About the Society

The Melville Society is a community of academics and general readers devoted to the study and appreciation of the works, life, and influence of the author Herman Melville. 

Founded in 1945, it is one of the nation’s oldest, continuously active single-author societies. Since 1990, the Society has expanded its scope, membership, and outreach to advance the reading and enjoyment of Melville’s works in all levels of education, in fine arts, and popular culture, worldwide. 

The Melville Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

In recent decades, The Melville Society has grown in size, diversity, and scope, and it now exceeds the boundaries of the typical single-author society. In addition to publishing our award-winning journal Leviathan and sponsoring biennial international conferences, the Society also supports numerous outreach programs.

Our Henry Murray Endowment supports the Society’s publications by awarding stipends to Leviathan’s editorial staff. We award the Hennig Cohen Prize annually for the best article or chapter on Melville by a scholar new to the field. In sponsoring twelve international conferences since 1997, the Society has attracted hundreds of new scholars and enthusiasts worldwide and has recently initiated a Travel Grant Fund to reimburse conference travel expenses for those in need. Since 1998, the Melville Society Cultural Project has deepened its relationship with the New Bedford Whaling Museum, curated the museum’s Melville Archive, supported the Walter Bezanson Fellowship to encourage archival study there, and hosted an NEH Summer Institute for Teachers. Supporting Melville’s advancement in the digital age, the Society is in discussions to affiliate with the Melville Electronic Library and other digital projects.

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