National Resources Committee 



North Interior Building 



Washington 



November 21, 10S8. 

 The President, 



The White Hcmse. 



My Dear Mr. President: 



We have the honor to transmit herewith the first of a series of reports on 

 Research — A National Resource. This volume deals with Federal 

 relations to research and has been prepared in accordance with your letter 

 of July 19, 1937, by our Science Committee consisting of three members 

 each designated by the National Academy of Sciences, the Social Science 

 Research Council, and the American Council on Education. The sub- 

 committee in charge of the preparation of the study consisted of Dr. 

 Charles H. Judd, Chairman, Dr. WilHam F. Ogbum, and Dr. E. B. 

 Wilson. The Science Committee has agreed to undertake further studies 

 of research by industrial laboratories, business organizations, and by State 

 and local governments. 



Research constitutes one of our most important national resources. 

 The Federal Government has always played an important role in relation 

 to scientific research, and in the last decade has expended its activities, 

 particularly in the social sciences. If we are to make more effective use 

 of all of the resources of the Nation for the benefit of all of our citizens, 

 our research resources must be conserved and developed. 



We endorse, in principle, the findings and recommendations of the 

 Science Committee in this report. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Harold L. Ickes, 



Secretary of the Interior, Chairman. 



Harry H. Woodring, 



Secretary of War. 



Henry A. Wallace, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Daniel C. Roper, 



Secretary of Commerce. 



Frances Perkins, 



Secretary of Labor. 



Harrt L. Hopkins, 



Works Progress Administrator. 



Frederic A. Delano. 



Charles E. Merriam. 



Henry S. Dennison. 

 Bkardsley Ruml. 



