a scientific society, the quaternion society was an "international association for promoting the study of quaternions and allied systems of mathematics". at its peak it consisted of about 60 mathematicians spread throughout the academic world that were experimenting with quaternions and other hypercomplex number systems. the guiding light was alexander macfarlane who served as its secretary initially, and became president in 1909. the association published a "bibliography" in 1904 and a "bulletin" (annual report) from 1900 to 1913.