Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 January 2025
In introducing the founders, Jones noted that the first organizational meeting of the Society occurred in February of 1935 and the first professional meeting occurred in September 1935, in connection with the convention of the American Psychological Association. In the Psychometric Society's first year, the president was L. L. Thurstone, the secretary was Paul Horst, the treasurer was Jack Dunlap, and the chairman of the membership committee was John Stalnaker. The editorial council consisted of Thurstone, chairman, Horst and Albert Kurtz, editors, and Marion Richardson, managing editor. The editorial board was noteworthy for its great breadth of interest, and its international and multidisciplinary character.
Editors Note: On Monday evening, June 2, 1985 following the annual banquet of the Psychometric Society in Nashville, TN, Lyle Jones moderated a discussion with two of the three living founders of the Society, Paul Horst and John Stalnaker. Albert Kurtz planned to attend, but a recent automobile accident prevented him from traveling. They commented upon the events in 1935 and 1936 leading to the establishment of the Psychometric Society, the Psychometric Corporation and Psychometrika. The following summary of their remarks was prepared by me and edited by Horst, Stalnaker, and Jones. I have included some of Horst's recollections that were printed earlier in SCORE, the newsletter of Division 5, Evaluation and Measurement, of the American Psychological Association.
Bert F. Green