A set of data presentation standards from 1915

If you are interested in data visualisation you may think that modern data visualisation thinking started with Edward Tufte in the 1980s. You may follow the trail back to John Tukey in the 1970s or even to Mary Eleanor Spear in the 1950s.

In fact we can track back over 100 years. Williard Brinton's landmark book Graphic methods for presenting facts was published in 1914.  The Joint Committee on Standards for Graphic Presentation,  propelled by Brinton,   published its first (draft) set of standards in 1915. These  are surprisingly relevant even now:



Standard 1

Standard 2

Standard 3

Standard 4

Standard 5

Standard 6

Standard 7

Standard 8

Standard 9

Standard 10

Standard 11

Standard 12

Standard 13

Standard 14

Standard 15

Standard 16

Standard 17