The Association for Women in Mathematics: How and Why It Was Founded, and Why It's Still Needed in the 21st Century

This column is a forum for discussion of mathematical communities throughout the world, and through all time. Our definition of "mathematical community'' is the broadest: "schools'' of mathematics, circles of correspondence, mathematical societies, student organizations, extra-curricular educational activities (math camps, math museums, math clubs), and more. What we say about the communities is just as unrestricted. We welcome contributions from mathematicians of all kinds and in all places, and also from scientists, historians, anthropologists, and others.