Jack E. Brown
Notional Research Council Library Ottawa, Canada
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Canadian Chemical Periodical Literature
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The development of science in Canada, like the country's cultural and economic growth, has always lagged behind that of the United States. There are several reasons for this-among the more obvious. Canada's relatively small and scattered population and its unexploited resources. One not so obvious hut equally important reason is the proximity of a neighbor to the south whose enormous resources enable it to do things quicker and on a larger scale than the Canadian economy and resources will permit. This proximity has undoubtedly had an inhibiting effect on the growth of chemistry in Canada. For example, a Canadian industrial firm operating as a subsidiary of a U. S. corporation has little need to develop an aggressive research program for the improvement and promotion of its products. It can rely on, and profit from, the research being conducted by the parent company. Since World War I1 this situation has gradually changed, and Canadian industries are finding it profitable to carry out research independent of the U. S. affiliate. The slow development of science in Canada has been reflected in the rather limited output of scientific and technical literature. Here again, the inhibiting action mentioned above has made itself felt. The proximity of a vital and comprehensive chemical journalism in the U. S. has, for many years, discouraged the growth of chemical literature of Canadian origin. Canadian scientists, if they wished dissemination of their work on an international scale, were forced to publish the results of their research in American or British journalsclearly a vicious circle as far as Canadian scientists were concerned. Prior to World War 11, the number of Canadian chemical journals in existence gave little indication of the impact which chemistry has had on the Canadian economy. Beginning in 1917, the picture changed radically, and a t present approximately 30 journals of special interest to chemists are being published in Canada. The first Canadian chemical societies, which did provide the impetus for the publication of chemical journals, took the form of affiliates of British chemical societies. In 1912 the Canadian Section of the Society of Chemical Industry was formed in Toronto. By 1917, other branches were established in Ottawa and Vancouver, and the first convention sponsored by these groups was held in Ottawa in May, 1918. With the accelerated growth of chemical research in Canada, the Canadian Section of the Society of Chemical Industry became inadequate to meet the Paper presented before the Division of Chemical Literature at the 137th Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Cleveland, 7 April, 1960.
needs of the profession, and in 1921 the Canadian Institute of Chemistry was formed. Independent local societies continued to spring up across Canada, indicating that neither the Section of the Society of Chemical Industry nor the Canadian Institute of Chemistry were really representing the chemistry profession. In an attempt to solve this problem, the Canadian Chemical Association, composed of representatives of the Canadian Institute of Chemistry and the Section of the Society of Chemical Industry, was formed in 1928. Even this action failed to bring together Canadian chemists and a confused state of affairs existed until as late as 1945. In that year the Chemical Institute of Canada was incorporated. By 1949 the Institute had a membership of 4000, which by 1959 had grown to 6000. At present the organization has 32 local sections and 10 special subject divisions. Strangely enough, or perhaps not so strange in view of the lack of a strong chemical organization, Canadian chemical journalism began under the sponsorship of a non-scientist. In 1917, E. B. Biggar, a publisher, founded the Canadian Chemical Journal. Its aim was to further the interests of the chemical societies and chemical h s , with particular emphasis on the application of chemistry to industrial development. In order to better indicate the breadth of its interest, the Canadian Chemical Journal soon changed its name to Canadian Chemistry and Metallurgy. With the increasing importance of mining and metallurgy on the Canadian scene, a new journal, Canadian Metals and Metallurgical Industries was formed in 1938. In keeping with this development, Canadian Chemistry and Metallurgy changed its name to Canadian Chemistry and Processing Industries, and finally in 1951 to Canadian Chemical Processing, its present title. Although Canadian chemical journalism had its beginnings apart from any chemical societies, the birt,h of the Chemical Institute of Canada gave new life to chemical publishing, and in 1949 the Institute established its official publication, Chemistry in Canada. Because of the close relationship between metallurgy and chemistry, and because of the importance of the metallurgical industries to the Canadian economy, special mention must be made of publishing activities in this latter field. The formation of mining and metallurgical societies in Canada and the establishment of professional journals preceded the chemical profession by many years. In 1898 the Canadian Mining Institute began publication of its Journal, which was continued in 1912 as its Transuctions and, still later, as the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, its current title. During this same period, the privately published Canadian Mining Journal came into existence. Volume 37, Number 12, December 1960
