NOTICES OF BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 
537 
the precaution of outlining a form of procedure to recommend to the state councils of de- 
fense in case the organization of research committees is decided upon. 
The Committee therefore recommends that a letter be sent to the proper officer of all the 
state councils of defense which have not already organized research committees, embodying 
the points considered below, and that a letter offering the complete co-operation and as- 
sistance of the National Research Council be sent to those state councils which have already 
organized research committees. 
The National Research Council has carefully considered the question of the general 
organization of State Committees or Councils of Research, and has come to the conclusion 
that such organization should be determined by local needs and conditions. Local causes, 
such as the development or investigation of natural resources or the proper development of 
tlie use of research methods in industries, or the correlation of industries with research labo- 
ratories already existing at educational institutions, may make it very desirable to organize 
such state research committees. In fact, the present emergency offers, in some respects, 
an unusual opportunity for improving the correlation of industry and research, and it is 
highly desirable that those concerned with this development should not only consider it 
with reference to the emergency but should also plan for the permanent continuance of any 
research committees which may be formed. 
If such a committee is decided upon, the National Research Council is desirous of co- 
operating in every possible way and suggests the following scheme of organization: Com- 
mittees should be organized under the State Council of Defense (or similar official body) 
and at least their general tebcpenses provided for by the state: they should be representative 
of the universities and other leading educational institutions through members chosen 
from their scientific and engineering research departments and also of those industries in 
which applied science plays the most important part. In choosing the personnel of the 
Committee in accordance with this general scheme, it is recommended that it include some 
representation from the committees on research of the universities of the state. Such a 
State Research Committee would be chiefly active through subcommittees assigned to con- 
sider particular questions, but should have a permanent secretary to handle correspondence 
and through whom close contact could be maintained with the National Research Council. 
Upon motion, this report was adopted, and the recommendations contained 
therein approved. 
Gary T. Hutchinson, Secretary. 
NOTICES OF BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS 
The following biographical memoirs has been published by the Academy 
since the last notices of such memoirs appeared in the December, 1916, 
number of the Proceedings. 
Alfred Marshall Mayer (1836-1897). By Alfred G. Mayer and 
Robert S. Woodward. Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy, 
8, pp. 243-272. 
This Memoir follows the life-work of Alfred M. Mayer according to the outline: An- 
cestry, Early Self-education, Friendship with Joseph Henry, Successive College Positions, 
varied scientific interests and publications, 'Mayer's Law for Human Audition', Interest 
in Natural History, Magnetic Studies, Foreign Visits, Inactive Middle Period, and Fruitful 
Close of Life. A bibhography of 76 titles concludes the Memoir. 
