A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF 50 YEARS OF REMEDIAL READING IS CATEGORIZED AND DISCUSSED. THE DECADE DIVISIONS ARE 1916-25, 1926-35, 1936-45, 1946-55, AND 1956-65. THE FIRST DECADE WAS CHARACTERIZED BY JOURNAL ARTICLES AND THE PUBLICATION OF SEVERAL BOOKS. DURING THE SECOND DECADE BATTERIES OF TESTS WERE STANDARDIZED FOR DIAGNOSING READING DIFFICULTIES. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT READING CLINICS WERE FOUNDED. IN THE THIRD DECADE, THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION CAME INTO EXISTENCE, THE ORTON SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED, AND COLLEGES BEGAN TO ORGANIZE READING CLINICS. DURING THE DECADE 1956-65, THERE WAS A SHIFT IN THEORY FROM PSYCHODYNAMICS TOWARD PHYSIOLOGICAL, NEUROLOGICAL, AND CONSTITUTIONAL FACTORS. A 62-ITEM BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE (SEATTLE, MAY 3-6, 1967). (BK)