Overview of the History of Science Information Systems

This overview is an introduction to the history and heritage of science information systems and a discussion of historiography of this area. History is narrative of events in time past. The continuing consequences of those events are heritage, which includes our collective memory, our understanding of history. The heritage of information systems is of additional significance because the systems’ design and characteristics have longlasting effects. The history of science information systems overlaps the history of science, the history of information systems (previously documentation), and the history of technology. It includes the usual genres of historical inquiry: biography, archaeology, cliometrics (here, especially, bibliometrics and infometrics), oral history, and documentary research, with their differing strengths and weaknesses. Information systems for science and technology have had a privileged existence because of industrial and military needs and government policies. Much of the pioneering work in science information systems was concerned with chemistry or pioneered by individuals trained in chemistry. The past decade of work on the history and heritage of information systems is summarized. Several initiatives have been undertaken to encourage research and to build a supportive infrastructure, which is important if historical research in this area is to be sustained and to flourish. This conference is itself a significant part of that effort.