SAS HISTORYFOUNDING OF THE SOCIETYIn 1954, a number of spectroscopists recognized the growing network of regional societies and organized a committee to strengthen the exchange of information among them. Their efforts led to the formation of the Federation of Spectroscopic Societies on March 1, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The temporary officers at this founding meeting were Dr. Eugene Rosenbaum, Chairman, and Mrs. Sarah Degenkolb, Secretary. The Societies adopted a constitution at this meeting, with five other societies represented, including the Canadian Association of Applied Spectroscopy. The officers elected for one year were Mr. Edwin Jaycox, Chairman; Miss Grace Marsh, Vice Chairman; and Rev. James J. Devlin, S.J., Secretary-Treasurer. On March 7, 1957, the Federation met again in Pittsburgh. Under the leadership of newly elected President William J. Poehlman, the group appointed a fact-finding committee to consider forming a national society. The committee found widespread enthusiasm for the idea and drafted a constitution accordingly. The response was wholehearted. The New York area group generously agreed to relinquish its name and journal, paving the way for a national organization. The Society for Applied Spectroscopy was officially founded at a meeting of the Federation of Spectroscopic Societies in New York on November 4, 1958, and incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania on November 7, 1960, with legal residence at Mellon Institute, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. REINCORPORATION AND RENEWALIn 1987, the Society was reincorporated in the State of Delaware, under local office management, where the Society flourished from 1987-2023. Our membership enjoyed great in-person meetings, a strong booth presence at our annual meeting, and an excellent tour speaker program. In 2023, the Society entered a new chapter with its reincorporation in the State of New York. This transition coincided with a broader effort to modernize the organization’s operations and infrastructure. Partnering with a new professional management company, SAS has been reinventing how it serves its members and engages the wider spectroscopy community. As part of this renewal, the Society refreshed its logo in 2024, launched a redesigned website, and reinvented our Society newsletter offering consistent and meaningful communication with society members. SAS has also expanded its presence on social media, making it easier than ever to stay connected with Society news, journal updates, and meeting announcements. Member benefits have been meaningfully expanded and the Society has deepened its investment in educational programs and outreach. We have a new virtual tour speaker program, allowing spectroscopists worldwide to access the latest in cutting edge spectroscopy research, and expanded educational content, making spectroscopy accessible to the next generation. Whether you’re a student encountering spectroscopy for the first time or a seasoned researcher looking for a professional home, SAS is building the resources and community to support you. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY JOURNALIn 1958, the New York Society for Applied Spectroscopy donated its journal, Applied Spectroscopy, then in Volume 12, to the national Society and published it on the Society’s behalf during that year. By 1960, the Society assumed full responsibility for the journal. Dr. Frederick Strong III, editor at the time of the transfer, continued in that role until 1961. In 1966, the Society became an affiliate member of the American Institute of Physics (AIP), which assumed responsibility for publishing Applied Spectroscopy while editorial management remained with the Society. AIP also handled membership processing, balloting, and dues collection. In 1971, the Society retained its AIP affiliation but transferred printing and publication—along with managerial services—to The Williams & Wilkins/Waverly Press Company. Subscription and managerial services moved to the Society’s own Executive Secretary office in January 1982, and printing services transferred to Allen Press, Inc. in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1984. In 2016, Applied Spectroscopy moved to SAGE publishing in partnership with the Society for Applied Spectroscopy starting in January 2016. Today, Applied Spectroscopy is now in its 77th yearly volume, with all volumes available online. MISSION AND SCOPEApplied Spectroscopy is an international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the publication of original research, educational articles, and reviews covering all aspects of spectroscopy. Owned by the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, it is published monthly and stands as one of the world’s leading spectroscopy journals. The journal directly fulfills the Society’s mission to “advance and disseminate knowledge and information concerning the art and science of spectroscopy and other allied sciences.” The journal’s primary aim is comprehensive coverage of both the fundamentals and applications of photon-based spectroscopy. Techniques covered include ultraviolet-visible absorption; fluorescence and phosphorescence; mid-infrared, Raman, near-infrared, terahertz, microwave, and atomic absorption; emission; laser-induced breakdown spectroscopies; ICP-MS; and cutting-edge hyphenated and interdisciplinary methods. In addition to full research papers, the journal publishes Rapid Communications, Spectroscopic Techniques articles, Notes, and Correspondence related to previously published work. A flagship feature—Focal Point Reviews—provides definitive, comprehensive reviews of spectroscopic techniques and applications. The journal welcomes proposals for Focal Point articles and makes all review papers freely available to download, ensuring that high-impact work reaches scientists, students, and the broader public worldwide at the time of publication. APPLIED SPECTROSCOPY PRACTICA - A New Chapter in Open AccessHaving published one journal for nearly eight decades, launching a second is a major milestone, and an exciting one. Applied Spectroscopy Practica is the Society’s new open access journal, developed in partnership with SAGE Publications Inc. It represents SAS’s commitment to making spectroscopy knowledge more widely accessible than ever before. The move toward open access has been building across scientific publishing for years. SAS and the editors of Applied Spectroscopy have been attentive to that shift. Practica is the Society’s answer: a fully open access, electronic-only journal, meaning every published paper is freely available to all readers—no subscription required. MISSION AND SCOPEPractica focuses on practical applications of spectroscopy—whether drawing on established theory or emerging techniques. Papers from all scientific fields in which spectroscopy plays a role are welcome, from universities, research institutes, government and industrial laboratories, and analytical instrument manufacturers. The journal is of particular relevance to industrial spectroscopists working in sectors such as chemical, petrochemical, polymers, pharmaceutical, and personal care. Open access papers typically attract high readership and citation rates, broadening the reach and impact of published work. LogoThe original SAS logo was designed in 1960 by Rockwell Kent III. In 2024, the Society updated its logo, refreshing the visual identity while honoring the organization’s long history. Local SectionsThe Society was built from the ground up by engaged local communities. Seventeen sections were founding members: Baltimore-Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Delaware Valley, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee, New England, New York, Niagara Frontier, North California, Ohio Valley, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Southeastern, and Southern California. National MeetingsIn 1962, the Baltimore-Washington Section hosted an International Conference on Spectroscopy that doubled as the First National Meeting of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy. The surplus funds from that gathering were donated to establish a fund supporting future Sections in hosting national meetings, a generous tradition that helped the Society grow. National meetings have been held annually ever since. Beginning in 1974, the Society has held its Annual National Meeting in conjunction with the Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies (FACSS) at their international conference SciX, “The Great Scientific Exchange.” Information on SciX Can Be Found Here Past OfficersOther Roles |
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