[3] As of 2004[update] the AOS had awarded over $800,000 in grants for research in genetics, conservation, pest and disease control, propagation and fragrance and other subjects.

[note 2][11] Volume 1, Issue 1 of The American Orchid Society Bulletin was published in June 1932.

[14] With her husband Tom Sheehan, she co-authored the longest running series in the magazine, "Orchid Genera Illustrated".

[note 3][10][20] The journal's title commemorated John Lindley the father of orchidology and "the first taxonomist on a world scale.

[22] The book Ultimate Orchid [note 4] was written by Thomas Sheenan in association with the AOS and the Smithsonian Institution.

[28] The qualities judges assess include color vibrancy, splash petals, spots and different-colored lips.

[28] Certain awards can make a particular type of orchid extremely valuable meaning thousands of dollars in increased profit for the grower.

[3] At the first meeting a group of 35 men and one woman set goals of organizing orchid shows in various cities, establishing a plant register, and selecting a group of experienced growers to judge plants and recognize the ones with superior quality.

[37][38] The image for the seal of the society and its Gold Medal of Achievement was designed that year by Blanche Ames.

[41] In July 1984 the AOS moved its headquarters and orchid collection from Harvard University to the property of Lewis C. and Varina Vaughn in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[42][44] The collection was accessible to the public until 1988, when Lewis Vaughn died and the estate came under city codes prohibiting operation of a business in the residential neighborhood.

[45] Vaughn willed his property to the society and a special use permit allowed the AOS to occupy the 6 acre (2.4 ha) estate.

[44] The local neighborhood association opposed the operation of the facility and for the next 13 years the headquarters were not open to the public.

It wasn’t long before we found out we were not the best overseers of a public garden or that we should be in the retail business... We lost sight of the main thing — our members, conservation, education and research.