There has been a new face at Journal House and a new name on the masthead - that of Agnes Ma. The receipt of grant funds from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation (see page 8 of the January 1998 issue) has enabled us to bring Agnes on board. She will assist with the development, editing, preparation, and publication of the special Viewpoints series manuscripts. Agnes has a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from Larry Dahl at UW-Madison and a bachelor's degree from SUNY-Binghamton in chemistry and English. Her work experience includes environmental analysis, forensic science, and adhesives research. She has also lectured in general, organic, and consumer chemistry classes.

75 Years with the Same Printer

Readers should by now realize that this is the Journal's 75th year of publication. What may not be so obvious is that Mack Printing Company in Easton, Pennsylvania has printed the Journal since its inception. Our printer plays an important role in the Journal's production, appearance, and history.

Initially, the Journal was actually published out of Easton, not from the University of Maryland where Neil Gordon was a faculty member. At some point, probably when Otto Reinmuth became Editor, the editorial offices were located at the Editor's campus, and this arrangement has continued.

In 1932 there was a severe financial depression, and the Journal was not alone in suffering financial problems. Subsidies that it had been receiving from The Chemical Foundation were discontinued. It was at this difficult time that Harvey F. Mack (of Mack Printing Co.) undertook the duties of Business Manager and assumed the financial risk involved. Both Harvey Mack and his wife, Pauline Berry Mack, took a personal interest in the Journal and carried its printing bill during the worst part of the Depression until it could become self-sustaining.

Today, the Mack Printing Group is still with us on a daily basis. They have broadened their tools to include computers, scanners, ftp sites, 6-color presses, aqueous coatings, and direct-to-plate printing, but they continue to deal with important things such as paper and ink and people.

Use the Journal in Class

Remember that many of our Journal articles make excellent classroom materials. This is particularly true of the special Viewpoints articles that honor our 75th year. We know of one case where the ink was barely dry on "The Flexible Surface" (February 1998) before copies were in the classroom. We expect that this will continue to occur as this series unfolds.

Another popular topic is inorganic photochemistry, and subscribers have been using both the reprint volume from 1983 and the update that was published in June 1997. Copies of both are available from our Subscription and Back Order Department.

If you are wondering about making copies of Journal articles for your students, this is our policy: "For classroom use by teachers, one copy per student in the class may be made free of charge." This statement can always be found on our masthead page. Enjoy! and get your students off to a great start with the Journal.

Journal Exchange

A while ago (on page 1150 of the October issue), we asked whether any of our readers had a collection of Journal issues that was no longer needed. We were thinking specifically of our High School Office - Emory Howell's personal collection goes back only to 1964, and there is not yet a collection that accompanies that job.

Since then, there have been several inquiries from subscribers who have a personal collection that they no longer need. Two are reprinted here to facilitate exchange.

Anyone interested in a valuation of his/her collection should contact Richard W. Schwenz, the Journal's Publications Coordinator, at the address on the masthead.

1962 to Present: I wish to donate a complete set of J. Chem. Educ. from mid-1962 to present (with a few earlier stray copies) in mint condition and suitable for binding, to a college or departmental library at the cost of shipping from western Pennsylvania ASAP. Contact Curt Frank at Beaver Area (PA) High School's Chemistry Department; school phone: 724/774-2050, ext. 545; home phone: 724/774-0617; email cyfrank@basd.k12.pa.us.

Nearly Complete Set: I have an almost complete set of J. Chem. Educ., lacking only 3-4 volumes from the early 1930's. It is in pristine condition, bound each year (except the last five years), and used gently only by myself. I am retired and willing to part with this collection for a reasonable offer - I cannot afford to donate them. Any library or individual who might have a serious interest should contact Robert Goldenberg, P. O. Box 412, Westside Station, Buffalo, NY 14213; phone: 905/871-1098; email: goldenbe@vaxxine.com.