This is the fourth annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, as such, although on June 24–25, 1919, there was held a preliminary meeting of a tentatively organized “American Section of the proposed International Geophysical Union,” then in process of formation under the auspices of the International Research Council, which, as will be recalled, was established in 1918, when the world conflict was drawing to a close. However, the concept of our Union may trace its origin even prior to the formation of the International Research Council and of the present International Geodetic and Geophysical Union. For soon after the establishment of our National Research Council in 1916, the chairman, Dr. Hale, requested the writer to prepare a memorandum respecting provision to be made for certain geophysical sciences. To quote from this memorandum but one sentence germane to our topic today—“It would appear that great opportunities are before us to make our influence felt in the world‐sciences, by which are meant those subjects of research which embrace the Earth, or even the Universe, within their legitimate provinces.” In subsequent correspondence with Dr. Hale it was suggested that the term “geophysics” be understood to include geodesy, geological physics, meteorology, terrestrial magnetism, terrestrial electricity, seismology, tides and oceanography; and it was recommended that there be formed a special committee of the Council, or a subcommittee of physics dealing specially with “world