THE BUREAU OF STUDIES IN ADULT EDUCATION WAS FOUNDED AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY IN 1947 AND ASSIGNED THE TASK OF PROVIDING OFF-CAMPUS NONCREDIT COURSES IN ADULT EDUCATION. THE BUREAU BEGAN BY PROVIDING FIELD SERVICES, RANGING FROM PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES ON ADULT EDUCATION PROBLEMS TO PROVIDING GENERAL ADULT EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. IT STARTED A RESEARCH PROGRAM WHICH EXAMINED HOW ADULTS LEARN EFFECTIVELY, AND THE CONDITIONS THAT PROMOTE LEARNING IN PRACTICAL SITUATIONS. BETWEEN 1947 AND 1952, THE BUREAU GREW AND BECAME A MULTISPONSORSHIP OPERATION. IT INITIATED FORMAL ADULT EDUCATION COURSES AT THE GRADUATE LEVEL AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY AND INTRODUCED A NEWSLETTER ON ADULT EDUCATION. BETWEEN 1952 AND 1958, THE BUREAU EXPERIMENTED WITH AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO ADULT EDUCATION, STRESSING RESEARCH ON ADULT LEARNING. IT DEVELOPED A GRADUATE PROGRAM FOR ADULT EDUCATORS. FROM 1958 TO 1965, IT CONDUCTED MORE ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH THAN DID ANY OTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, ON ALCOHOLISM, MENTAL HEALTH, GERONTOLOGY, AND FUNDAMENTAL AND LITERACY EDUCATION. (EB)