University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1924-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
University of Washington. Department of Physics
Title
University of Washington Department of Physics records
Dates
1924-2003 (inclusive)
Quantity
21.99 cubic feet plus 2 vertical files
Collection Number
UW Resource No. 00313
Summary
Correspondence, reports, minutes, curriculum material, grant files, published material, administrative files, and other records of the Department of Physics at the University of Washington, Seattle
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Public records, but advance notice is required to allow for screening of materials protected from disclosure by law. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The University of Washington has taught Physics, with labs, since the late 1800's. After the University moved to the present campus from its original place in what is now downtown Seattle, the Physics Laboratories were located in the basement of Denny Hall, the first campus building. Initially a single faculty member, Thomas Eaton Doubt (A.M., U. of Nebraska, 1886), taught the calculus introductory physics, advanced mechanics and electricity classes. He continued, with various assistants, through 1902-03. At that time Electrical Engineering was part of Physics.

In 1902 Frederick Arthur Osborn was hired (from Olivet College) as Director of the Physical and Electrical Labs. In 1903 he brought in Mr. Henry Louis Brakel (a former undergraduate at Olivet) as Assistant. Osborne planned the teaching curriculum and expanded the course offerings to five levels: general interest, engineering, future physics teachers, remedial (high school), and for the home. He introduced more advanced offerings and independent study/research, and was involved in the separation of Electrical Engineering from Physics. Osborn was on leave in 1906-07 at Michigan to complete his PhD, and Brakel finished his Master's degree at UW in 1905 (the first M.S. in Physics, his thesis on "Theory of Batteries" in the UW Library). He took a leave of absence in 1910-12 to attend Cornell U. for his PhD.

Research producing several M.A. and M.S. degrees in Physics continued from 1905 on. The first M.A. in Physics was awarded in 1905 to David Henry Walfle ("Types of Interferometers", also in the UW Library) who had been part of the early teaching faculty. In the 1920s and at the initiative of then University President Suzallo, research expanded across the sciences. A new set of science buildings was planned. Physics became the first building completed (after extensive remodeling and additions in the late 1990s, this "old Physics building" is the western façade of Mary Gates Hall, only a couple of stairs remain inside from the old building). The Department moved out of Denny Hall in 1928 to its new location near the "Frosh Pond". Faculty with excellent knowledge of the "modern" physics of the time were hired, for the first time with a commitment to teach half-time, do research half-time and the PhD program was started [McCurdy (1927), Clinton Utterback (1928), Joseph Henderson (1929), Donald H. Loughridge (1932), Roy J. Kennedy (Research Professor,1933), and Edwin Uehling (1936)].

In 1932, Henry Brakel replaced Frederick Osborn as Executive officer. The first couple of Ph.D. degrees were awarded in 1934, in May to Robert K. Dahlstrom, "The distribution of energy among field current electrons" (Henderson) and in December, to Robert W. Young, "A study of the standing wave pattern formed in the Boehm flute" (Loughridge). By 1939 fifteen PhD dissertations had been completed, supervised by Henderson, Loughridge, Kennedy, Utterback and Uehling, with the first woman PhD being Gertrude Marjory Flemming, "The energy losses attending thermionic and field emission of electrons from metals" (1939) (Henderson). Henderson was also guiding students through the design of a small cyclotron for ion acceleration [Burton J. Moyer, PhD dissertation, "Design and operation of a small cyclotron" (1939)].

In parallel with the research expansion, and on the teaching side, in 1931-32 an advanced atomic physics lab was offered (Physics 195, 196) with Paul McClellan Higgs (UW B.Sc. 1919) in charge. Higgs had been an undergraduate student, lecture demonstrator, and instructor in the Department beginning during WW I. He was an expert in photographic techniques, had introduced courses on photography in general and for scientific use, the use of vacuum tubes in electronics, and was a superb designer of teaching and research equipment. He developed the atomic physics laboratory using spare research equipment. This advanced lab evolved over time, under his guidance through the early 1960s, to be currently amongst the best in the nation with a full year of experimental advanced work on most topics of atomic, condensed matter, nuclear and particle physics.

After WW II, Clinton Utterback became Executive Officer. He oversaw another large expansion of Physics in the late 1940's. A new wing was added to the building (currently the south façade of Mary Gates Hall, facing the rose garden and Frosh Pond, now Drumheller fountain) which included more faculty offices, laboratory space, seminar and lecture rooms, and would house in its second floor, eventually, a new Department of Astronomy. The faculty added brought to the department theoretical nuclear and many body theory (Jacobsohn), experimental nuclear physics (Frederick Schmidt, John Streib, George Farwell), geophysics and atmospheric science (Kenneth Clark), ultra high energy cosmic rays (Neddermayer) and atomic physics research (Geballe). Henderson and Schmidt obtained funding, designed, and built an ion accelerating cyclotron and the needed housing and facilities in the NE corner of campus by a hill that provided shielding. The first ion beam was produced in 1948. This cyclotron, initially for nuclear physics research, soon was used extensively for radiation studies in tissue, bone, and cancer research. It was used until 1986 when UW medicine purchased their own cyclotron.

John H. Manley followed Utterback as Executive Officer, and Ronald Geballe became Chairman in the mid 1960s. Further expansion in the 1950s and 1960s added groups in theoretical and experimental nuclear, elementary particle, atomic and experimental condensed matter physics [Ernest Henley, David Bodansky, Robert (Bob) Williams, Kenneth Young, Jere Lord, John Cramer, Hans Dehmelt, Norval Fortson, Mark McDermott, Robert Puff, John Blair, Ying Halpern, Lowell Brown, Victor Cook, J. Gregory (Greg) Dash, Edward A. Stern, William McCormick, Robert Ingalls, Marshall Baker, David Boulware]. In 1962-63 an NSF grant supported the purchase of a tandem van de Graaf accelerator. A building addition to the cyclotron building was completed in 1964, and the accelerator became operational in 1965. The new facility was called the Nuclear Physics Laboratory (currently CENPA, the Center for Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics). With modifications and the addition of a locally designed superconducting booster linear accelerator in 1987 the van de Graaf-LINAC combo was operational until the year 2000.

