PREFACE 



X 



HE present volume is one of a series devoted to the history 

 of the Office of Scientific Research and Development. It is confined to the 

 administrative operations of that office. Other volumes will report upon its 

 scientific achievements. Four volumes will be devoted to the work of the 

 National Defense Research Committee, one volume to the Office of Field 

 Service, and two volumes to the Committee on Medical Research. These eight 

 volumes will cover in much greater detail the operations of OSRD as already 

 reported in a single volume by James Phinney Baxter, 3rd, entided Scientists 

 Against Time. 



In the preparation of the present volume the author has received the 

 assistance of many people. Approximately half of it is based upon manu- 

 scripts prepared initially by others while the remainder was prepared with- 

 out the benefit of such manuscripts. The files of the office were available 

 without restriction and only occasionally has it been necessary to tread 

 lightly in order to avoid using material bearing a security classification. 



In addition to the assistance which he received from many other persons, 

 the author wishes particularly to acknowledge his indebtedness to W. F. 

 Davidson, Charles H. Schauer, Mrs. Virginia B. Shapley, Arthur M. Walker, 

 Lincoln R. Thiesmeyer, George W. Corner, Chester C. Stock, W. S. Bowen, 

 Eugene W. Scott, Cleveland Norcross, Miss Lee Anna Embrey, Mrs. Alice 

 Day, John J. Charuhas, Carey G. Cruikshank, Robert A. Lavender, Roy C. 

 Bowker, Marvin L. Faris, W. A. Osborne, George W. Bailey, E. TefJt 

 Barker, Mrs. Jean B. May, John E. Burchard, and the Division and Panel 

 Chiefs of NDRC and CMR. The writer is also indebted to James Phin- 

 ney Baxter, 3rd, for making available some of the material he had collected 

 for his volume; to Miss Emily B. Mitchell for her work in collecting and 

 checking material, and to Miss Mary Kathryn Horn for her assistance in 

 preparing the manuscript. 



The manuscript has benefited greatly by numerous suggestions from 

 Vannevar Bush and Fred Fassett. 



The manuscript was complete when the author left Washington in June, 

 1946. He wishes to> express his appreciation to Dr. John S. Burlew for sug- 

 gesting changes which make it current as to the date of publication. 



