(243 ~orth Volume 9 NEWSLETTER OF THE . JPPTOMETRIC HISTOR~CAL SO~IETY. . L1ndbergh Boulevard, Sa1nt Lou1s, M1ssour1, October 1978 Election again: c. I U.S.A. 63141) Number 4 Three fine candidates have been duly nominated, each by three or more O.H.S. members, for membership on the Executive Board for a five year term to begin January 1, 1979. All three have made very significant contributions to optometry•s history. I could write glowing paragraphs about each but I shall refrain lest in doing so I inadvertently favor one over another. Also on the ballot is a proposition to create a new category of membership, that of legacy membership. This proposal was briefly introduced and discussed at the O.H.S. meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, last December. Subsequently it was submitted to the Executive Board for review and unanimously endorsed. In accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws it will become effective if and when the majority of responding O.H.S. members vote in favor of it. O.H.S. gathering planned: On September 14 O.H.S. President Hank Knoll wrote: 11 1 have written to Dr. VJilliam Baldwin of the New England College of Optometry to ask his cooperation in setting up a meeting of our Society during the December Academy meetings in Boston. He graciously put me in touch with his senior librarian, Eleanor Warner, and we are in· the process of selecting a date and time for our meeting. The college library has a beautiful reading room which will be ideal for the meeting. 11 I welcome ideas for things to discuss at the meeting. I hope to be able to prepare a short paper on the life and contributions to visual science of James Clerk Maxwell. 1979 is the centennial of the death of this great scientist ... Then, just as this issue was in its final draft Dr. Knoll called to report that the date will be Saturday December 9, 1978, from 7:30 to 8:30P.M. in the library of the New England College of Optometry, 424 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Those of us attending the meetings of the American Academy of Optometry will surely b~ in the same building just prior to that hour as the college is holding an Open House from 6:00 to 8:00P.M. the same evening. Do not forget: December~' 7:30 - 8:30 P.M. Nonmembers are welcome, too. OPTOMETRY UBRARY NOV 14 1978 . UiDIANA UtllVERSH~V -54- Davidson is a member too: ~.;.........;~---- - I do not know whose fault it was, but lest it be mine I shall make no attempt to trace the error of omission. In fact, Mr. Davidson was not concerned by the omission but only by the possibility that his dues had not been paid! They were paid up all along. So here is his address: D.C. Davidson Northall Cottage East Chiltington Nr. Lewes, E. Sussex BN7 3QS, England Another history committee at work: Harvey L. Hougen, O.D., 222 Court Park, Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501 wrote me as follows last July: Something over a year ago you wrote me requesting a copy of the history of optometry in Wisconsin. I am still working at the project of bringing it up to date and rewriting the old history which was written in about 1950. Our state office sent you a copy of the old history which told about fifty years up to 1950. Since you have been doing much work on optometric history, it would be a great help to me if I could borrow or buy a copy or two of what you consider a good and well written history or histories of optometry in other states. I have a great deal of material and have much written but would like to see how others may have done their histories. Can you--or may I ask you to help in this respect? Our history committee consists of Drs. Dan Fast and A.N. Abbott, and Dr. Newton Lenz was a member until he passed away early last January. They asked me to help and finally tossed the job into my lap, feeling that, having been editor of the state optometric magazine for several years, and before becoming an optometrist, I was a high school teacher and principal for fifteen years, I should be able to do the job. We•ll , I want to do it right and can use some he 1 p. I am sure that you have been acquainted with my history committee. as all three have been active in AOA activities, especially state board and international board of boards. Anything you can do to help me, Dr. Hofstetter, will be greatly appreciated. Any material you care to send my will be returned whenever you want it or no later than the first of December 1978. -55- IERI 34 years o1 d: The Illuminating Engineering Research Institute (IERI) is an independant, non-profit, science-oriented organization which, since 1944, has conducted fundamental studies of light and its relationship to seeing under a trust agreement with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES). The trust agreement delegates to the IERI the tasks of conducting research and of stimulating research by others 11 in illumination and related fields by qualified educational institutions, testing laboratories and other competent organizations. 