ABSTRACT
From the foundational pioneers, through the great investigators, to the builders and codifi ers of the fi eld, themes appear and reappear across the century, and common concerns are shared by many of these individuals, although not all ideas are afforded unanimity. As one might expect from individuals committed to individual differences, conceptual if not personal disagreements are on display here. Themes of the psychology of individual differences, the infl uence of the mental measurement industry, the commitment to creativity in children and adults, the concern for curricula and programs adapted to the needs of advanced learners, and the continuous well of advocacy and action are found in the lives and work of one or more of them. In terms of the foundation and development of theory, research, practice, and advocacy in gifted education, our forbearers are a diverse lot. Taken together, they provide a group portrait, but one in which not everyone is looking the same direction.
