The American Ethnological Society (AES) is the oldest professional anthropological association in the United States.
Albert Gallatin and John Russell Bartlett founded the American Ethnological Society in New York City in 1842.
The early meetings of the AES took place in the homes of the members, where they discussed all aspects of human life, from history and geography to philology and anthropology.
In the late 19th century, the AES's focus changed from the evolutionary concerns of ethnology to the academic discipline of anthropology.
The journal advances the Association's mission through publishing articles that add to, integrate, synthesize, and interpret anthropological knowledge; commentaries and essays on issues of importance to the discipline; and reviews of books, films, sound recordings and exhibits."