The Byron Society of America (BSA) is a non-profit literary organization founded in 1973 to study the life and works of the English Romantic poet, George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824.), whose immense cultural impact extends from the nineteenth century to the present day.
Throughout its history, the Byron Society of America has welcomed members from across the United States and Canada. BSA sponsors programs, events, and a distinguished lecture series; we award travel grants to young scholars; and we offers a variety of additional benefits to its members including a subscription to the semi-annual Byron Journal, and the opportunity to participate in the International Byron Conference each year. The Society is an Allied Organization of the Modern Language Association and has been organizing programs in conjunction with the MLA Convention since 1973.
BSA is a member of the International Association of Byron Societies, which consists of independent Byron Societies located in forty countries. The Byron Society of America has received tax-exempt status from the International Revenue Service under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In 1995, the Byron Society Collection was founded by members of the Byron Society to establish, through donation and bequest, a living collection that presents a material history of Byron literary and cultural studies. The collection integrates the traditional elements employed in the study of a literary figure-rare books and autograph material-together with visual representations of the poet such statuary, mezzotints, and engravings, along with other decorative and material objects that demonstrate the impact of Byron’s life and works on this readers, both past and present. The Collection’s holdings include some 4,000 books and objects.
The Byron Society of America and the Byron Society Collection were co-founded by Marsha M. Manns and Leslie A. Marchand.