The Huguenot Society of America was founded in 1883 by the Reverend Alfred V. Wittmeyer, Rector of the French Huguenot Church in New York City, l'Eglise du Saint Esprit, for the following purposes:

First: To promote the cause of religious freedom and to perpetuate the memory of the Huguenot settlers in America.

Second: To commemorate the principal events in the history of the Huguenots, and to this end:

1. To discover, collect, and preserve existing monuments, memorabilia, and documents relating to Huguenot history and genealogy.
2. To gather a library composed of obtainable books, manuscripts, pamphlets, pictures, and other material relating to Huguenot history and genealogy.
3. To cause to be prepared and delivered before the Society lectures on matters relating to Huguenot history and genealogy.
4. To cause to be prepared and published books, monographs and pamphlets or other publications relating to Huguenot history and genealogy.
5. To award fellowships, scholarships, and prizes for essays, orations, and other compositions on subjects relating to Huguenot history and genealogy.