During the past three years there has been much activity in the field of spectral classification by photographic and photoelectric techniques. The general tendency of the spectral classification has been one of refinement of the criteria applied in visual classification, the more frequent appearance of criteria based on equivalent widths measured in higher-dispersion spectra and the use of narrowband photometry on individual often rather weak spectral lines. In the area of objective prism classification important extensive programmes are under way at many observatories. Here, the increased interest in and importance of automation of data available on spectral plates is perhaps most obvious.

This Group was formed during the meeting of the General Assembly in Brighton on August 22, 1970 with the following members: B. E. Westerlund, W. P. Bidelman, M. Barbier and B. Hauck. In the beginning of 1972 C. O. Jaschek was asked to join this group as he is also a member of the IAU Working Group on Numerical Data.

The first work of our Group was to establish a list of catalogues recently published or in preparation. For this purpose a circular letter was sent to all members of our Commission. Dr Crawford, President of Commission 25, kindly sent our letter to the members of his Commission. The first list was published in the ‘Bulletin d'lnformation no. 1 du Centre de Donnees Stellaires de Strasbourg’. A complement has been published in the second issue of this bulletin. We thank all colleagues who have contributed, and we hope that many colleagues will contribute to the success of a second list sending us their information and data.