Key Dates in AARP History
The moments that have helped define the organization through the decades
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1958: AARP Is Born
En español |The American Association of Retired Persons (now known as AARP) is founded on July 1 by Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal (first board meeting above). It expands the mission of the National Retired Teacher's Association (NRTA), the organization Dr. Andrus founded in 1947 to address the economic challenges and health insurance needs of retired educators. AARP is formed with the intention
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PHOTO BY: APA-The Engineered Wood Association
1961: Creating a House of the Future
AARP builds the House of Freedom, incorporating the principles of universal design, in Washington, D.C., to showcase options for style and safety (nonskid floors, grab bars in bathrooms) for delegates to the first White House Conference on Aging. The builder notes that its name refers to the house’s ability to provide “freedom from household drudgery, from poor lighting, from dangerously slick floors or stairways, from expensive housing expense.”
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1963: Dedication to Lifelong Learning
The AARP Institute of Lifelong Learning begins providing educational programs for older people in Washington, D.C., offering classes in arts, crafts, secretarial skills, speech, photography, English, international relations and more. It’s so successful that the program soon expands to Long Beach, Calif.; St. Petersburg, Fla.; and beyond. -
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1964: A Presence at the World's Fair
AARP’s pavilion at the New York World’s Fair promotes the organization’s vision of Dynamic Maturity. Its entrance is dominated by a massive sundial — 20 feet in diameter, designed by sculptor Herbert Feuerlicht — in keeping with the concept of time being ageless. Dr. Andrus’ nephew, Lincoln, and others look at a model of Grey Gables.
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PHOTO BY: H. Armstrong Roberts/Retrofile/Getty Images
1967: Fighting Age-Based Discrimination
With strong backing from AARP, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Dec. 15. It bans age-based discrimination against people age 40 to 65, including discrimination in hiring, wages, promotions and layoffs. This is an era in America when many help-wanted ads say there’s no need to apply if you’re age 55 or older. -
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PHOTO BY: Smith Collection/Gado/ Getty Images
1973: Promoting the Study of Aging
The Ethel Percy Andrus Gerontology Center opens at the University of Southern California, becoming the first school for gerontology a few years later in the form of Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC (Davis was a cofounder of AARP). Its ongoing mission: “to promote healthy aging for diverse individuals, communities and societies through leadership and innovation in research, education and practice.” -
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1979: A Push for Driver Safety
AARP kicks off a new 55 Alive program to help older drivers stay independent, safe and confident while on the road. Now called Driver Safety, it’s the nation’s largest classroom/online driver-safety and driving-refresher program designed especially for drivers age 50 and older across the country. -
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1982: Joining Forces
The National Retired Teacher's Association (NRTA), the organization Dr. Andrus founded in 1947 to address the needs of educators in retirement, merges with AARP on a national level. It becomes a division of AARP. -
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PHOTO BY: AARP
1984: Expanding its Reach
The membership age for AARP drops from 55 to 50. You can join at any age, however, whether you’re retired or not. AARP's core mission today: to empower people to choose how they live as they age. -
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PHOTO BY: JEFF ELKINS, AARP
2003: The Flagship Publication Evolves
Modern Maturity, AARP’s bimonthly magazine since 1958, is renamed AARP The Magazine. Today it’s the most-read magazine in the country, with more than 38 million readers, still championing our founder’s firm belief that being older is not a disability; it's an opportunity.
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PHOTO BY: AARP