The John Bassett Moore Society for the extra-curricular study of International Law was founded on 28 February 1951 with thirty-five students that became charter members. The Society was named in honor of John Bassett Moore, a member of the law class of 1880 and permanent United States delegate to the International Court of Justice at the Hague. The first General Secretary of the Society was Harry Inman, a third year student. A Research Committee and a Publicity Committee were organized to assign research topics and to solicit publication of research papers in law schools and procure speakers. The first chairman of the Research Committee was Robert B. Bottomley, a second year law student; Donald K. Duvall, also a second year student, was in charge of the Publicity Committee. Professor Hardy Cross Dillard was their faculty advisor.

The constitution of the John Bassett Moore Society for International Law wanted "to promote a comparative study of the law of nations and thus to foster an intelligent appreciation of international law; to promote greater understanding of international organizations, particularly their functions of (1) effecting by peaceful means, in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, the adjustment of international disputes, and (2) developing friendly relations and cooperation among nations in the solution of international problems of an economic, cultural or humanitarian character; to educate ourselves and our contemporaries by research; discussion meetings; open forums; guest speakers; and appropriate publications in the broad field of international law." (VLW: Vol. III, no. 15, March 1, 1951, p. 3).