a chemist, was exploring fundamental principles for solving scientific and technical information problems. He was also active in promoting communication among other workers in this fledgling field; for example, he was deep into co-editing the "punched card book" [ 11, a compilation of case histories of the use of manual-and machine-sorted cards in scientific and technical information systems. Perry's way of introducing me to the field of information technology was to hand me the manuscript of the book, tell me to read it for the technical content, for my own knowledge, and incidentally to edit it as needed. It was total immersion in nontraditional information systems! At about this time the National Science Foundation established an Office of Scientific Information and early in 1956 I joined the staff of its Program for Scientific Documentation. I was a Research Analyst on the staff of Helen Brownson, the Program's Director. I remember the arguments that used to revolve around those office titles-"What's scientific about information?" or "Why do you call it scientific documentation?"
To little avail, we pointed out that we were dealing with the information of science and "scientific" referred to subject matter, not quality. In any case the titles were eventually changed, to the Office of Science Information Service and the Program for Documentation Research, respectively.
I served as the only chemist on the Program staff, assisting in the evaluation of proposals for support of R&D projects and of the progress of those projects under Foundation grants. Chemistry was in the forefront of scientific disciplines in its concern for, and effective management of, its literature. Hence, my training in chemisry and experience in chemical documentation activities were of value to the OSIS and the PDR.
In particular, I was responsible for keeping in touch with developments in new and improved chemical information systems and techniques. We were in a rather unique position for viewing the whole field of activities concerned with