The Fourteenth Rare Earth Research Conference was held June 25- 28, 1979, at North Dakota State University in Fargo. The meeting was hosted by the College of Science and Mathematics and the Depart ment of Physics. Since the first conference was held in 1960, sub sequent meetings have grown in size and prestige to become one of the leading international forums devoted to disseminating new infor mation relative to rare earth science and technology. The meeting in Fargo was one of the largest yet held. The Program Committee scheduled over 160 papers repres~nting colleagues from 18 countries in both oral and poster sessions that - cluded Spectroscopy (Luminescence, Fluorescence, Laser, Mossbauer, ESR); Metallurgy and Materials Preparation; Solution, Solvation and Analytical Chemistry; X-ray and Neutron Diffraction; Transport and Thermal Properties; Hydrides; Magnetism; and Rare Earth Technology. A first and special event which the organizers hope to perpet uate at future meetings was to announce the recipient of the rare earth prize, hereafter called the Frank H. Spedding Award. Governor Arthur A. Link, State of North Dakota, on behalf of the Selection Committee, presented Professor Frank H. Spedding with a special citation. Professor Spedding spoke briefly and introduced the first recipient, Professor W. Edward Wallace from the University of Pitts burgh.