Membership

Who are the Augustans?

We are, primarily, a group of scholars in the fields of traditional studies — heraldry, genealogy, royalty & nobility, knighthood, orders of chivalry, and history — particularly before 1600. We are not all professionals, fewer than half of us have worked in academia or research, the amateur researcher is encouraged and welcomed.

We are also those who are willing to share the fruits of our researches with others. The primary means for sharing is through our journal, The Augustan Omnibus. Published under various titles for over fifty years, it is well respected, and is one of the few that combine the various subjects listed above, exporing the intersection of genealogy and royalty, knighthood and heraldry, and history with each. This is what distinguishes the Omnibus from similar publications, and this interdiciplinary approach is one of the things that distinguishes the Society as a whole.

Members have also made a promise to uphold the traditions of chivalry and to promote chivalric ideals in society. This brings our historical efforts full circle and shows how they apply to society today.

What are the qualifications for membership?

At their simplest, payment of dues and entrance fees, a promise to uphold the traditions of chivalry and support chivalric ideals in society, and practicing civil behavior.

Nobility is not required, though nobles are certainly welcomed. Knowledge of your ancestry is not required, but we will help you research yours. Knighthood is not required, though we have special programs for knights, dames, and those who which to become one. A coat-of-arms is not required, but we can help you design and register one (or in armigerous nations, assist you in obtaining government recognition). Expertise is not required, we will help you to gain it.

Yes, we do ask questions like this on our membership petition. It is an effort to get to know you better — it is not used as a means of "filtering" potential members. It is a very rare thing indeed for anyone to be denied membership.

What is the cost of membership?

Members agree to subscribe to the Society's journal, to pay annual dues (or a larger sum for life membership), and to pay assessments made by the Board of Directors. Subscriptions are presently $24/four issues (two years) for members, dues are $65/year, and there is currently an assessment of $25 for the "Buy-A-Box" fund. Thus the annual cost is somewhat variable, and is the sum of these three elements.

But is that all? Members are also asked to support the journal with articles, reviews, and letters. Members also agree to help other members with their researches. Other appeals for donations may be made. And our Board, Chairmen, and Committee Members must be drawn from the ranks of volunteers. So what is required is small, but what is expected is somewhat larger.

But consider too what you receive: our scholarly journal, the support of your fellow members in your own researches, assistance with registrations of arms, introductions to orders of chivalry, referrals to libraries and other resources, discounts on products and services, and of course the satisfaction of being a member of a prestigious society that is contributing to this field of scholarship.