11 The agreement further directs that such scientific research 11 Shall be in furtherance of the public welfare and the good of mankind. 11 ·The IERI is administered by a ten-member Board of Trustees which makes Institute policy through interpretation of the trust agreement, functions as the organization•s chief executive body 11 approving or disapproving all research projects, 11 and administers Institute funds. Members of the Board of Trustees are leaders in the professions, industry, research centers, and universities. They include professors, health profes­ sionals, physical scientists, architects, engineers, and businessmen. Advising the Board of Trustees on technical subjects, on the progress of authorized work, and on scientific policy is the Research Executive Committee, which also administers the program sanctioned by the Board. Programs deal essentially with the science rather than the application of lighting. The Research Executive Committee, in turn, appoints Technical Advisory subcommittees composed of researchers and engineers in many specialty fields who indicate areas worthy of research and, with their technical expertise, assist in the supervision of research and in the consultative activities of the Institute. Since its founding the IERI has supported research at 15 universities, 12 in the U.S.A., two in Canada, and one in England. The address is 345 East 47th Street, New York, N.Y. 10017. In charge of its administrative direction is the very well known illumination expert Mr. C.L. Crouch. Collectors note: Mr. Norman Wilcox, 156 Yarmouth Road, Rochester, New York 14610 sent me a note dated July 31 saying that he would sell all of the following items as a group for $14.00, 11 all in very good condition 11 : Shur-On Eyeglasses Post Card, probably 1920 1 s or 1930 1 s. 11 Styles and Innovations in Eyeglasses, 11 a 24 page booklet published by E. Kirstein & Sons Co., Rochester, N.Y., not dated, probably from 1915-1935. Folded advertising post card by E. Kirstein. 11 Eyeology, 11 a 20 page booklet by E. Kirstein, not dated, probably from 1915-1935. Interested collectors should write directly to Mr. Wilcox. -56- Early cartoons provide hi story too: Illustrated below is the second-oldest 11 0ptometric 11 cartoon in my collection. ~--------------~--~~~~~==~~====~~~~-- Fig. 99: GRANDMA. STIFLING A YAWN WITH HER READING GLASs. American cartoon by R. B. Fuller, 1918 I started to accumulate cartoons in the early '40's, so those predating 1940 are very few. In the absence of xerography, and because of my ethical reluctance to remove cartoons from library and reception room periodicals, the collection process in my earlier years was quite constrained. If you come across early cartoons related to optometry, optics, or vision, I waul d appreciate a 1 oan, a xerographic copy, or even a reference citation so I can locate it in a library. Pictures ga 1 ore! 11 The Optometric Extension Program, A Pictorial Review of the First 50 Years 11 is authored by Martha S. Stem in the June, 1978 issue of the Journal of the American Optometric Association, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 607-612. The faces of well over 100 persons are identifiable, that is, if you know or knew them personally. They are dated in the 1920's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's. Also illustrated is the front page of the first issue of the Optometric Extension Program News which appeared in September, 1936. The OEP, as the program is familiarly known, began as an activity within the Oklahoma Optometric Association in the 1920's. -57- John f. Davey, O.D. (1938- 1954): The late John Davey is identified by many Indiana optometrists as the "founding father" of the optometry school at Indiana University. In the years that I knew him he was simply and indisputably "Mr. Indiana Optometry." Though relatively unknown outside of the Hoosier state (Indiana) he was the almost unanimously recognized architect of everything legislative, educational, organizational, and professional in Indiana optometry for almost two decades. Recently OHS member Jerry Abrams sent me an old eyeglasses case on the outside of which is inscribed "Hugh J. Davey, Optometrist," and Jerry•s excited comment was, "I believe.he was John•s DAD!?" Indeed, Hugh was John•s dad, and he graduated from the old Northern Illinois College of Optometry in 1906. John graduated from the same school in 1919, but he was not listed in the Blue Book of Optometrists until the 1924 issue, at which time they practiced at 10 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Indianapolis, as "H.J. Davey and Son." Prior to that, father