Editorial. Chemical Abstracts-75th Anniversary - ACS Publications

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EDITOR: GEORGE H. MORRISON

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Chemical Abstracts75th Anniversary This year marks the 75th anniversary of what has become an invaluable component of chemical research-the Chemical Abstracts Service. From the beginning of CAS, in 1907, the American Chemical Society has charged it with abstracting the entire world's chemical literature. In spite of the exponential growth of chemical research and publication in the ensuing years, this responsibility has been fulfilled remarkably. Today Chemical Abstracts Service abstracts, indexes, or cites more than a half-million scientific papers and patents annually, and each weekly issue of CA contains almost 9000 abstracts. The nine-millionth abstract to be published in CA appeared in the first issue of 1982. The early issues of CA were edited by W. A. Noyes, Sr., assisted by two part-time editors and 129 unpaid volunteer abstractors. The analytical chemistry section was handled in the early years by L. M. Dennis of Cornel1 University. Presently, under the editorship of Russell Rowlett, more than 90% of the abstracts are prepared by full-time staff members of CAS in Columbus, Ohio; however, nearly 1000 volunteer abstractors around the world are still called upon to assist with languages and subject areas for which sufficient full-time help is not available. CAS staff members monitor some 12 000 scientific journals and other periodicals from more than 150 nations, patents issued by 26 nations and two international bodies, and conference proceedings, reports, dissertations, and books from around the world in search of new information of chemical interest. With the explosion of chemical literature, computerization has become a vital part of the operation. An automated processing system has made it possible to produce CA more rapidly and economically, as well as to produce a wide range of new publications and computer-based information services from the data base created in the course of analyzing, abstracting, and indexing the world's chemical and chemical engineering literature. As to the future, it is inevitable that on-line computerized information retrieval will assume a major role. From the viewpoint of the student and researcher, methods of access will have to be improved so that they are made available at a reasonable cost. The transition will not be easy and reading habits will have to be modified, but it is essential to the continued progress of scientific research.

Research and Development: Seldon W. Terrant Manuscript requirisments are published in the January 1982 issue, page 155. Manuscripts for publication (4 copies) should be submitted to ANALYTICAL CHEiMlSTRY at the ACS Washington address. The American Chemical Society and its editors assume no responsibility for the statements and opinions advancecl by contributors. Views expressed in the editorials are those of the editors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Am,erican Chemical Society. ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 54, NO. 6, MAY 1982

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