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AWALYTICAL C H E M I S T R Y Waftrr J. Murphy, Edltot
The Bureau-Host
for the Summer Symposium
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i i#;S8 on March 3, 1901, established the Bureau as the principal agency of the Federal of Standards I ( h e 1 nment for fundamental research in physics, matheniatirs, chemistry, and engineering. The history of the bureau actually extends back to the Constitution, diicli gave cognizance of weights and measures t o the Federal Government, and the immediate antecedent of the hureaii was the Ofice of Weights and Measures, created by Congress in 1530. At the close of the last century, leaders in industry and science recognized the need for a major, national physical laboratory similar to those established in one or two countries in Europe. The Technical News Bulletin of the Xational Bureau oi Standards in its January 1951 issue, commenting on the semicentennial of the bureau, stated :
Problemv relating t o fundamental standards of science, physical constants, propt’rtic’s of materials, and nirthods and instrument> of ineasurenieiit cdled for a laboratory that would serve the c%ntirenation. Industry, in particular, had nceds for fundanieiitltl standards of measurement arid ready access t o a source of calibration of industrial and laboratory working standards. All working xtandards 111 research laboratories and industry a w calihrated in terms of thtl national standards of physical measurement that the burcau maintains In addition, the bureau carries o n necessary rebearch leading to improvements in such standard* :tnd in r e l a t ~ dmeasurement method? and inetrunients New qtandards, methods, and instruments, in keeping with demands for greatrr pmcision and the opening of n(w- fkltls of scirnce ancl industry, :ire also the objects of research. Continuing, the Technical News Bulletin points out that an equally significant aspect of the bureau’s work is that concerned with specific research and development projects in the physical sciences and mathematics. The scope of the work done b y this government agency is indicated by the fact t h a t its broad activities are divided into 15 divisions. The divisions in turn consist of several sections-totaling 108organized as logical units of the division. One of the very important responsibilities, in addition to research work in the extensive laboratories maintained in Washington and elsewhere, is to provide scientific advisory services t o government and industry. Washington, of course, acquired a multiplicity of governmental agencies in World War I. This growth continued unabated during the boom days of the twenties, the depression years of the thirties, and the war and postwar period of the forties; also, the present emergency has brought about a whole new list of agencies, all of which informally are identified by alphalietical designations-all but the Bureau of Standards. I n Washington when one mentions the bureau, it is thoroughly understood even by newcomers that the reference is to the Sational Bureau of Standards.
The basic law creating the Satiosnal Bureau of Stand:u t i s was aniended extensively by Congres through the enactment of Public Law 619. 81st Congress. approved on July 22, 1950. At least t o chemists it seems superfluous for our lawmakers to undertake the chore of writing a new law in order t o make clear and explicit the legal basis for the activities of the Sational Bureau of Standards: To chemists and scientists generally, the services performed by the bureau during its 50 years of existence have appealed to be ample justification for the continuance of this agency. However, the new and official general statement of functions is supplemented by B more specific list of 19 activities. Of special significance to us is the number of these activities which in one way or another concern themselves with some facet of analytical chemistry. Reading the descriptions of these 19 activities indicates clearly the basic contributions that analytical chemists of the bureau h a r e made to the advancement of the science of analytical chemistry. Space does not permit us to discuss the many personalities who b y their scientific contributions and leadership in our scientific and technical societies have advanced the broad field of analysis. Simply as a n example we recall the late G. E. F. Lundell, Fisher Award winner and nationally and internationally recognized as one of the world’s greatest authoiities in the field of inorganic analysis. It is most fitting, therefore, that the analytical chemists of the United States, members of the Division of Analytical Chemistry of the AhrERIcaN CHEhiIcaL SOCIETY,will be among those who will hold special meetings in Washington during 1951 as part of the over-all plan to honor the bureau. The Analytical Division of the AMERICANCHEhfIcAI, SOCIETY will hold its summer symposium a t the bureau, June 14 to 16. This annual affair is cosponsored by ANALYTICAL C H m f I m w and the 1951 symposium will be on the broad subject of standards and standardization. The detailed program will be published in the U a y issue of ~ A L Y T I C A I . CHEXISTRYand in Chemical und Engineering A’ews. Let us gather in large numbers in Washington in June to honor the role of the bureau in science and to pay tribute to those analysts, living and dead, who have served so successfully and faithfully in the steady advancement of the science of analytical cheniisti-y. Without these contributions many of the fundamental disciplines, particularly in the fields of physics and chemistry, would not have reached their present honored state. S o t only have the fundamental physical sciences been the beneficiary of the research conducted in the imposing array of buildings on Connecticut Avenue, but many of the necessities and luxuries of life today can be traced back to work originated and carried on successfully by the bureau’s scientists and technologists. Therefore, we hope t h a t the American public generally will come t o know more about its work during the semicentennial year. 547