Hugh alone was listed at 25 N. Illinois Street, the address shown on the old spectacle case. Sometime between 1926 and 1928 their address became 303 Kresge Bldg., but the 1930 listing shows them separated. The Andrews optometric pedigree: In the little city of St. Marys in the somewhat rural area of Ontario, Canada, approximately 180 kilometers straight west of Niagara Falls, is "The Tower Clock" and the name "Andrews Jeweller" atop a historic building at 135-137 Queen Street. Identified with this functional monument are four generations of optometric heritage in the Andrews family. The following are some excerpts from an article in the June 28, 1978, issue of the St. Marys Journa 1 Argus, headlined "In St. Marys Si nee 1857, Andrews Family Had Vision." In 1857, at the age of 13, Wm. Andrews arrived in St. Marys with his father Henry, a stone mason who had come from Torquay, England, two years earlier to find work in Canada. William was educated under Dr. J.A. Mclennan and during the summer months worked with his father on many of the stonetown buildings and bridges. Being of slight build he found the work heavy, and in 1864 he began his business career, apprenticing with Charles VanGuntin, a Swiss watch maker and jeweller, on Water Street, South. In 1869 he bought this business, relocating in a frame building on the south side of Queen Street where Dotzenroth•s store now stands. Fifteen years later, in March 1884, construction was begun on the new store ..• Opening day was Saturday, November 22, 1884. The clock is a Seth Thomas No. 15 Hour Strike Tower Movement, with a 500 lb. bell, warranted at the time to be accurate for a period of five years if properly cared for. The 48 inch diameter Glass Dial, of best French Plate, ground on both sides is 3/8 inch thick with painted numerals. The jewelry store on the street level has solid walnut show-cases, mirrors and tile floor which were imported from England. The burglar proof steel vault was supplied by Goldie McCulloch Co. of Galt. -58- Although Wm. Andrews was primarily known as an Importer of fine clocks and watches and a Jeweller of repute, he was also a purveyor of spectacles and had a wide knowledge of optical lenses. In the late nineteenth century glasses were dispensed by the method of trial and error, but when his son Wil 1 i am E. Andrews was a young man the Profession of Optometry was evolving. William· E. Andrews joined his father in the Jewelry business at the age of 17 years and received his Optometric training at the Canadian Ophthalmic College, graduating October 27, 1902. Upon legislation of the first Optometry Act of Ontario in 1919 he obtained his license and continued to practice in the rear half of the store until September 1945 when his elder son W. Ross Andrews returned to live in St. Marys, and remodelled the upstairs office to suit the needs of his practice. Ross had trained at the College of Optometry of Ontario in Toronto graduating in 1937 as a Registered Optometrist. He subsequently earned his Doctor of Optometry degree following two years of post graduate study in 1958. Another third generation member of the family, Alan E. Andrews, O.D., is an Optometrist in Cambridge, having graduated in 1942 from the College of Optometry. Since May 1977, the fourth generation of this family of vision, represented by Dr. W. Bruce Andrews, elder son of Ross, has been an associate in St. t1arys. Bruce graduated from the University of Waterloo after five years of study there in 1977. His younger brother, James R. is a Georgian College graduate Manufacturing Optician, and will receive his Ophthalmic Dispenser•s Certificate from Ryerson P.T. Institute in June 1978. He is presently working and living in Toronto. The school of Optometry moved from Toronto to a splendid new building on the campus of University of Waterloo ih 1967 and Dr. W. Ross Andrews has been on the staff of Clinical Supervisors since its opening. Bruce also began his teaching career in the same capacity in 1977. From the mid lBoo•s to the present day the Andrews building and family generations have provided complete vision care to the people of St. Marys district and have seen the growth of both the town and the profession of Optometry from their early beginnings. The above article was sent to me by OHS member E.J. Fisher with the trans­ mittal comment, 11 Another small item of some possible historical interest. I 1 m glad there is a central co-ordinator for such items ... From Mrs. Bausch•s corset: ---- In his toast to the ladies and gentlement in attendance at the banquet of the 2nd Annual Convention of the American Association of Opticians, (now the American Optometric Association} in Rochester, New York, August 15-17, 1899, Mr. J.J. Bausch reminisced considerably over his approximately 50 years of experience in the optical business. He