Academy of Social Sciences in Australia

Timeline for the formation of the Academy
1942
The Australian National Research Council (ANRC) adopts a recommendation that an Australian Social Science Council be established.
1943
The Provisional Social Science Research Committee of the ANRC is formed, and in the same year becomes an independent although still subsidiary body, the Social Science Research Committee (SSRC).
1952
A meeting of the SSRC resolves to make itself an entirely autonomous body, which had been originally created in anticipation of this;
A draft constitution for the new body is accepted at a meeting of the ANRC, with all members of the Committee invited to become a part of the new Social Science Research Council of Australia (still 'SSRC').
1953
The new SSRC holds it first meeting. Membership of the Council is 44.
1956
The Council considers seeking the status of an Academy by royal charter, but resolves instead to be incorporated under Australian law.
1957
The SSRC is incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
1970
The SSRC adopts a recommendation that it become the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA), resolving again to do so by incorporation rather than royal charter1.
1971
The Academy of the Social Sciences is incorporated in the ACT, with those Fellows of the SSRC becoming Fellows of ASSA.

1 The question having been precipitated by the decision of the Australian Humanities Research Council to seek a royal charter, which was granted in June 1970 making it the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

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