Affiliates

Affiliate groups are regional groups of independent scholars supported by NCIS. Most affiliate groups meet several times a year for members to share their work and to discuss issues independent scholars face. To join an affiliate group, contact the group directly.

Alliance of Independent Scholars
Elizabeth Coons, Coordinator
1710 Commonwealth Ave, #6
Brighton, MA 02135
617-277-1296
E-Mail: ecoons6@comcast.net

The AIS was founded initially in 1978 as a support group for women scholars in Greater Boston who had
lost academic positions through retrenchment. AI continues to serve scholars active in research but who lack academic affiliation. AIS meets monthly to discuss members’ work in progress and circulates
information about resources for scholarship and supports reading groups pertaining to members’
interests.

Center for Independent Study
Gwenith Heuss-Severance
PO 203193 Yale Station
New Haven, CT O6520-3193
Website: www.cistudy.org
E-Mail: gheuss@sbcglobal.net
With 30-40 members, CIS was organized in 1977 as one of the first in a national movement to provide a forum for individuals of diverse academic and intellectual pursuits. In addition to scholars with traditional disciplinary interests, membership is open to artists, writers, photographers, editors, and translators. Members share their work in study groups based on particular interests, work-in-progress talks, informal conversations, and public lectures and readings.

Independent Scholars’ Association of the North
Carolina Triangle (ISA/NCT)
Eva June Narber, President
1289 Fordham Blvd, suite #A185
Chapel Hill, NC 27414
919-349-6425
E-Mail:junenarber@yahoo.com

ISA/NCT was founded in 1983 to provide science and humanities scholars with collegial support for
research and a public forum for testing ideas, projects and grants. It meets bimonthly in the Research Triangle area on Sunday afternoons in members’ homes, with a potluck meal following the program.
At these meetings, members present their own research or listen to invited speakers. Programs are
traditionally varied and cover a wide range of scholarly topics. Grant awards are made from time to
time to members with a promising research project. All meetings are open and free for anyone interested.

Institute for Historical Study
Michael Griffin, President
P.O. Box 5743
Berkeley, CA 94705
Website: www.tihs.org
E-Mail: instituteforhistoricalstudy@tihs.org
The IHS, with 125 members, was founded in 1980 as a non-profit, public benefit organization to promote
the research, writing and public discussion of history. Membership is open to independent and academically affiliated scholars who are in agreement with its aims and have a commitment to any field of historical study, including history of art, literature and theater. Members are invited to present their work-inprogress for comment and discussion at informal monthly meetings, and there are several ongoing study groups. The IHS also sponsors and cosponsors public programs such as lectures,
conferences and workshops.

Minnesota Independent Scholars’ Forum
David Juncker, President
P.O. Box 80235, Lake Street Station
Minneapolis, MN 55408-8235
612-870-1859
Website: www.mnindependentscholars.org
E-Mail: djuncker@maroon.tc.umn.edu

MISF was founded in 1983 to support research, writing and publication by independent scholars; to
foster scholarly discussion; and to educate the public about the role and values of independent scholars and their work. Currently there are 87 members, mostly in the Twin Cities. Membership is open to any dues paying individual who endorses the purposes of MISF. Members have borrowing privileges in the University of Minnesota Library system. Public programs include works-in-progress meetings, at which members receive feedback on their scholarly work, and more formal public meetings, sometimes co-sponsored with other organizations. A variety of study groups have come and gone as members’ needs and interests change.

Northwest Independent Scholars Association
Margaret DeLacy, President
7356 S.E. 30th Ave
Portland, OR 97202-8837
Website: http://home.pacifier.com/~mdelacy/nisa/
E-Mail: margaretdelacy@comcast.net
Founded in 1983, NISA is registered as a tax-exempt organization in Oregon. Members are working
scholars whose interests cover a wide range of topics including music, art, women’s history, local history, European and Asian history, photography, history of science and medicine, philosophy and mathematics. There is a rule that a new member must present his or her work to the group within about a year of joining. In addition to bimonthly presentations of members’ work in progress, NISA also schedules general interest meetings. NISA has 20 members.

San Diego Independent Scholars
Donna Boyle, President
3522 Villa Terrace
San Diego, CA 92104
619-296-4055
Website: www.sdscholars.org
Email: dboyle101@cox.net
SDIS, founded in 1982, currently numbers 82 members engaged in intellectual and creative
projects. Members are an interdisciplinary group representing a variety of interests: literature,
history, political science, medicine, biological sciences, physics and social sciences. General
meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month, which provide forums where members
may present their own work, respond to other speakers or engage in panel discussions. SDIS
also encourages independent research and writing through study groups in literature and
science and in works-in-progress. Members can apply for financial assistance on scholarly
projects from the Helen Hawkins Memorial Research Fund.

FOREIGN AFFILIATE
Canadian Academy of Independent Scholars
Dr. Yosef Wosk, President
Director of Interdisciplinary Programs
and Continuing Studies
Simon Fraser University
515 West Hastings St
Vancouver, BC
CANADA V6B 5K3
604-291-5237
E-Mail: interdisciplinary-cs@sfu.ca
The CAIS was founded by the members of the Academy of Independent Scholars, Vancouver.
In December 2006 CAIS announced the launch of its scholarly journal The International Journal
of Independent Scholars - Journal international de chercheurs indépendants.