described early years of difficulty finding steady work as an optician, his fruitless attempts -59- to make a go of it in a 11wood-turning 11 shop for four years in Buffalo, his return to Rochester at age 22 where his privately-started official business floundered for several years, selling as few as two or three pair of glasses a week. Then one day, seeing a piece of rubber from Mrs. Bausch•s corset, he realized that he could make an eyeglass frame out of it, which he did. Soon he was making rubber eyeglass frames for the trade with rapid success. The later optical demands created by the war, and financial assistance from Henry Lomb, who soon became his partner, resulted in the continuing growth and expansion into the Bausch and Lomb company. The complete transcript of the toast may be found on pages 577-57.8 of the September 1899 issue of The Optical Journal, Vol. 62, No. 7. The Goethe reaction: That Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was allergic to spectacle wearers was well described by his friend John Peter Eckermann in Conversations with Goethe, 1836, and further documented by entries in Goethe•s diary on March 29, 1827, and June 22, 1831. According to Eckermann, Goethe said on various occasions, 11 lt may be a mere whim of mine, but I cannot overcome it. Whenever a stranger steps up to me with spectacles on his nose, a discordant feeling comes over me, which I cannot master. It annoys me so much, that on the very threshold it takes away a great part of my benevolence, and so spoils my thoughts, that an unconstrained natural development of my own nature is altogether impossible. 11 · The fo 11 owing is one of the supporting comments taken from Goethe • s diary, 11 Dr. Rose came to see me ... but because of his damned spectacles I was short with him, yet polite enough ... The above excerpts, called to my attention by OHS President Henry Knoll, are from a section entitled GOETHE 1 S DISLIKE OF SPECTACLES on pages 44-46 of f-1r. C.S. Flick•s book, A GROSS OF GREEN SPECTACLES, published in 1951 by Hatton Press, London. Olde tyme London opticians What appears to be the first of a continuing series is an article entitled, 11 Some olde tyme London opticians and their achievements - 111 by O.H.S. member Colin B. Fryer in the May 12, 1978 issue of Jhe Optician, No. 4535, Vol. 175, pp. 35-38 and 40. Mentioned with their accomplishments and their personality traits are Richard Reive or Reeves (fl 1641-79) whose workmanship was praised by Samuel Pepys, John Marshall (c 1663-1725) who was in business at the 11 Sign of the Gun 11 (changed about 1690 to 11 The Archimides and Two Pairs of Golden Spectacles 11 }, John Yarwell (c 1648-1712) who was Master of the worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, in 1684, 1685, and 1693, Edmund Culpepper (fl 1686-1738), Benjamin Martin (1704-82}, Edward Scarlett (c 1677- 1743}, Optician to George II, who in about 1728 brought out the first spectacles with side pieces, James Ayscough (1719-62}, and John Dolland (1706-61} and his son Peter Dolland (1730-1820), for the latter of whom there is some evidence that he was making split type bifocal spectacles to order before Benjamin Franklin is believed to have invented them. -60- Author Fryer has included illustrations of shop prints, advertisements, and trade cards. The persons he mentioned won international reputations and the highest honors science can bestow. OHS member John N. Schoen, O.D., Secretary of the American Academy of Optometry, thoughtfully sent me his copy of the issue in which the article appeared. Mighty Voices Three: Received from Professor E.J. Fisher of the University of Waterloo School of Optometry is the following memorandum: 11 Recently I was in London and doing a bit of sightseeing. As I am quite interested in pipe organs I dropped into St. James Church, Picadilly, where Stokowski was organist for a few years around 1900-1910. 11 In the vestibule of the church I noted a plaque with wording as quoted below. In Memory of William Bowman Physiologist and Ophthalmic Surgeon He worked at his profession for 49 years in this parish and as a worshipper in this church Born A.D. 1816 Died A.D. 1892 Ye that have Eyes and Cannot See In Darkness and in Misery Recall those Mighty Voices Three 11 I thought this might be of some interest to O.H.S. 11 To what 11 those Mighty Voices Three 11 refers is unknown to both Ted Fisher and me, but we are both very curious. ISIS and science history: If your history interests extend outside of optometry and into the virtually unlimited realms of science and culture pervaded by vision and optics you may well enjoy and profit from membership in the History of Science Society. The annual dues for individuals are $18.00 ($9.00 for students), which include a subscription to ISIS and the quarterly History of Science NEWSLETTER. ISIS is the official journal of the society and appears five times each year, the annual May issue being the 11 Critical Bibliography of the History of Science and its Cultural Influences. 