The Cambridge Society was founded in 1976 by the University. In the early 1970s the late Professor Jack Linnett, then the Vice-Chancellor, had the idea of establishing an organisation open to all members of the University. The University Council endorsed the plan in 1975, and the Society began to recruit members in 1976 - with the enthusiastic support of Dame Rosemary Murray, who had succeeded Professor Linnett as Vice-Chancellor.

One of the first tasks of the new Society was to set up Branches. Derbyshire was the first, closely followed by Cumbria and Surrey, and all are still very active. There are now nearly 40 UK Branches. There are also many Branches or affiliated Cambridge Societies overseas - from Australia to Zimbabwe.

The number of Branches continues to grow. They are of crucial importance in maintaining the network of members interested in what the University is doing - and interested also in making and maintaining contact with other Cambridge people.

The Cambridge Society has international branches too.