THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE PUBLISHED INFORMATION DEALING WITH STRESS DISTRIBUTION IN GUSSET PLATES. SINCE A GUSSET PLATE IS A POINT OF DISCONTINUITY OF STRESS TRANSFER IN A STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME, IT IS HERE THAT FAILURES CAN OCCUR. STUDIES WERE MADE ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT SHAPES, AND THE STRESSES ENCOUNTERED ARE DISCUSSED. MODELS WERE USED TO SHOW THE INEQUALITY OF STRESS TRANSFER IN THE GUSSET PLATES BY MEANS OF NEWER LABORATORY TECHNIQUES. THE AUTHOR MADE GOOD USE OF THE LIGHT INTERFEROMETER FOR DETERMINING THE SUM OF THE PRINCIPLE STRESSES. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPECIFICATIONS AND DESIGN COVERING STEEL GUSSET PLATES ARE OFFERED. /ASCE/