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This review of the early beginnings of Canadian chemical journals is not complete without mention of the Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences Section of the Royal Society Transactions, first published in 1882, and of the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal which issued its first number in 1868. These pioneer journals, representing the major scientific interests of the period, have been supplemented in more recent years by a t least 25 additional journals of interest to chemists. A listing of these, together with complete bibliographical data, is included at the end of this paper. Government Agencies
National Research Council. An organization which has played an important part in encouraging and promoting scientific research and scientific publishing in Canada is the National Research Council. The honorary Advisory Committee for Scientific and Industrial Research, to give the Council its full title, x a s formed in 1916 and is responsible for carrying out the duties assigned to at least five separate agencies in the U. S., namely, the National Academy of Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the National Bureau of St,andards, the Office of Technical Services, and the Science Division of the Library of Congress. As Canada grows, it may become necessary to subdivide these responsibilities among other agencies. At the moment, however, the existing rather unified system does seem to eliminate some of the duplication and overlapping of services found in the United States. In 1929 the National Research Council established the Canadian Journal of Research as a medium for the pnblication of fundamental work in science. Until 1935 all papers, regardless of subject, were published under one cover. In that year the Journal was divided into four sections-physics, chemistry, botany, and zoology. Two new sections, medical sciences and technology, were added in 1944. By 1951 the volume of papen submitted for pnblication had reached snch proportions that the Journal was split into six separate journals covering the above-mentioned subjects. Since that time there have been minor mergers and changes of title culminating in the present six journals: Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Physiology, Canadian Journal of Botany, Canadian Journal of Chemistry, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Canadiau Journal of Physics and Canadian Journal of Zoology. In addition to these regularly published journals, the various Divisions of NRC are responsible for a variety of irregularly issued reports and monographs. The majority of these are listed in the Council's Index of Publications, the latest edition of which was published in 1953. A supplement covering the years 1953 to 1958 and running to 180 pages has recently been issued. All such publications are available from the Council either free of charge or for a nominal sum. The National Research Council, through its Library's Translations Section, is responsible for the issuance of translations of foreign papers, many pertaining to chemistry and related fields. These translations are published in the Council's Technical Translation series and are made available to the scientific community a t large. A complete list of such translations is available from the NRC Library. Supplements to the list are 644 / journal of Chemical Education
published with the completion of each 100 additional translations, and are distributed together with a cumnlative index to holders of the basic list. A further service in this matter of translations is provided by the Library's Canadian Index of Scientific Translations. This index records approximately 50,000 English translations of foreign papers prepared in the English-speaking countries of the world. The bulk of the entries is made up of translations prepared in Canada and those reported by Aslib in London and OTS in Washington. Conversely, all translations prepared in Canada and coming to the attention of the NRC Library are reported to Aslib and OTS, and are recorded in Technical Translations. Atamic Energy of Canada Limited. A second government agency responsible for many reports of interest to chemists is AECL, or Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, a t Chalk River. AECL, like the NRC, is a Crown corporation, set up in 1952, and now the major center for nuclear research in Canada. Many of the reports