Date:  Mon, 18 Dec 1995 00:02:59 -0700

From:  Rudy Troike <RTROIKE[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU>

Subject: Dating "Murphy's Law"



A colleague of mine recalls having heard of "Murphy's Law" during World War II,

which would considerably antedate the 1958 citation David Barnhart mentioned.

He also recalls hearing the Law in its generic version, "If anything can go

wrong, it will," which would be expected of an earlier form. Later adaptation

and specialization to various contexts would be the expected path of develop-

ment, rather than the other way around.

    Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night,

        Rudy

        --Rudy Troike (rtroike[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ccit.arizona.edu)