciences and especially on

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

and related subjects. In early years, the journal was often referred to as "Silliman's Journal", and the publication became associated with

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

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,

Benjamin Silliman Jr. Benjamin Silliman Jr. (December 4, 1816 – January 14, 1885) was a professor of chemistry at Yale University and instrumental in developing the oil industry. His father Benjamin Silliman Sr., also a famous Yale chemist, developed the process o ...

, from 1838. On the death of the elder Silliman in 1864, he was succeeded as chief editor by his son-in-law,

James Dwight Dana James Dwight Dana FRS FRSE (February 12, 1813 – April 14, 1895) was an American geologist, mineralogist, volcanologist, and zoologist. He made pioneering studies of mountain-building, volcanic activity, and the origin and structure of continent ...

, and then from 1895 till 1926 by Dana's son

Edward Salisbury Dana Edward Salisbury Dana (November 16, 1849 – June 16, 1935) was an American mineralogist and physicist. He made important contributions to the study of minerals, especially in the field of crystallography. Life and career E. S. Dana was born in ...

. Associate editors included the botanist Asa Gray and the zoologist Louis Agassiz. The current editors are Mark T. Brandon, professor at

, and C. Page Chamberlain, professor at Stanford University.

References

External links

American Journal of Science onlineAmerican Journal of Science (1818-1895) full text digital archive
an
fulltext
from HathiTrust * Geology journals Academic journals published by non-profit publishers 1818 establishments in New Jersey {{geology-journal-stub