A STUDY of the natural history of research projects by local health departments in California has been completed by the California State Department of Public Health. Nineteen projects conducted from 1957 through 1962 by nine health departments and four branches of the University of California were reviewed. Direct community actions followed or have been planned as, a result of most of these projects, and nearly 60 percent of their objectives were substantially achieved. A significant number of unexpected benefits accrued, including increases in the use of other health department services and increased cooperation with other community groups and agencies. Many projects would have profited from more detailed and technically informed planning; small planning grants and the use of consultants may be the means of supplying this ingredient. Generally, prospectuses were vague about how the project data were to be analyzed. Only three publications in the professional literature resulted from the research undertakings. The local special project program, administered by the division of research, California State Department of Public Health, provides assistance to local health departments to conduct public health research, to demonstrate the application of new knowledge, or to evaluate public health programs (1). During the 195762 period, 93 projects were proposed and 38 were approved. At the time the first 19 considered in this review were conducted, the State program was limited to research in chronic diseases and aging, maternal and child health, and occupational health. The group was composed of five 1-year projects, five 2-year projects, and nine 3-year projects.