Melvin Sherman Day
DATES:
1923-
WORKED AT:
AEC; NASA NSF; NLM; BIIS
OTHER INFORMATION:
Day solidified the notion of an integrated information clearinghouse. He joined AEC technical information program in Oak Ridge, TN in 1946 while serving in the US Army. He held several positions between 1946-1955 including chief of technical information services for the AEC at Oak Ridge in 1956. In 1958, he became Director, Technical Information Division, AEC headquarters, Washington, DC.. He joined NASA in 1960 as Deputy Director, Office of Technical Information and Education, and became Director, Technical Information Division in 1962; he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Administrator for Technology Utilization at NASA in 1967. He became Head, Office of Science Information Service, NSF 1970; in 1972 he transferred to NLM, where he became deputy director. He became Director of NTIS in 1972 where he retired from federal service in 1982. He also served as vice-president for information clearinghouses at the Information Technology Group, vice-president for business development at Research Publications, Inc., chairman of the ASIS International Relations Committee 1972-?, chairman of the White House Committee on Scientific and Technical Information (COSATI) 1971-1972, and chairman of the Federal Library Committee's Executive Committee.
AWARDS:
1971 NASA Exceptional Service Award(NASA); 1975 Director Award(NLM); 1976 Public Health Service Superior Service Award.
OFFICES:
NATO Technical Information Panel 1960-70, 1979-82; Chemical Abstracts Advisory Board 1964-68; ASIS Pres. 1975; International Council of Scientific Unions Abstracting Board 1977-?; Unesco various advisory boards 1977-83; Board of Visitors, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Library and Information Science 1977-83.
PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #1
INCLUDES:
He still has extensive papers at his house, particularly correspondence and published papers. (Most of the papers from the government agencies were retained by those agencies.) No decision has been made on the disposition as of 6/96.
SOURCE:
Phone conversation with Melvin Day, 6/96.
PAPERS AT:
LOCATION #2
Chemical Heritage Foundation.
PAPERS DATES:
Oral history interview conducted by Robert V. Williams, 15 July 1997 for the CHF.