11 This year's Critical Bibliography is a voluminous 184 pages of 2,636 citations of s~ience history and related articles from hundreds of different periodicals and 750 citations of reviews of similarly related books. Further it includes an index to the authors and to the names of cited persons and institutions. -61- Inquiries concerning membership and subscriptions should be addressed to Isis Business Office, Science History Publications, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010. Lady O.D. memorialized: Offhand I do not recall having listed the name·of a memorialized female optometrist among the names recorded in this unofficial but surely most complete registry. Considering that the number of female optometrists in at least the United States is and has long been of the order of only about three per cent I find it reasonable that this rare occurrence merely reflects a statistically predictable probability based on the assumption that we of different sexes are really quite equal. Honoring the late optometrist is the Dr. Geraldine Jacobs Sherman Memorial Scholarship Fund recently established at the Southern California College of Optometry . .!.f.~ collect books: The following catalog numbers and descriptions are copied from A BULLETIN OF BOOKS ON THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND THE APPLIED ARTS, a listing of books recently offered for sale by HARRIET WYNTER LTD., 352 KING'S ROAD, LONDON SW3 5UU, ENGLAND: 6. ART OF PRESERVING THE SIGHT unimpaired to an extreme old age; and of re-establishing and strengthening itself when it becomes weak: With instructions how to precede in accidental cases which do not require the assistance of professional men, and the mode of treatment proper for the eyes during, and immediately after, the small-pox. To which are added observations on the inconveniences and dangers arising from the use of common spectacles. By an experienced occulist. 8vo, 1 plate, uncut, original boards and paper label, worn. 12 page publisher's catalogue bound in .5th ed. augmented and improved, London, 1822. .120.00 15. BREt~STER .(Sir D.). LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC, addressed to Sir Walter Scott, Bart. 12mo, 79 cuts. An entertaining little book revealing the way in which many famous stage illusions of the day were performed, with special reference to optical illusions. Lacks f.e.p. 's head of contents page torn, some loss of text, light browning throughout. 1/2 calf, worn. London , 1832. ~ 15. 00 16. BREWSTER {D.). THE· LIFE OF SIR ISAAC NEWTON. 12mo, portrait frontis­ piece, full calf, prize binding. An attractive ·Copy of this early work by Brewster on Newton. FIRST EDITION. London, 1831. ,:(25.00 -62- 53. FARRAR (J.). AN EXPERIMENTAL TREATISE 0~ OPTICS, comprehending the leading principles of the science, and an explanation of the more important and curious optical instruments and optical phenomena ... 8vo, 6 folding plates, browned, moder cloth, ex inst. library, neat blind stamp on t.p., ·inked stamp on e.p., bookplate. Cambridge, ~1ass. , 1826. .;tso. oo 142. ROSENHAIN (W.). GLASS t1ANUFACTURE. 8vo, ills~ \'lith interesting section on optical glass. A good copy, London, 1908. d(lO.OO 172. WHARTON JONES (T.). THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTISE OF OPHTHAU1I C MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 8vo, 110 ills. Library book plate, small stamp on t.p. Original cloth, worn, second American Edition. Philadelphia, 1856. :138.00 182. CORSON (RICHARD). FASHIONS IN EYEGLASSES. 1967. £8.50 The catalog was thoughtfully lent to me by my colleague L.S. McClung, Professor of t1icrobiology, who indulges in the history of microbiology much as I do in optometry. Armaignac's optometric chart: Occasional mention of the Armaignac chart in the literature led me to a search for the original article. It appeared in Bulletins et Memoires de la Socilte Francaise d'Ophthalmologie, Vol. 23, 1906, pages 498-Sll, under the length title 11 De la n?cessit€' d'adopter une echelle optometrique deeimale universelle. -- Presentation d'un type 11 (0n the need to adopt a universal optometric decimal scale, --Presentation of a type). The author ~'las Dr. H. Armaignac (of Bordeaux). The article has now been translated into English by David Goss, O.D., a graduate student working toward his Ph.D. degree in Physiological Optics. He did this in preparation for his foreign language proficiency requirement and presented me with a longhand but very legible manuscript copy of his initial draft. He hopes to touch up the translation a bit for possible publication, though this draft is really very readable. In