American Motor League

The American Motor League ("AML") was the first automobile organization in the United States, formed 1895. The AML started in Chicago from ideas of Charles Brady King. He wished to form an organization that governed the movement of the fast development of the manufacture of "horseless carriages" that seemed to be going in various haphazard directions in the United States. The AML was organized by King and he was given the first membership each year, No. 100.

The main goal of the new AML was to encourage experimenters and inventors to manufacture horseless carriages. They had two obstacles to overcome to accomplish this.

King wanted to hold national meetings where technical papers could be submitted. He wanted discussions and exchange of ideas to help develop the technology of the automobile.

A meeting was held at the Chicago School of Electricity on Dearborn Street on Friday evening of November 1, 1895. The purpose of the meeting was to form a framework in the advancement of the new "horseless carriage" for the designers and experimenters. King suggested this meeting in a letter to the editor of The Horseless Age magazine that was published on October 8, 1895.

Dr. J. Allen Hornsby was elected temporary president and F. U. Adams of the Times-Herald was the temporary secretary of the new American Motor League. Hornsby called the meeting to order at the assigned time. He made an introductory speech outlining the goals and reasons for the new organization. He invited those present to state their views in regard to the general policies they should have for the new organization. Some liked the idea of a broad and liberal platform where all concerned with the new "horseless carriages", soon to be called , could be heard on their views. This included designers, manufacturers, and users alike. However others thought the membership of the new organization should be limited only to manufacturers and designers of the motorized vehicle.

Those present consisted of the Duryea brothers, Elwood Haynes, Henry G. Morris, Pedro G. Salom, Sterling Elliott, Charles Brady King, H. D. Emerson, C. A. Clarke, George Henry Hewitt, Edward E. Goff, W. G. Walton, H. W. Leete, C. F. Karns, J. A. Chase, W. F. Barnes, A. Taylor, C. M. Giddings, Elwood Haynes, George N. Richmond, J. Wallace Grant, and E. P. Ingersoll. There was a wide range of views as to what direction the new organization should go. It was deemed best to appoint a committee on the outline the new AML should take. The special committee was to report at the next meeting, which was to be held in Chicago about three or four weeks later. Hornsby was to work with Emerson and Charles E. Duryea on this matter.

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