This conference was sponsored by Purdue University and _Machine Design_. Transactions of the first two conferences appeared as special sections in _Machine Design_, December 1953, vol. 25, pp. 173-220, December 1954, vol. 26, pp. 187-236, and in collected reprints. Papers of the third and fourth conferences (May 1956 and October 1957) appeared in _Machine Design_ over several months following each conference and in collected reprints. Papers of the fifth conference (October 1958) were collected and preprinted for conference participants; subsequently, all papers appeared in _Machine Design_. Collected reprints and preprints are available (May 1960) from Penton Publishing Company, Cleveland, Ohio. DE JONGE, A. E. RICHARD. "Kinematic Synthesis of Mechanisms," _Mechanical Engineering_, July 1940, vol. 62, pp. 537-542. ----. "A Brief Account of Modern Kinematics," _Transactions of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers_, 1943, vol. 65, pp. 663-683. GOODEVE, THOMAS M. _The Elements of Mechanism._ London, 1903. An early textbook. GRODZINSKI, PAUL, AND MCEWEN, EWEN. "Link Mechanisms in Modern Kinematics," _Journal and Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers_, 1954, vol. 168, pp. 877-896. This article evoked interesting discussion. It is unfortunate that Grodzinski's periodical, _Mechanism, An International Bibliography_, which was published in London in 1956-1957 and which terminated shortly after his death, has not been revived. Grodzinski's incisive views and informative essays are valuable and interesting. HARTENBERG, R. S. "Complex Numbers and Four-Bar Linkages," _Machine Design_, March 20, 1958, vol. 30, pp. 156-163. This is an excellent primer. The author explains complex numbers in his usual lucid fashion. HARTENBERG, R. S., AND DENAVIT, J. "Kinematic Synthesis," _Machine Design_, September 6, 1956, vol. 28, pp. 101-105. MACCORD, CHARLES. _Kinematics._ New York, 1883. An early textbook. ROBINSON, STILLMAN W. _Principles of Mechanism._ New York, 1896. An early textbook. The author taught at Ohio State University. UNWIN, WILLIAM C. _The Elements of Machine Design._ New York, 1882 (ed. 4). An early textbook. The author taught at Royal Indian Engineering College, in England. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1962 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C.--Price 40 cents