The Association of Analytical Chemists (The ANACHEMS) was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1942 to serve the professional needs of chemists in the Detroit Area. The ANACHEM award has been presented since 1953 to an impressive list of awardees. ANACHEM was a founding member of FACSS in 1972 and continues to be an integral part of that conference. Over the years the name and the focus of The ANACHEMS has changed with the times. However we still strive to be of service to the scientists and technical specialists who are concerned with the ever-changing challenges of chemical analysis.