An array of scarlet and grey booklets: 65 years of the Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy

A history of the OSU International Symposium on Molecular Spectroscopy is presented with a broad brush, inspired by looking at the evolution of the program booklets of the meeting, and drawing upon a selection of abstracts, all of which are now accessible on-line, and on reminiscences. The important and enduring aspects of the meeting from the perspective of the author are identified, and a few of the changes traced. The essential contributions of the founders and successive official hosts of the meeting, Harald H. Nielsen, David Dennison, K. Narahari Rao, and Terry A. Miller are acknowledged.