Eugene Garfield

Eugene Garfield (1925-2017) developed the Rota Form Index which used the Hill formula index as output and processed it to as many outputs as the number of separated symbols for the production of Index Chemicus. Garfield published a paper on the Rota Form Index in 1963. He was associated with the discovery and pioneering of information science. He worked on a team with Sanford Larkey (librarian of the Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins), on an early automation project.

Contributions

Garfield worked at Johns Hopkins University Welch Medical Library Machine Indexing Project; ISI.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Garfield developed Current Contents, Science Citation Index and many other indexes in the sciences. He established the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) as an international information agency. Lilley & Trice call him a "creative genius in the realm of non-conventional information systems." Lilley-Trice cite the indexes as his principal contribution.

AWARDS:

1975 Award of Merit(ASIS); 1977: Information Science Award(ACS); Information Industry Association Hall of Fame Award; Best Information Science Book(ASIS); Skolnik Award(ACS) for outstanding contributions to the chemical information field; 1983 Patterson-Crane Award(ACS).

OFFICES:

Information Industry Association Pres. 1972-74; Delaware Valley Chapter of ASIS Pres. 1970; President, ASIS, 1999-2000.

Papers

LOCATION #1: Chemical Heritage Foundation

INCLUDES: Two oral history interviews, conducted 1991 & 1997 at the Chemical Heritage Foundation.

SOURCE: CHF Web site, Historical Services Dept.

LOCATION #2: Still has his personal papers in his possession. No plans have been made for their deposit. An archives at ISI has not been established by the Company.

SOURCE: Phone conversation with Eugene Garfield, 6/97.