W. Andrew (Andy) Achenbaum, Ph.D., is a semi-retired professor of history in the Houston, Texas Medical Center's Consortium on Aging. He is married to Barbara Lewis and is the proud father of two daughters and two grandchildren.Achenbaum earned his B.A. in American Studies at Amherst College, an M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania, and his Ph.D. in history at the University of Michigan. After learning more about the art of teaching at Canisius College and revising the core curriculum at Carnegie Mellon University, Andy served as professor of history and deputy director of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Michigan and then became the founding dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of [...] half a century Achenbaum has been critically thinking, lecturing and writing about the meanings and experiences of old age in U.S. history. To interpret intriguing late-life continuities and to fight ageism, Andy has elaborated older Americans' roles in reconfiguring an aging nation's political economy, social and transgenerational policies, and (in)visibility in cultural affairs. Turning 75 in good health this year, he finds it a challenge to balance personal and professional opinions about fairy-tale wisdom and soulful aging in a deeply polarized country.Achenbaum has published six books, co-edited 12 others, and written more than 200 peer-reviewed articles. Routledge will publish his forthcoming book Safeguarding Social Security for Future Generations. A recipient of several awards for his work in gerontology, he chaired the National Council of Aging, and served on national, state, and local advisory boards. To learn more and contact Andy, visit [...]

Introduction; Two Precursors; Keywords; OLD AGE BECOMES A 'PROBLEM' WORTH INVESTIGATING SCIENTIFICALLY; 1. Surveying the Frontiers of Aging; 2. Setting Boundaries for Disciplined Discoveries; 3. Establishing Outposts for Multidisciplinary Research on Aging; GERONTOLOGY TAKES SHAPE IN THE ERA OF BIG SCIENCE; 4. Organizing the Gerontological Society to Promote Interdisciplinary Research Amid Disciplinary and Professional Constriction; 5. Risk-taking in the Modern Research University - The Fate of Multidisciplinary Institutes on Aging; 6. The Federal Government as Sponsor, Producer, and Consumer of Research on Aging; 7. Gerontology in the Service of America's Aging Veterans; Conclusion; The Current State of the Field; Reconstructing Gerontology