THE CENTURY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1847, is made up of more than two thousand authors, artists, and amateurs of letters and fine arts. To qualify as amateurs, individuals may be of any occupation provided their breadth of interest and qualities of mind and imagination make them sympathetic, stimulating, and congenial companions in a society of authors and artists. Members have included leading figures in fields such as literature, music, visual art, publishing, politics, finance, architecture, science, medicine, and jurisprudence. Mark Twain reported after a visit in 1867 that the Century was "the most unspeakably respectable club in the United States, perhaps." In The Age of Innocence, Edith Wharton noted that "Archer knew of most of the 'fellows who wrote,' the musicians and the painters" because "he met them at the Century." Ralph Ellison, a member for thirty years, referred to the Century as "the best locale I've found for the enjoyment of American monologues, lies, tall tales, sermons, confessions, you name it." Susan Morrison, an author and editor who served as the Association's first woman president (2016–20) has called it "a haven from the clatter and chaos of the world outside our doors." The Century is a quintessentially New York institution. Despite its similarity to London clubs, and the national and international character of its membership, it could exist nowhere else. Its main activity is conversation, although other activities include musical and dramatic performances, art exhibitions, and lectures.