ISSN 0739-4934 NEWSLETTER I IISTORY OF SCIENCE OCTOBERVOLUM--E 151986 N--UMBER--4 ____ L.___sociErv -- WELCOME HSS EXECUTIVE w COMMITTEE PRESIDENT PITTSBURGH EDWARD GRANT, Indiana University VICE-PRESIDENT WILLIAM COLEMAN, University of BY PETER MACHAMER Wisconsin- Madison SECRETARY EDITH SYLLA1 North Carolina State University The Smokey City in the nineteenth TREASURER century. Courtesy of the Carnegie SPENCER R. WEART, American Institute of Physics Library, Pittsburgh. EDITDR CHARLES ROSENBERG, University of Pennsylvania PITISBURGH WAS ONCE KNOWN as "The Smokey City.11 Today its image is radically changed. Last year, to the amazement of many, Rand McNally picked Pittsburgh as "America's Most Livable City.11 While service and high-tech com­ The History of Science Society was founded in 1924 to secure the future of Isis, the interna­ panies mushroom, the steel and heavy industries that sustained the city and tional review that George Sarton (1884-1956) gave it its identity are undergoing a self-organized demise. had founded in Belgium in 1912. The Society Academically, Pittsburgh is home to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie­ seeks to foster interest in the history of science Mellon University, Duquesne University, Chatham College, Carlow College, and its social and cultural relations, to provide a and Point Park College. Pitt, which is holding a reception for all meeting partici­ forum for discussion, and ta promote scholarly research in the history of science. The Society pants Friday evening, is currently celebrating its bicentennial. pursues these objectives by the publication of Although the diligent program chairs have organized 107 different sessions its journals Isis and Osiris, by the support and that will doubtless dazzle and delight you and keep you glued to your seat, if subvention of other forms of scholarly publica­ you can squeeze out a few minutes of spare time, take a ride on one of Pitts­ tion, by the organization of annual meetings burgh's two inclines to Mount Washington. From there you get a good sense of and other programs, by the award of medals and 11 prizes for outstanding contributions to the the city: the "Golden Triangle, Pittsburgh's business district, the three rivers history of science, by the encouragement and (actually four, but that's only for trivia buffs), and the hills that make this a city sponsorship of local and regional sections of the of neighborhoods, bridges, and motorists' nightmares. Society, and by cooperation with other learned On a more serious note, some of us think the view from Grandview Avenue is and scientific societies. rather spectacular. From there you can see the Northside, home of the Pitts­ burgh Aviary, Buhl Science Center's Planetarium, Three Rivers Stadium, some nicely gentrified neighborhoods, and an assortment of restaurants and good saloons. Just out of sight, behind the skyscrapers, is Oakland, home of Pitt, ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: CMU, "student culture,11 the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History ELECTION RESULTS 2 (the dinosaurs are great!), and a major medical complex. Beyond Oakland is ANNUAL MEETING Shadyside, with its boutiques, yuppie watering holes, and no parking place for THURSDAY NIGHT SESSION 3 your BMW, and Squirrel Hill, with its bagels and crazed drivers. HISTORY OF SCIENCE PAYS OFF 3 And there's more-Pittsburgh is a beautiful, diversified city. I have become quite fond of it over the past ten years. I hope you enjoy it, too. page 2 History of Science Society N ewsietter NEWS OF THE SOCIETY ELECTION RESULTS A gratifyingly large number of votes were received in the recent election: 658 ballots PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL case of a vacancy in any office, the Coun­ postmarked on or before 23 August have AMENDMENTS cil shall elect a member of the Society to complete the unexpired portion of the been counted. Those elected are as fol­ lows: for Vice President and President­ Three items to be discussed by the His­ term. [As compared to the current stat­ elect, Mary Jo Nye; for Council, Allen tory of Science Society Council at its utes, this provides a longer term for the Debus, Jane Maienschein, Kathryn October meeting may, if passed by the Executive Secretary (the current Secretary Olesko, Ronald Overmann, and Shirley Council, be brought to a vote at the Busi­ has a two-year renewable term) andre­ Roe; for Nominating Committee from ness Meeting in Pittsburgh. moves the provision that the (Executive) First, there is a proposal to rationalize Secretary shall be elected in a year that a Council, Gerald Holton, Edith Sylla, and the timing for petition candidates in the President is not elected. If the first Execu­ Richard Westfall; for Nominating Com­ annual election. In Section ill. 9, para­ tive Secretary serves from January 1988 to mittee at large, Owen Hannaway and graph three now states: "Nominating December 1992, he or she will be elected Sandra Herbert. petitions, together with the agreement of in a year that a President is not elected, the person