Salem Society of the Archaeological Institute of America

Under the aegis of the Salem Society of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), the Center sponsors a hugely popular archaeological lecture series.

The Archaeological Institute of America is a non-profit group founded in 1879 and chartered by the United States Congress in 1906. Today, the AIA has nearly 200,000 members who belong to more than 100 societies in the United States, Canada and overseas. This organization is unique in that it counts among its members not only professional archaeologists, but also students and people from all walks of life with an interest in archaeology.

Our own Salem AIA chapter was chartered in 1995. The AIA’s National Lecture Program, now in its 116th year, features top scholars from North America and abroad who inform audiences about a wide range of current archaeological topics. Audiences at Willamette usually range in size from 80-100 people. They include faculty, students, staff, and many community members not only from Salem, but from as far away as Portland, McMinnville, Corvallis, and Eugene.