Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics
Minutes of Meeting
I. The Board of Governors met in response to call of the Chairman at nine thirty-five a.m., February 21, 1935 at the office of the American Institute of Physics Incorporated, 11 East 38th Street, New York, N.Y.
Present: Chairman Compton, Messrs. Bingham, Crittenden, Dodge, Fletcher, Hunter, Klopsteg, Palmer, Pegram, Richtmyer, Tate, and Director Barton and Treasurer Buffum.
Absent: Messrs. Foote, Knudsen, Shepperd, and Waterfall.
II. MINUTES OF MEETING, April 7, 1934:
The Minutes of the meeting of April 7, 1934 were read and on motion approved.
III. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN
The Chairman read the larger part of a written report which had been prepared for the Annual Meeting of the Institute and submitted at that Annual Meeting immediately preceding the meeting of the Governing Board.
On motion it was voted:
that this report of the Chairman be approved.
The Chairman took occasion to express the appreciation of the Board of the continued generous service of Mr. Buffum as Treasurer of the Institute and of the successful work of the Director and the several members of the staff of the Institute.
IV. REPORT OF SECRETARY
The Secretary reported the following elections of Directors at the Annual Meeting on account of expiration of terms:
| Term to end at annual meeting | |
|---|---|
| John T. Tate | February 1938 |
| F.K. Richtmyer | February 1938 |
| Harvey Fletcher | February 1938 |
| S.E. Shepperd | February 1936 |
| E.C. Bingham | February 1936 |
| A.S. Hunter | February 1936 |
| Paul E. Klopsteg | February 1938 |
Note: the continuing members of the Board are:
| Term to end at annual meeting | |
|---|---|
| K.T. Compton | February 1936 |
| G.B. Pegram | February 1937 |
| P.D. Foote | February 1936 |
| E.C. Crittenden | February 1937 |
| V.O. Knudsen | February 1936 |
| Wallace Waterfall | February 1937 |
| H.L. Dodge | February 1936 |
| Frederic Palmer | February 1937 |
V. REPORT OF TREASURER
Mr. Buffum, Treasurer, reported informally that the Institute had about eleven thousand dollars in the bank and all bills paid except those less than thirty days old.
On motion it was voted:
that the auditors’ report on the American Institute of Physics Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 1934 by Pasley and Conroy, certified public accountants, as submitted to the Chairman of the Board under date of January 20, 1935, be accepted and approved.
VI. REPORT OF DIRECTOR
The Director submitted a written report discussing fully the progress of the Institute in its work of handling publications and its various other activities; among them the conference of leaders in industrial research held on December 14, 1934; various questions about the problem of location of office and development of personnel. Copy of the report of the Director is attached to the official copy of the Minutes.
On motion it was voted:
to accept the report of the Director.
VII. REPORT OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Committee on December 15, 1934 were read for information of the Board.
On motion it was resolved:
that the Governing Board approves the actions of the Executive Committee at its December 15, 1934 meeting and adopts as resolutions of the Board the following:
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Journal of Chemical Physics:
Resolved: that the following be appointed Associate Editors of the Journal of Chemical Physics for the term from January 1, 1935 to December 31, 1937:
F.G. Brickwedde J.H. Van Vleck Louis S. Kassel Don M. Yost G.B. Kistiakowsky W.H. Zachariasen (Replacing Donald H. Andrews, E. U. Condon, C.N. Hinshelwood, A.C.G. Mitchell, W.A. Noyes Jr., Linus Pauling, terms expired.)
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Reprints:
Resolved: that in accordance with the contracts with the member societies in which the Institute handles reprints the cost of reprint manufacture shall be included with other costs of publication of journals before calculating the 15% Institute service charge, and that this shall apply as from January 1, 1934
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Differential Charge
Resolved: that since the approval of the several member societies concerned has been specifically obtained it is ordered that in all of the journal contracts under Section 4, Paragraph 2, the weighting factor shall be set at zero beginning as of January 1, 1934 and until further notice.
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Research Associates
Resolved: that the Executive Committee recommend to the Governing Board that it revoke the action of the Board at its meeting on April 7, 1934 on the subject of Research Associates providing that “associates shall also receive Science Abstracts 'A'”.
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Allocation of Grant from National Research Council
Resolved: that the grant of $1,500 made by the National Academy of Sciences at its meeting on May 8, 1934 to the American Institute of Physics Incorporated be applied toward meeting the 1934 cost of publication of the journal REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS and further that a statement of the income and expenses of the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS showing this item so applied be sent to the Treasurer of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Allocation of Contributions
On motion it was voted:
to ratify the action of the Treasurer in applying the contributions received by the Institute from industrial companies to the current expenses of the Institute.
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Salary Policy
The Director asked for a discussion of the question of a salary policy for employees possibly a definite schedule of advances. It was agreed that it would be appropriate to make adjustments that seemed fair in individual cases but that at present no definite schedule of advances should be attempted.
The effect of the state of health of Miss Mitchell on the work of the Institute was discussed and the question of an adjustment of her salary, a leave of absence, and possibly a grant to cover her travelling expenses, was left to the Director and Treasurer with power to act.