issued by AECL are published in one or more of the Council's six journals. Other reports are issued as separate monographs and listed in the AECL List of Publications. Defense Research Board. A third major element in the pattern of Canadian scientific organization is the Defense Research Board which operates within the framework of the Department of Kational Defense. The various units of DRB issue a wide variety of reports in the chemical field. These, as with all DRB publications, are distributed by the Directorate of Scientific Information Service and are listed in its monthly pnblication, Documents Digest. As might be expected, there is close collaboration between the NRC and DRB, but DRB's research activities are carried on with a view to their potential defense applications. Special mention has been made of these three Canadian government agencies because of their contribntion to Canadian scientific development, and because a large proportion of their reports are not issued through normal publishing channels. Of increasing importance, however, are the many publications issued by the various departments of the Canadian government, particularly the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys, and the Department of Kational Health and Welfare. Such publications are listed in the monthly catalogue, Canadian Government Publications, and are available through the Queen's Printer in Ottawa. An increasing number of monographs and reports of interest to chemists and chemical engineers are also published by the Provincial Research Councils and the appropriate departments of the provincial governments. These reports are listed by, and available from, the issuing agency. A useful tool providing a consolidated listing of snch reports is Canadiana, published monthly by the National Library of Canada. Universities and Industries
Univelsities have always been major centers of scientific research in Canada. Much of the work carried on in their departments of chemistry, biology, and related fields, is reported in the NRC's Canadian Journals of research. However, many separate series
are published and are available through the appropriaet university. For the reasons mentioned earlier, Canadian industry has not been noted for publishing results of independent research. With the rapid growth of industry, apart from the U. S. parent companies, many Canadian industries are developing their own research labs and publishing the results of their work. Particularly active are such companies as Aluminium Company of Canada Ltd., Canadair Ltd., Imperial Oil Ltd., and International Nickel Company of Canada. Individual reports released by these and other industrial firms are cited in the NRC Library's bulletin, Recent Additions to the Library, and DRB's Documents Digest. Abstracts
Now, how does the Canadian scientist keep track of the material contained in the above-mentioned journals and serials? From earlier remarks, it should come as no surprise t o learn that Canada has done little t o develop it,s own consolidated indexing and abstracting services such as are found in the U. S. A. Canadian scientists searching for Canadian scientific papers must rely on Chemical Abstracts, Science Abstracts, Nuclear Science Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, and similar publications, all of which index the major Canadian scientific publications. So, here again, the proximity of a comprehensive indexing service in the United States has apparently inhibited the development of a similar but purely national service in Canada. Thus far, these standard tools have proved adequate for recording the contents of the major and regularly published Canadian journals. But it is quite another matter when we come to the irregularly published monographs and technical reports issued by universities, the federal and provincial governments, and industry. Many of these are not covered by the standard indexing tools, and anyone searching this type of literature must rely on the multiplicity of indexes and publication lists already mentioned. Canadian Chemical Patents
By December, 1959, 589,000 patents had been issued in Canada, and these are increasing at the rate of approximately 17,000 per year. The Canadian Patent Ofice Record and Register of Copyright, issued each week, contains a complete list of Canadian patents granted during that period. The annual subscription cost of $25.00 includes an annual index arranged by inventor, assignee, and subject. Single copies are available for $0.50. Printed copies of individual patents may be obtained for $1.00, but only for patents granted after January 1,1948. Copies of patents issued prior to this date are available only as photostats at a cost of $0.25 per sheet. I n spite of Canada's slow beginnings as a publisher of scientific literature, good progress has been made, and Canadian chemical journals now comprise an important part of the output of world chemical literature. However, it is extremely doubtful there will ever be a radical change in current practices, to the extent that American
