The American Institute of Mining Engineers (later American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers and American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers) was founded in 1871 by 22 mining engineers in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and was one of the first national engineering socieities established in the United States. Its members are professionals in the fields of mining, and metallurgical and petroleum engineering with the objective of promoting the advancement of knowledge in the arts and sciences involved in the production and use of minerals, metal, energy sources and materials. In addition, they aim to record and disseminate significant developments in these areas of technology for the benefit of mankind. In 1957, the institute reorganized into three constituent societies: Society of Mining Engineers; The Metallurgical Society; and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. A fourth society was established in 1974, the Iron and Steel Society. In the mid-1980s the four divisions of AIME became separately incorporated organizations. Today the memberships of the AIME Member Societies total over 127,000 and includes some of the most important, influential, and innovative figures in the engineering and scientific communities.