The idea of forming the Milton Society of America had been discussed among scholars for
several years when, in 1948, Arthur Coon proposed a Milton Dinner as a starting point for a
formal organization. The dinner was held December 27, 1948 in New York. The first president,
James Holly Hanford, and secretary, Don M. Wolfe, along with an executive committee of six
members were elected at the sixth annual dinner in 1953. A constitution and bylaws, adopted
in 1957, defined the purpose of the organization as "to further the Milton scholarship, not
only in this country but also abroad" through annual meetings, awards, and publications. To
honor exceptional Milton scholarship, the society, in 1977, began an annual award for the
best book and for best article in the field. The award was named in honor of James Holly
Hanford, the society's first president.
The Seventeenth Century News was started in May 1943 (i.e.
well before the official formation of the Milton Society of America) by the Seventeenth
Century English Literature Group of the Modern Language Association (MLA).By 1950 it was
edited by the MLA's English Discussion Group IV: The Period of Milton, but continued to
focus on seventeenth century literature in general. J. Max Patrick became the first editor
in December 1950 and still held this position in 1988. Beginning in 1954 the publication
also included The Neo-Latin News which is "devoted to
Neo-Latin Literature 1400-1950" and serves as the organ of the Neo-Latin Society of the
MLA.