and British chemists will prefer t o have their papers published in Canadian journals. Canadian Periodicals of Interest to Chemists C.I.L. Oval. Bi-monthly. Free. Canadian Industries Ltd.. P. 0. Box 10, Montreal. Quebec. Canadihn Ceramic Society. Journal. Annud. 53.00. Keith Publishins Co., 49 Turner Road, Toronto 10. Canadihn Chemical Processing. Monthly. $6.00. Hugh C. Maclean Publioations, Ltd., 1450 Don Mills Road, Don Mills, Ontario. Canadian Food Industries. Monthly. 63.00. Federal Publications Ltd.. Gardenvale, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Animal Science. Semi-annually. 12.50. Agrioultural Institute of Canada, 176 Glouoester St.. Ottawa 4. Canadian Journal of Biochemistry and Physiology. Monthly. S9.00. National Research Council, Division of Administration and Awanls, Ottawa 2. Canadian Journal of Botany. Bi-monthly. $6.00. National Research Council, Division of Administration and Awards. Ottawa 2. Chnhdian Journal of Chemical Engineering. Bi-monthly. 84.00. Chemical Institute of Canada, 18 Ridehu Street. Ottawa 2. Canadihn Journal of Chemistry. Monthly. $12.00. National Research Counoil, Division of Administration and Awards. Ottawa 2 . Canadian Journal of Comparative Medicine and Veterinary Science. Monthly. 63.00. National Busineas Publioations Ltd.. Gardenvale, Quebec. Canadian Journal of Genetics and Cytology. Journal Canhdien de Genetiqrze e t de Cytolozie. Quarterly. 58.00. Genetioa Society of Canada, Entomology Researoh Institute, Central Experimental Farm, Ott&w&. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. Bi-monthly. 56.00. National Research Council, Division of Administration and Awards. Ottawa 2. Canadian Journhlof Physics. Monthly. $9.00. National Research Counoil, Division of Administration and Awards. Ottawa 2. Chnadian Journal of Plant Science. Quarterly. $5.00. Agrioultural Ins& cute of Canada. 176 Gloueester St.. Ottawa4. Cansdihn Journal of Publio Health: the National Journal of Preventive Medicine. Monthly. $6.00. Canadian Public Heslth Association. 150 College St.. Toronto 5. Canadian Journal of Soil Scienoe. Semi-annually. 52.50. Agricultural Inatituteof Canada. 176 GLoueesterSt.,Ottsws4. Canadian Journal of Zoolouy. Bi-monthly. $5.00. National Reseavob Counoil. Diviaion of Administration and Awards, Ottawa 2. Canadian Medioal Association Journsl. Semi-monthly. 512.00. Canadian Medical Association, 150 St. George St., Toronto 5. Chnadian Mining and Metdlurgieal Bulletin. Monthly. $10.00. Canadian Institute of Mining and iMetallurgy, 906 Drummond Building, Montreal. n,.aha" -""""". Canadian Mining Journal. Monthly. $5.00. National Business Publieations Ltd., Gardenvale, Quebeo. Cansdian Oil ~ n d G&s Indwtriea. Monthlv. 55.00. National Business Publications Ltd.. Gsrdenvale, Quebec. Chnadian Paint and Varnish. Monthly. S5.M). Maclean-Hunter Publirhinr Co. Ltd., 481 University Ave., Toronto 2. Canadian Patent Office Record and Register of Copyrights. Weekly. $25.00. Queen% printer. Ottawa. ~ a n a d i a nPharmaeeu~iealJournal. Monthly. 63.00. Canadian Pbarmsoeutiosl Association. 221 victoria St., Toronto 1. Canadian Plsstios. Monthly. $2.00. Monetary Times Printing Co., 341 Churoh St., Toronto 2. Canadian Textile Journal. Semi-monthly. $6.00. Canadian Textile Journal Publishing Co., 223 Victoria Ave.. Westmount, Quebec. Chemiatrv in Canada. Monthlv. $4.00. Chemical Institute of C&n&d&.18 idea" St., Ottawa 2. Engjneering Journal. Monthly. $6.00. Engineering Institute of Canada. 2050 MansfieldSt., Montrehl2. Quebec. Food in Canada. Monthly. $5.00. Maolean-Hunter publish in^ Co. Ltd., 481 University Ave., Toronto 2. Pulp and Paper Magazine of Canada. Monthly. $5.00. National Business Pubtioations Ltd.. Gsrdenvale. Quebeo. Research for Farmers. Quarterly. Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. Revue Canadienne d e Biolonie. Irregular. Sooidtes de ~ i o l o g i ede ~ o n t r e a l e t de Quebec. Universite de Mantred, Montreal.
Indexes and Bibliographies
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Queen's printer, Ottawa. Canadian Index t o Periodicals and Documentary Filmr. Monthly. C m a diao Library Associstion. 63 Sparks St., Ottawa. Canadians. National Library of C&"&d&. Monthly. 12.W. Queen's Printer, Ottawa. Documents Digest. Monthly. Directorate of scientific Information Service. Defense Researoh Board, Ottawa, Canada. List of Publications. April 1952-August 1959. dcientific Dooumenta Distribution Offioe. Atomic Enerar of Canada Ltd.. Chalk River. Ontario. 1959. 78pp. List of Technical Translations. National Research Counoil Library, Translations Section. Ottawa. 1959. 75 pp. Publichtions of the National Research Counoil of Canada. 3rd ed. 191% 1952. National Research Counoil, Ottawa. 1953. 263 pp. Publioationa of the Nations1 Research Council of Canada. Supplement. 1953-1958. National Research Counoil. Ottawa. 1959. 180 pp. Recent Additions t o the Library. semi-monthly. Free. National Research Council Library. Ottawa 2.
Volume 37, Number 12, December 1960
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