William Alcott was best known as the author of The Vegetable Diet As Sanctioned by Medical Men and By Experience in All Ages. Co-founded the American Physiological Society in 1837, with Sylvester Graham.

• Letters, with William Metcalfe, proposing the formation of the American Vegetarian Society in 1850
• Vegetarianism in the United States - by William Alcott, 1850
• The American Vegetarian Society - very detailed report of the founding convention, leading to William Alcott being elected as the first President.
• Vegetarian festival in New York, 1853 - mentions William Alcott as a speaker

On March 29, 1859, Dr. William Alcott, President of AVS, died.