To tackle the current lack of a good nearby comparison sample, representative of the nearby universe, R.A. Jansen and M. Franx have selected a magnitude limited sample of 198 nearby field galaxies from the CfA Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 1983), including galaxies of all types and of all luminosities. In collaboration with D.G. Fabricant (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, Cambridge) and N. Caldwell (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA/F.L. Whipple Observatory, Smithsonian Institution, Amado) they have obtained nuclear and integrated spectra, complemented by U, B and R filter surface photometry for this sample. S.J. Kannappan (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) and Fabricant have obtained optical internal kinematics (rotation curves and stellar velocity dispersions) for this galaxy sample. M.A. Pahre (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA), Jansen, Kannappan, Fabricant and Willner are obtaining H and K photometry of this sample. Near-infrared data for half the sample galaxies are now available.
    The main goal of this program is to provide a comparison sample for high redshift studies and to study the variation in star formation rates, star formation history, excitation, metallicity, and internal kinematics over a large range in galaxy luminosity and morphological type -- both globally and as a function of radius within a galaxy. In particular, they extend previous work of this nature (e.g., Kennicutt 1992) to lower luminosity systems.
    The data can be used as a benchmark for galaxy evolution modeling and comparison with observations of high redshift galaxies, as will result from future observations with large ground-based telescopes and the NGST.
    Part of this work was done during several prolonged visits of Jansen to the Harvard-Smithsonian CfA, Cambridge, and to the F.L. Whipple Observatory, Amado. Analysis of the data continues within the present collaborations. The full data set is planned to be made accessible for the general community in electronic format in future.

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