the opening statement Armaignac reminded us (in 1906!) that authors have concerned themselves with visual acuity and its measurement for almost 200 years. He added that the analysis of some of the extremely remarkable studies of this topic alone since that of George Berkeley in 1709 could fill a volume. He then briefly described the chronological attempts to derive a scale which would reflect actual vision, or loss of vision, realistically, that is, in a more functionally appreciated relationship. Having pointed out the shortcoming of each proposed scheme he then presented his own array of optotypes (not illustrated in the article) which he designed empirically in ten gradations of size from 7.3 to 73 mm for use at a testing distance of five meters. Each size then was given a scalar value of acuity in decimal steps from l/10 to 10/70. Almost as an afterthought he computed one smaller size for 11/10 acuity. His decimal fraction acuity values then corresponded to the following angular subtense values: -63- 11/10 ..... 4 minutes 5/10 ..... 20 minutes 10/10 ..... 5 minutes 4/10 ..... 26 minutes 9/10 ..... 6 minutes 3/10 ..... 33 minutes 8/10 ..... 8 minutes 2/10 ..... 41 minutes 7/10 ..... 11 minutes l/10 ..... 50 minutes 6/10 ..... 15 minutes Armaignac objected to the identification of acuity measuring systems by the authors• names. He proposed in the interest of uniformity, and to encourage wider acceptance of one scale by all, that his system be adopted without attachment of his name! Optometry Course at Columbia University Columbia University started to offer a course in optometry in 1910. A remarkably detailed announcement of its offering was included in the first edition of the Blue Book of Optometrists and Opticians in 1912 and reprinted in full without alteration in the 1914 edition as follows: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY The Columbia University is located in the City of New York. The Optometry course is arranged in series of two years and is under the supervision of the Administrative Board of Extensive Teaching in connection with the Department of Physics, upon the special request of the State of New York, and in compliance with the law of the State (Public Health Law, Chapter 45 of the consolidated laws). There is no connection between these courses and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the medical department of Columbia University, and there is no attempt to give a medical training nor to provide a substitute for the same. AD~1ISSION Students who have had at least a two years• High School course or have secured thirty Regents counts algebra and geometry are admitted. The University does not offer a degree of diploma at the conclusion of the series, but will give a certificate for those students who have entered after a four years• high school training or its equivalent, or for those who have sixty academic counts with the New York State Board of Regents. REGISTRATION Students are required to register at the office of the Registrar, 201 East Hall, between September 19 and 26 inclusive. Fees should be paid at the time of registration in the office of the Bursar in the same building. -64- FEES Registration fee ................................... $5.00 Tuition fees (complete course)- First year ....................................... $160.00 Second year ...................................... $170.00 INSTRUCTORS Andrew Jay Cross, William Hallock, W.W. Stifler, Frederic A Woll, Louis R. Welzmiller, M.D., Frank J. McMackin. The announcement in the 1916, 1918, and 1920 editions were considerably reduced to the following simple paragraph: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Located on t~orningside Heights, New York, N.Y. The optometry course is arranged in series of two years and is under the supervision of the Administrative Board of Extensive Teaching in connection with the Department of Physics. Students who have had at least a two years'. high school course, or \'lho have secured thirty Regents' counts in al e ra and geometry, are admitted by registration at the office of the Registrar, 201 East Hall, between September 19 and 26, inclusive, in each year. L • arc-en-ci e l : The great optical phenomenon of nature, the rainbow, is the title of an article by a Doctor of Engineering Aldo de Cola in the June 1978 issue of 1 'Opticien Belge/de Belgisch Opticien, no. 249, p~es 97-101. The title in French, as is also the article, is "Les Grands Phenom~nes Optiques de la Nature l'Arc-en-ciel." Actually, this is the second part of a two part series, the first of which appeared in the May issue, no. 248, pages 66 and 68-70. The second part gives an account of early references to, and concepts of, the rainbow in antiquity, a review of the studies of the rainbow in the middle ages, and detailed reviews of the