ABSTRACT
This chapter draws upon the work of Brick, Goodwin, Labaree and others in an examination of the American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC's) history, culture, and contemporary practices. Through an analysis of the association's efforts, it shows the organization has participated in attempts to shape the identity and defines the institutional logic of two-year schools, for better and for worse, over the course of its history. The American Association of Community Colleges came into existence during the early part of the twentieth century, the period when two-year colleges started to proliferate. In an era where social and economic inequality grew, the leaders of the AACC moved to align their organization with the interests of industrialists. From the standpoint of the organization's members, one might argue that AACC officers acted in a manner consistent with their understanding of what is best for community colleges.