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Review of Scientific Instruments
On motion it was voted:
that in case the present publication scheme continues into 1936 free distribution of the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS to non-member subscribers be discontinued.
On motion it was further voted:
that a committee consisting of Messrs. Tate, Richtmyer, and Barton be appointed to consider the matter of consolidation or change of the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS and PHYSICS and to bring recommendations to the Governing Board.
It was understood that this committee would obtain the advice of the Council of the Physical Society insofar as projects concerning the journal PHYSICS were concerned.
On motion it was resolved:
that it is the sense of the Executive Committee that some one journal with advertising, physics notes, news and forum should go to all members of the founder societies.
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Joint National Meeting
On motion it was voted:
that this committee approves the idea of a joint meeting of all the member societies at a suitable time and place, also that the meeting should deal particularly with applied physics, and that arrangements for the meeting should be referred to an appropriate committee.
It was understood that this committee should be instructed to consider borderline fields in connection with this meeting, engaging the cooperation of representatives of societies of engineering, chemistry, etc.
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Conference on Applied Physics
On motion it was resolved:
that a special committee be appointed by the Chairman to consider ways and means of increasing the interest in and effectiveness of work in applied physics.
(It was understood that the previous resolution was to be referred to this committee.)
VIII. NOMINATING COMMITTEE
On motion it was voted:
that the Chair appoint a committee to nominate officers of the Board.
Messrs. Fletcher and Klopsteg were appointed.
XI. APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
On motion it was voted:
that Henry A. Barton be appointed Director of the American Institute of Physics Incorporated at his pervious salary with term to run to September 30, 1935.
On motion it was voted:
that John T. Tate be appointed Adviser on Publications of the American Institute of Physics Incorporated with term to run to September 30, 1935.
On motion it was voted:
that W.W. Buffum be appointed Treasurer of the American Institute of Physics Incorporated with term to run to December 31, 1935.
On motion it was voted:
that the terms of office of the Treasurer, Director, and Adviser on Publications shall continue automatically after the expiration of the terms for which they were appointed until further action of the Board.
X. APPOINTMENT OF EDITOR OF JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
On motion it was voted:
that the regular term of office of the Editor of the Journal of Chemical Physics be fixed as three calendar years.
On motion it was voted:
that Harold C. Urey be appointed Editor of Journal of Chemical Physics for the term January 1, 1935, to December 31, 1937.
XI. REPORT OF SCIENCE ABSTRACTS COMMITTEE
Mr. Pegram for the Committee reported by reading a letter from Mr. Rowell, Secretary of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, under date of December 5, 1934 from which the following is quoted:
“I write with further reference to your letter of the 15th of March, 1934. The Committee of Management have now definitely decided to star, in Section “A”, all abstracts relating to instruments and apparatus, and also to publish each year a supplementary index for these abstracts. I enclose specimen copies.
As regards your suggestion of an arrangement for the supply of “Science Abstracts”, at the same cost as charged to the American Institute, to members of its allied societies, the Committee asked me to say that they much regret they cannot give effect to it. The main ground for the Committee’s decision is that any such arrangement would have to be extended to bodies in this country similarly placed, and there is of course unlimited uncertainty as to what the financial effect would be on the ordinary sales of the publication.”
XII. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
Mr. Barton submitted for the committee consisting of Messrs. Richtmyer, Tate, and Barton, a written report copy of which is attached to the official copy of the Minutes, discussing the history of the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS; Institute plan for the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS; operation of the plan in 1933 and 1934; statistical and financial summary, 1933 and 1934; REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS from the readers' standpoint; and repercussion on the American Institute of Physics finances.
After full discussion it was on motion resolved:
that the report of the special committee on the REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS be referred with power to the Executive Committee.
XIII. REPORT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The nominating committee reported the nominations of K.T. Compton to be Chairman for the ensuing year, and G.B. Pegram to be Secretary. There being no other nominations it was on motion voted:
to instruct the chairman of the nominating committee to case a single ballot in favor of these nominees, who were thereupon declared elected.
XIV. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
On motion it was resolved:
that the Chairman be authorized to appoint the members of the following committees: Executive Committee; Advisory Council on Applied Physics; Committee on Applied Physics; Committee on REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS; Committee on Science Abstracts; and Committee on Printing Contracts.
The Chairman announced appointments as follows:
Executive Committee: K. T. Compton, Chairman, Harvey Fletcher, A.S. Hunter, Frederic Palmer, G.B. Pegram, F.K. Richtmyer, Director Barton and Treasurer Buffum.
Advisory Council on Applied Physics: appointment to be made later.
Committee on Applied Physics: appointment to be made later.
Committee on REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS: H.A. Barton, Chairman, F.K. Richtmyer, and John T. Tate.
Committee on Science Abstracts: G.B. Pegram, Chairman, H.A. Barton, and John T. Tate.
Committee on Printing Contracts: H.A. Barton, Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Adviser on Publications.
XVI. On motion the Board adjourned.