contributions of several renaissance and modern scientists. British Optical Association beginnings Mr. W. Rex Wingate has written a brief article entitled OUR HERITAGE in the May 13, 1978 issue of The Ophthalmic Optician, Vol. 18, No. 10, pp. 394 and 396. He was prompted to do this while perusing a copy of the 1914 Official Year Book of the British Optical Association in his family library. The leather-bound volume of nearly 300 pages was compiled by J.H. Sutcliffe and priced at five shillings (approximately a half U.S. dollar). -65- In the book are described early efforts to form a society, to gain professional recognition, to provide certifying examinations, to support optometric education with scholarships, and to accomplish legislation to register ophthalmic opticians. Reported also was the fact that sixteen women had passed the qualifying tests as ophthalmic opticians as compared to about 800 men. Reference is also made to a case in the High Court of Justice before Mr. Justice Ridley described in the December 23, 1910 issue of the Dioptric Bulletin. The author does some rem1n1scing about Cliffords Inn, of which Cliffords Hall was spared in the Great Fire of London, and where British ophthalmic optical activities were centered for many years. The now renowned British Optical Society library totaled seven books in 1901! The Optical Museum at_Jena "Das Optische Museum Jena 11 is the title of an article by F. Rossi in the May-June, 1978 issue of Augenoptik, Vol. 95, No. 3, pp. 67-70. It appears to be the first of a series of which this article is identified as Teil 1 (part 1}. The opening sentence calls attention to the fact that the museum has been in a new location, Carl-Zeiss-Platz 12, for a year. Its previous location was Am Planetarium 7. The city of Jena is in the DDR (East Germany). Dr. Howard Minchin: In the Niels Bohr Library of the Center for the History of Physics, American Institute of Physics, 335 East 45th Street, New York, Ne\'1 York 10017, is a photocopy of the minutes of the first meeting held for the purpose of discussing plans for the formation of an optical society. This occurred on November 18, 1915, in Rochester, New York, with nine opticists in attendance. Among those present, mostly familiar names, was Dr. Howard Minchin, who I presume may have been the same Howard Minchin who directed the optometry program at the Ohio State University for a brief period when Dr. Charles Sheard transferred to the American Optical Co. The optical society which they founded is now the prestigious Optical Society of America. Quarterly letter from Jim Leeds: Nothing like a small challenge to whet my curiosity. I read Dan Hummel's note on the clinical use of color to reduce cataract. I tried the New York Optometric Association Yearbooks of the 1930's to check anything by Ryer & Hotaling and found nothing. Then I checked the 44-year Cumulative Index of the Academy and found three references by them. (There were also several other articles under the heading of 11 Cataract, 11 but I don't recognize the authors. One specific one was on the use of Calobar lenses.) There were also reports in the Transactions of the -66- Academy Volumes IV, VII, & X on papers given by Ryer and Hotaling on the s·ame subject, but again I'm not sure if these were included in the Cu~ulative Index. I also have two small books in my library on the same subject: "The Prevention & Treatment of Cataract" by Neville Schuler, 0.0., 1938, from Canada, and "The 'L~hy' of Blue Lenses in Cataract Cases" by Withers Bagnell, O.D., 1927, from South Boston, Va. I'm sure there are more, but these are what I found. As an aside, from the 1940's on there were some written on poor nutrition being a cause of cataract but that's another topic. ~oncerning volume 10: Yes, the next issue starts volume 10, the tenth year of this newsletter. Subject of course to the continuing will of our Executive Board I shall edit that volume also. The fourth and final issue of volume 10, a year from this issue, will include a comprehensive index to all ten volumes, 40 issues. The accumulating index is presently on 7.6 X 12.7 em (3" X 5") cards in a long, long file and encompasses the first eight volumes, \'lith the indexing of volume 9 in process. Then what? During the next 12 months the Executive Board must decide the future of this ne\'/Sletter, as volume 10 will complete the commitment I made to myself several years ago, concerning my editorship. It happens that my commitments to myself are considerably firmer than my commitments to others. You can be sure the Executive Board will welcome your suggestions. H.W. Hofstetter, Editor 1978-09-04-001 1978-09-04-002 1978-09-04-003 1978-09-04-004 1978-09-04-005 1978-09-04-006 1978-09-04-007 1978-09-04-008 1978-09-04-009 1978-09-04-010 1978-09-04-011 1978-09-04-012 1978-09-04-013 1978-09-04-014