American Science Film Association.

National organization. Active from 1960 to 1982, the Association included scientists, educators, film producers, and film distributors interested in the use of motion pictures and related media as tools of scientific research, as means of communicating research results, and as instruments for science education and increasing the public understanding of science. As early as 1949, an organizing committee headed by David S. Ruhe, Director of the Medical Film Institute, and Malcolm S. Ferguson of the Communicable Disease Center met and corresponded concerning the founding of an American scientific film association that would focus the efforts of existing organizations. Another interdisciplinary science film meeting at the NationalAcademy of Sciences National Research Council in December 1958 led to the formation of the Organizing Committee for the American Science Film Association. Headed by Randall M. Whaley of Wayne State University, the Organizing Committee met on March 25, 1960, in Washington, D.C., where the new association would be headquartered. Whaley was elected ASFA's first president under Administrative Director Willard Webb, and the organization was incorporated November 20, 1961. The first issue of its newsletter, ASFA Notes, was published April 1963, and the first Science Film Exposition and Annual Meeting of the ASFA was held May 11-13, 1964. With its major goal as facilitating communication among individuals and organizations using scientific film, the ASFA engaged in a variety of informational activities, particularly the collection and dissemination of reference materials such as science film catalogs, a film card catalog, producers' files, booklets and other printed materials, bibliographies, and filmographies.