The American Daffodil Society Inc. (ADS) was formed in 1954 to encourage interest in daffodils and to support education and research in daffodil culture. The society has members in the United States and abroad; records horticultural information on daffodil varieties by registering new cultivars; and works with international organizations such as the Royal Horticultural Society. Among the society's charter members were bulb growers Jan de Graaff and Grant Mitsch. ADS holds annual conventions and is led by officers elected by a board of directors. ADS supports many daffodil shows and festivals and gives numerous awards to daffodil enthusiasts. The society published Handbook for Growing, Exhibiting and Judging Daffodils to provide rules and guidelines for show judges, as well as offering the ADS Judging Schools and Refresher Courses. To further support daffodil hobbyists and growers, the society publishes the quarterly The Daffodil Journal and has also published Daffodils to Show and Grow and other related titles.