PMSE has historic ENFL Preprints available free due to library closure; contact me (PMSE Historian) ASAP if interest in any: PETL 1947-55 & 1973-2005 / FUEL 1983-2002 (paper), and FUEL 1957-85 / PETL 1956-84 (fiche). Last chance before discard. @ACS_ENFL @acspmse @POLY_ACS.

Missing some back issues of POLY Preprints? PMSE has assorted back issues (1963-65 paper and 1983-2012 paper/CD) available free due to library closure. If interest, please contact me (PMSE Historian) ASAP. Last chance before discard. @acspmse @POLY_ACS.

We apologize for the lack of @acspmse historical Tweets for May (due to obligations elsewhere for your PMSE Historian). They will restart in July. If you have historical Divisional materials lying around, we’d love to to have them! We are actively adding things to our archives.

Article citations: 1. Sward, Ind Eng Chem News Ed (C&E News), Nov 10 1939; 17, p 678. 2. Alexander, Ind. Eng. Chem, Aug 1958, 50, p 52A. 3. Bragdon and Renfrew, Ind. Eng. Chem. Jun 1951, 43, 1272. 4. Craver, J Chem Documentation, 1963, 3 (2), 66.

PMSE History, Week 14: Some of the early historical articles published about the Division and the coatings industry. Citations in comments. (More about those “Preprint advantages and problems” next week.). @acspmse

PMSE History, Week 13: In case you were wondering how divisional National ACS Meeting programs were prepared and submitted back in 1938…now you know. (Be sure to spell “sulfur” with an “f”, please). Back then, of course, @acspmse programmed as the Paint and Varnish Division.

PMSE History, Week 12: Many @acspmse meeting presenters of a certain vintage will remember this document - the electronic template for PMSE Preprints submission. How many thousands of scientists have contemplated that mystery intercalant and diffraction pattern?

PMSE History Week 11: 5 years ago, after pandemic cancellation of Spring 2020’s national meeting, ACS quickly replanned Fall 2020 (San Francisco) to be entirely virtual, including a virtual @acspmse membership desk! Kudos to those behind the scenes at PMSE who handled the chaos.

PMSE History Week 10: The Spring 2020 Philly ACS meeting, scheduled for March 22-26 and meant to celebrate 100 years of polymer science, was cancelled 2 weeks prior. Among lost @acspmse programming was this symposium honoring my workplace. Next week: More on Pandemic-era PMSE.

To clarify: print Preprints ceased publication after the fall 2001 issue, with the first CD volume of PMSE Preprints issuing in early 2002.

PMSE History, Week 9: PMSE Preprints moved from print to CD format in 2001. The best part about getting these colorful little packages in the mail (after the papers, of course) was a preview of the sights you’d be seeing soon, if you were attending the ACS meeting. @acspmse

PMSE history, Week 8: Letterhead evolution over the years (bottom right to middle left) shows the five Divisional names by which @acspmse has been known. At top left, our current letterhead features the Division’s maroon and black colors and logo, adopted in 2016.

PMSE History, Week 7: Eighty years ago, in 1945, these charming little postcards served as @acspmse dues receipts. The card, plus a couple of quarters, would get you an ACS national meeting abstract book.

PMSE History Week 6: The electronic world is convenient but print had its charms. Many will recall the anticipation of receiving Preprints by mail. @acspmse’s were a fun mustard shade; our friends at @POLY_ACS had an Easter Egg palette - you never knew what color would turn up!

PMSE History, Week 5: Among @acspmse ‘s recognitions is this ACS award for outstanding Divisional performance in 1995. Program offerings that year included a very timely two-day joint symposium with the Japanese Society of Polymer Science, on polymers for microelectronics.

PMSE History, Week 4: Last year, @acspmse received a phenomenal donation of valuable papers from Past Chair Frank Jones. Included was this gem - our 1941 membership roster. Just imagine, some of the scientists listed in here were probably born in the 1880s - maybe even the 1870s.

PMSE History, week 3: In 1958, @acspmse ‘s major operating expense was Preprints. The Doolittle (Union Carbide) Award had just been launched. It’s a loss for us 21st century volunteers, I think, to have never done division business by telegram…or used the addressograph machine.

PMSE History, Week 2: 50 and 25 years ago (1975 and 2000), @acspmse published encyclopedias as part of 50th/75th anniversary celebrations. The “21st Century” book is still found on bookshelves but the 1975 one is rare. The start of each’s TOC is a peek into research at the time.

@acspmse.

PMSE’s Centennial has concluded but there’s no deadline on appreciating history. We’ll feature archive materials here throughout 2025. Here’s PMSE History for Week 1:  A 1942 letter chiding the ACS Divisions for scandalously irresponsible meeting timekeeping!