The pioneering work of Subcommittee XI on Electron Microstructure of Metals of ASTM Committee E-4 on Metallography is briefly reviewed, and its principal contributions to present-day research and developmental work on metals, especially steels, are noted. Although progress in the application of electron metallography to metals research has been outstanding, there has been little use of this method in steel development and service work. The reasons for this are discussed. Some examples of the usefulness of electron metallography in developmental work on alloy steels are presented. A simplified method of electron metallography utilizing electropolishing, single-stage plastic replication, a simple, relatively inexpensive electron microscope, and relatively unskilled technicians is outlined. It is believed that with such a system electron metallography need no longer be so expensive or so difficult that it cannot be used to better advantage than increased amounts of light metallography in the average steel metallographic laboratory.