Mensa, the High IQ Society, was founded on October 1, 1946, in Oxford, England. It was established by Roland Berrill, an Australian-born barrister, and Dr. Lancelot (Lance) Ware, a British scientist and lawyer. The two met by chance on a train and developed the idea of creating a society where the only qualification for membership would be demonstrated high intelligence. [us.mensa.org], [mensa.org]
The name Mensa comes from the Latin word for table, symbolizing a round table where all members meet as equals, regardless of profession, social status, race, religion, or political views. [mensa.org.uk], [en.wikipedia.org]
Today, Mensa is an international organization with members in more than 100 countries, and membership is generally open to those who score within the top 2% of the population on an approved intelligence test. [us.mensa.org], [mensa.org.uk]
As a Mensa volunteer yourself, you might find it interesting that the commonly recognized founding date is tied to the first Mensa literature that Berrill had printed on October 1, 1946, which later became the official founding date for the organization. [us.mensa.org], [phoenix.us.mensa.org]
British Mensa archivist Pam Ford has advised that Roland Berrill’s constitution “is most definitely in writing. Once as a special leaflet on pink paper and the other time on the back of the very first booklet Berrill issued about Mensa.” These papers were supplied to her by two of the earliest members (1948 and 1949).
RULES AND CONSTITUTION by Roland Berrill
- The obligations of a Member are two: first, to permit his name and his address to appear on a printed List of Members, and secondly, to pay his subscription. No other action is compulsory.
- The annual membership subscription is 10/-, payable on the Member’s birthday. There is no entrance fee.
- The titular head of the Society is a ceremonial representative known as the Corps d’Esprit. In the election of this official Members are guided by aesthetic consideration only.
- The general work of the Society is carried on by the Hon. Secretary and the Hon. Treasurer.
- There are no committees. Decisions are taken by postal ballot. The Secretary is obliged to submit to such a ballot any motion proposed by one Member and seconded by another.
Editor’s Note: Some of this content was accessed and extracted from a query answered by Microsoft Copilot on September 19, 2026.
