[1][2] Among its stated goals is, "The advancement of its members in science, literature, and art and also their mutual improvement by social intercourse.

[6] On November 16, 1878, a group of men met at Powell's home at 910 M Street, Washington, D.C., and discussed their mutual interest in creating what began the Cosmos Club.

[1][6] The original incorporators included: According to the articles of incorporation, "The particular objects and business of this association are the advancement of its members in science, literature and art, their mutual improvement by social intercourse, the acquisition and maintenance of a library, and the collection and care of materials and appliances related to the above subjects.

[1][6] They approved sixty individuals as Founders; many of these were existing members of the Philosophical Society of Washington which the group feared, was considering creating its own social club.

[6] The original bylaws of the Cosmos Club had the following policy: "Membership in the Club was restricted by high qualification requirements and candidates were admitted only if they (1) had performed meritorious original work in science, literature, or the fine arts; (2) though not occupied in science, literature, or the fine arts, were well known to be cultivated in a special department thereof; and (3) were recognized as distinguished in a learned profession or in public service.

"[1] According to its website, election to membership in the Cosmos Club honors those deemed to have "done meritorious original work in science, literature, or the arts, or...recognized as distinguished in a learned profession or in public service".

[6] In 1940, the U.S. government purchased the house with the rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex in 1952.

[6] However, in 1930, Congress directed the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the private property on Madison Place for the expansion of governmental offices.

[10] The U.S. government purchased the house with the rest of the club's Lafayette Square holdings and added it to the National Courts Complex.

In addition, men must wear ties in the formal dining room for dinner, lunch, and Sunday brunch.

[5] Many of the activities are related to food, such as monthly lobster dinners, weekly champagne brunches, prime rib buffets, and wine tastings.

[6] On November 16, 1903, when the Cosmos Club celebrated its 25th anniversary, the membership had grown from the original twelve to 567: 408 residents, 159 non-residents.

[25] In 1904, president William Henry Holmes divided members into 11 groups for admission purposes:[26][27][28] The club was only for white men until the 1960s.

[29] In 1962, the club's refusal to admit Black journalist and high-ranking State Department official Carl T. Rowan prompted members such as Bruce Catton and John Kenneth Galbraith to resign their memberships in protest.

[29] In 1987, the Washington, D.C., Human Rights Office ruled that there was probable cause to believe that the club's men-only policy violated the city's anti-discrimination law.

[31] The office was ready to order public hearings on the case, which could have resulted in the loss of all city licenses and permits if the all-male policy had continued.