TENNEY I. DAVIS Norwell, Massachusetts
REPRINTS are for reference, for information and for study, for publicity and ostentation, for friendship and for treasuring up in special collections. To the author their value is one thing, to the recipient another if he has asked for them, still another if he receives them without request or expectation. And again, a young and ambitious author uses them differently from one who is wiser and more experienced. When a chemist applies for a job, he is usually asked concerning his qualifications, if he has published papers, to submit a list of them. If he sends actual reprints along with the list, then his chances are so much the better. An advanced student or young professor who has had a taste of research, with his reputation to make, and with an enthusiasm for further experimentation, can often procure money for the purchase of materials, apparatus, or other assistance, a grant-in-aid for research, by applying to one or another of the several Foundations or Funds which exist for the purpose. -It is necessary for him to show tbat the problem which he proposes to study is of scientificinterest, that he is qualified to attack it, that there is reasonable hope tbat he may turn out results which will be worth while. The best possible evidence is evidence that he has already h a d e significant contributions to the subject, which is furnished by reprints of earlier publications. There are reasons why a young and advancing chemist, humble with respect to his own achievements, still needs for immediate use reprints of his earliest puhlications. The reasons seem strong enough to justify the expense, which is no inconsiderable item to an impecunious graduate student or Assistant professor. He will wish also to hand reprints to a certain few of his relatives or most intimate friends, to persons sincerely and affectionately interested in his activities and accomplishments, sympathetic and appreciative while perhaps not understanding what the reprints are about. He will also do well to set aside a few reprints for those who may later ask him for them. Large institutions where many workers are publishing the results of their researches often pay for reprints, allowing the authors as many as they w:sh for their own use, and sending out others regularly to a mailing-list of persons believed to be interested in the fields of investigation which they cover. This saves expense to the authors, it enhances the scientific reputation of the institution, and it does not reflectunfavorably on the modesty of the authors for theirs is not the responsibility for sending out the reprints. But this procedure commonly applies only to strictly professional papers. If the research chemist or professor has published some-
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thing on a broader, more cultural st~bject,his institution is generally not interested in distributing reprints: he must ~urchasethem for himself. A professor who has been doing research for many years, who has developed several specialties, and who has graduate students working in them, will often find it convenient-andagreat helpinhis teaching-tomaintain a few pamphlet boxes of reprints, of his own and of ,others, relative to the fields in which his students are working. The idea is contagious. His graduate stndents will wish to build up for themselves, in their own pamphlet boxes, small libraries on the subjects of their theses. They will find it an,easything to do if they proceed with foresight and courtesy. Letters will bring them reprints from all over the world, from the most distinguished of scientists as readily as from the tyros. They will soon have inspiring private collections of their own, and more important than that, they will have made the beginnings of acquaintances with the leaders in their fields-and this before they have yet fairly started on their own professional careers. A request for a reprint often leads to a pleasant and continuing correspondence, to an interchange of ideas, and to scientific liaison or cooperation in research. The professor's collection of .~eprints,growing continuously by the addition of 'reprints from his friends and correspondents, supplies him with material for advanced lectures and seminars. For the latter, particularly, extracts read from the original publications are generally better than explanations or secondary accounts. I am disposed to believe that fe* scientists mail out many reprints of their scientific papers unless requests are made for them. They know that the original publications are easily accessible to those most likely to be interested. The journals are in all the large libraries, and the abstract journals are distributed widely. But the authors will, I believe, send reprints gladly to students and others who ask for them provided the askers explain their reasons or merely claim an interest in the subject. Authors will often go to considerable expense, sending the reprints by first-classmail for greater safety. The recipienk owe them an acknowledgment but from all that I have seen and heard they generally fail t o furnish it. It frequently happens that the requester of a reprint does not bother to explain why he wishes it. Perhaps, Z i t has anything of news value in it, he may wish t o quote part of it in a popular article or to reproduce a picture from it. Perhaps he is applying for memhership in the.cult of those who make a hobby of the history of chemistry. He would be welcome and wel-
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corned if he would but say so. Perhaps he sends out greatly appreciate a reprint of your paper.. . . .appearprinted postcards from force of habit, because his insti- ing in the.. . . .Yours very truly," but the "shall" has tution provides them for him, so indexers may be kept proved to be a false prophecy. The appreciation of busy, bibliographies made up, and filing cabinets filled. the reprint was not great enough for acknowledgment A printed-postcard from the Department of Chem- to be made of the receipt of it. Another postcard, istry of a large University reads with a real forthright- "thanking you in advance," gives assurance that there ness as follows: "Will you please send me a reprint of will be no further thanks, or acknowledgment. It deyour article: . . .which appeared in. . . . .Very truly." serves no recognition. The chemist who signed it asks bluntly for the reprint Reprints are valuable because they promote a better but makes no protestation or pretense of interest init, acquaintance with persons and with special fields of nor explains why he wishes to have it. When he sent knowledge. They have their own give-and-take, and the postcard that was his last act in the matter. Au- imply certain ameuiti~sand procedures. They are a other postcard from a Research Institut,e says: "I shall good institution. The law is good if we use it lawfully.