nominated, must reach the but if his or her successor is elected in chair of the Nominating Committee no 1992, that will coincide with the election way to Chapman College and Whittier later than sixty days before the mailing of of a President. At the end of ten years, if College, both in California. The program the ballots listing the nominees." Since things go according to schedule, there seeks to promote the history of science this is an undetermined date, as the date might again be a new Executive Secretary wherever it is not fully established. In of mailing of the ballots varies, it is pro­ in a year when a President was not addition to giving lectures and seminars, posed that the statutes read instead: elected.] these visitors stand ready to discuss the "Nominating petitions, together with the • New item H under Bylaws II. When importance and pedagogical usefulness of agreement of the person nominated, must necess~ a Special Nominating Commit­ the history of science with department reach the chair of the Nominating Com­ tee composed of the President (as chair), heads and college and university deans mittee within two months after the publi­ Vice President, and the members of the and presidents. At smaller colleges, a cation of the list of nominees!' In general elected Nominating Committee shall historian of science can serve as the focus the list of nominees is published in the recommend one or more candidates for of core curricula or in bridging the work of April Newsletter, which should appear Executive Secretary, to be elected by the a number of departments. At universities about the tenth of April. Nominating Council. that are planning to institute programs or petitions would then have a deadline of 10 Elsewhere in the statutes the term expand their history of science depart­ June, barely in time to add information "Secretary" shall be assumed to refer to ments, the Visiting Historians can draw about petition candidates to the July the Executive Secretary. attention to these plans and provide in­ Newsletter. valuable advice on alternative models. A second proposed constitutional OCTOBER 1987 RALEIGH They will also represent the profession in amendment would establish the relation HSS MEETING visits to other institutions, including of special interest groups to the Society. libraries, science museums, industrial and The by laws proposed for this purpose were Members of HSS are invited to submit research laboratories, and archives; to published in the April 1986 Newsletter, proposals for sessions for next year's an­ corporations and businesses; and to occa­ on page 5. These proposed bylaws might nual meeting, which will be held jointly sional community and public forums. be grouped as a fourth and final section of with the Society for the History of Tech­ The current list of lecturers was an­ the bylaws related to interest groups. nology in Raleigh, North Carolina, 29 nounced in the October 1985 and January A third proposed constitutional amend­ October-1 November 1987. Sessions on 1986 HSS Newsletter. Application forms ment would establish the office of Execu­ themes that link the interests of the two and detailed information concerning each tive Secretary to replace the current office participating societies are especially wel­ of the Visiting Historians of Science and of Secretary (see front page story, July come. Send proposals by 1 February 1987 on the program in general may be ob­ Newsletter). to Michael M. Sokal, Department of tained from the HSS Coordinator of Pro­ The proposed changes in the statutes Humanities, Worcester Polytechnic Insti­ grams, Joseph W. Dauben, Department of read: tute, Worcester, MA 01002. History, Herbert H. Lehman College, CUNY, Bedford Park Boulevard West • Statute 7: The officers shall be a Presi­ Bronx, NY 10468; telephone (212) 960- dent, a Vice President, who is President­ VISITING HISIDRIANS OF SCIENCE 8285, 960-8289, or (212) 790-4606, 790- elect, an Executive Secretary, a Treasurer, 4621. Once this information is obtained, and the Editor of Isis. [As compared to the Under the leadership of Joseph Dauben, any institution or organization wishing to current statutes, this inserts the word HSS Coordinator of Programs, and Joe engage a Society lecturer in 1986-1987 "Executive."] Burchfield, Chairman of the HSS Visiting should first contact individual speakers • Statute 11: The Council shall elect a Historians of Science Program, the latter directly to ascertain whether they are Treasurer for a two-year renewable term. program is now well under way. Recent available, then submit the completed Council shall also elect an Executive successful visits are those of Gerald applications to the Coordinator of Pro­ Secretary for a five-year renewable term. In Holton to Dartmouth and of Frank Sullo- grams. October 1986 page3 Related Societies &. Programs ANNUAL MEETING Members of the History of Science Soci­ checks accepted) or money order for $18 THURSDAY NIGHT SESSION ety who wish to join the Australasian (individuals) or $22.50 (institutions) to Association for the History, Philosophy, Dr.