The MMPDS Handbook requires facilitation of the process, and collaboration of the community in order to be the quality of an Industry Standard. Battelle's involvement in this role incorporates the legacy behind the book, and the information within the book.

The MMPDS (Metallic Materials Properties Development Standardization) Handbook is recognized throughout the world, and it represents the primary source of statistically based design allowables for metallic materials and fastened joints used in the design of aerospace vehicle structures in the United States (U.S.).

The MMPDS Handbook has evolved and expanded tremendously over the years. The Handbook was first published in 1937 as the Army-Navy-Commerce Handbook 5 (ANC-5). The United States Air Force (USAF) took over the primary responsibility of continuing development of the Handbook in 1954 and, subsequently, changed its name to MIL-HDBK-5 in 1956. Since 1956, the Handbook has been revised and re-issued (in whole or in part) over 50 times – to incorporate new methodologies, add new material properties, and update existing design properties.

Historical files were searched and the minutes of previous meetings and correspondence were reviewed in an effort to reconstruct previous events which led to the handbook as it is today. However, early records were not diligently maintained, resulting in meager information in the years prior to 1948. Fortunately, the files did contain most of the revisions of the MIL-HDBK-5 and its predecessor. These revisions were most helpful in arranging the sequence of events. Although the history, which follows, may not be complete, it is believed that this description conveys a fairly accurate impression of the history of this Handbook. It is hoped that this history will prove interesting, especially for the young participants who have just recently become involved with the MMPDS program.

The earliest predecessor to MMPDS was the ANC-5 Bulletin. This document was prepared by the ANC-5 Committee of the Army-Navy-Commerce Committee on Aircraft Requirements and issued by the latter. So far as could be determined, the initial issue of this Bulletin occurred in 1937. The 1938 version contained design information for columns, thin-walled sections, mechanical property design values for wood, steel alloys, aluminum alloys, as well as magnesium alloys, and design allowables for joints, fittings, and parts. Revisions of ANC-5 were published in October 1940, December 1942, and October 1943. After the 1943 revision, the activity of the ANC-5 Committee was discontinued because of World War II.

Apparently the next meeting of the ANC-5 Committee occurred on June 5, 1945, at the close of World War II. The function of the Army-Navy- Commerce Committee on Aircraft Design Criteria was amended on March 19, 1946, as follows: “To develop aircraft design criteria governing strength, detailed design, propulsion systems, equipment, flight characteristics, and performance of cargo, transport, and training aircraft and to recommend the adoption of these criteria by the three member branches of the Government”. The ANC-5 Committee attending the meeting on May 2, 1946, consisted of three members (two military and one civilian) from the Army (Air Material Command) and Navy Bureau of Aeronautics), two members from Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), and a recorder from the military (USMC).

The Chairman was Mr. E. I. Ryder, CAA. Five people from the Aluminum Company of America and Reynolds Metals also attended this meeting. The Chairman stated at this meeting that it would be desirable to have members of the aircraft industry present at the next meeting and to encourage industry participation in future revisions of ANC-5. It is interesting to note that the chapter on wood was deleted from ANC-5 in Amendment No. 2, August 8, 1946. Mr. William T. Shuler, CAA, succeeded Mr. Ryder as Chairman in 1947. People from various government agencies, the aircraft industry, material suppliers, and fastener suppliers attended the ANC-5 Committee Meeting held on October 7, 1947, swelling attendance to 37. The ANC-5 Committee meetings were held alternately in Washington, D.C., and at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Dayton), Ohio. Generally, these meetings were scheduled in the Spring and Fall of the year. On September 21, 1948, the supervisory body for the ANC-5 Committee was changed to the Munitions Board Aircraft Committee. However, the function, operation, and membership of the ANC-5 Committee remained essentially unchanged. In September 1953, Mr. J. E. Dougherty, Jr., CAA, became Chairman. The Munitions Board was abolished in 1954, but the ANC-5 Committee continued to function as usual.

In 1954, Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) was awarded a contract by the Mater.