Short answers, pulled from the story.
Benjamin Franklin established the American Philosophical Society in 1743 within Philadelphia. James Alexander, Francis Hopkinson, John Bartram, and Philip Syng Jr. joined him as co-founders.
The society remained dormant until its revival in 1767. On the 2nd of January 1769, the organization united with another group to become the American Philosophical Society Held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge.
The society established the Magellanic Premium in 1786 for navigation, astronomy, or natural philosophy. This prize remains the oldest scientific award given by an American institution today.
Samuel Vaughan designed Philosophical Hall between 1785 and 1789 in Federal style. The building stands at 104 South Fifth Street in Philadelphia.
Twenty-two academic institutions have affiliated fifty or more members since 1743. Harvard University leads with 220 members over nearly three centuries.