ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the provenance of learned societies and how the model has adapted to different historical contexts. It explores their role in the twentieth century and how scholars have understood their functions. It situates twentieth-century examples within the broader landscape of organisations such as professional associations and pressure groups. The chapter focuses social and organisational theories to appreciate how organisations adapt to changing environments. The term learned society has been used to describe a variety of organisations, though people have the clearest understanding of the form and function of those created before the twentieth century. Learned societies are important as structures within which individuals acquire and strengthen their academic identity and reputation. The concept of social capital addresses the value of networks and relationships. Learned societies' are one of the primary publishers of journals and books and, along with commercial publishers, provide the bedrock of academic literature, particularly in the UK and US.
