In sociology, work in formal theory is more extensive and intensive to
day than at any time in the past, but remains invisible to some, inclu
ding S. Zhao [(1996) ''The Beginning of the End or the End of the Begi
nning: The Theory Construction Movement Revisited,'' Sociological Foru
m, Vol. II, No. 2 pp. 305-318]. I trace the growth of formal theory in
sociology focusing on theoretical research programs and show that, wh
ereas formal theory came after the books on theory construction, it wa
s not based on them. Elementary Theory's research program provides an
trample of that discontinuity. Some misunderstandings concerning forma
l theory can be traced to the Maryland Theory Conference of 1990 and a
critique of selected ideas of that Conference is offered.