By the mid 1970s the department had grown large enough that two portable buildings between the Physics and Student Union buildings housed graduate student offices, some of the laboratories, and an electronics shop. A new building addition to the East was planned and partially built. This addition housed an expanded instrument and electronics shop, additional space for the elementary particle experimental group, and a materials preparation room. It was supposed to house new lecture rooms and teaching labs with easier ground floor access than those in the 1928/1949 building which were located in the third and fourth floors with only one freight elevator available to use for some of the lecture rooms. This building was never finished for lack of funding. The need of space, though, increased. A national Institute for Nuclear Theory was awarded to a proposal from the Department (Haxton), and the need for a major update to the infrastructure of the building was evident, especially highlighted in the press after the award of the Nobel Prize in Physics to Hans Dehmelt (1989).

A new 10-year UW building plan was made around 1990 when it was decided that Physics and Astronomy needed a completely new building with contemporary facilities. The new building was designed by world renowned architect Cesar Pelli, with Seattle firm NBBJ as the local architectural company. It fell upon Mark McDermott (Chair) and David Boulware (Associate Chair) to guide the Department through the process of design, budgeting, construction, and the massive move without interrupting teaching or research.

The Department moved into the present Physics/Astronomy Building (PAB) over a six month period in 1994-95.

Source: "UW Physics: History" by Oscar Vilches, 2021, https://phys.washington.edu/uw-physics-history

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, reports, minutes, curriculum material, grant files, published material, administrative files, and other records of the University of Washington Department of Physics.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Public Records (Use is unrestricted after access has been granted).

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 13 accessions.

  • Accession No. 75-004, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1946-1971
  • Accession No. 78-067, University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1960-1966
  • Accession No. 84-052, University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1973
  • Accession No. 93-039, University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1924
  • Accession No. 95-266, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1938-1969
  • Accession No. 95-311, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1974-1987
  • Accession No. 00-044, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1992-1995
  • Accession No. 00-094, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1928-1998
  • Accession No. 01-018, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1993-1999
  • Accession No. 03-018, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1962-1979
  • Accession No. 17-004, University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1990-2003

Preservation Note

Some records stored offsite; advance notice required for use.

Related Materials

University of Washington, Applied Physics Laboratory records, UW resource 00453

The Applied Physics Laboratory Center for Industrial & Medical Ultrasound website has been regularly captured by the Internet Archive Wayback Machine since 2020. The snapshots can be viewed here: https://wayback.archive-it.org/4366/*/http://www.apl.washington.edu/departments/cimu/

The UWAMIT Center website has been regularly captured since 2020 and can be viewed here: https://wayback.archive-it.org/4366/*/http://www.apl.washington.edu/project/project.php?id=uwamit

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 75-004: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1946-1971Return to Top

7 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, reports, minutes, conference and convention records, curriculum material, subject files (1946-71)

Physical/Technical Access: Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 78-067: University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1960-1966Return to Top

.21 cu. ft.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, reports, blueprints, concerning Physics Building alterations and additions (1960-66)

Physical/Technical Access: Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 84-052: University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1973Return to Top

3 cu. ft.; 8 videotape masters and 8 video cassette copies

Scope and Content: Videotapes of lectures on the making of the atomic bomb, 1973

Physical/Technical Access: Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 93-039: University of Washington Department of Physics records, 1924Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Physics textbook printed at the University Bookstore; 1924. The textbook was printed in a small print shop behind the store; it was written by Frederick Osborn.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 95-266: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1938-1969Return to Top

1 folder

Scope and Content: Annual reports; 1938, 1946-1950, 1952-1954, 1968-1969.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (public disclosure laws may restrict access to some files).

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 95-311: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1974-1987Return to Top

1 cu. ft. (1 box)

Scope and Content: Grant files, ca. 1974-1987.

Physical/Technical Access: Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Records stored offsite; advanced notice required for use.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 00-044: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1992-1995Return to Top

1.21 cu. ft. (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Grant/contract administrative records; 1992-1995.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 00-094: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1928-1998Return to Top

.75 cubic feet (3 boxes); 3 photographs

Scope and Content: Historical features, staff minutes, research log, photographs, writings, newsletters, brochure; 1928-1998.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (Public disclosure laws may restrict access to some records)

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 01-018: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1993-1999Return to Top

.63 cu. ft. (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Grant/contract administrative files; 1993-1999. Bulk of records in files are financial management in nature, including: budget activity reports, budget summary reports, journal vouchers, purchase orders, requests for requisition and RTEs.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access contact repository.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)

Accession No. 03-018: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1962-1979Return to Top

2.63 cu. ft. (4 boxes)

Scope and Content: Chronological correspondence, general correspondence, administrative files, committee files, reports; 1962-1979. Includes records of Ronald Geballe from his time as chairman of the department.

Restrictions on Access: Public Records (public disclosure laws may restrict access to some files).

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder Accession
1 03-018
Conference Announcements
1977-1979
Correspondence
Correspondence
1976
IX ICPEAC (International Conference on the Physics of Electronic and Atomic Collisions) - Seattle
1975
July - December
1975
January - June
1975
July - December
1974
January - June
1974
July - December
1973
January - June
1973
July - December
1972
January - June
1972
July - December
1971
January - June
1971
July - December
1970
January - June
1970
Chronological File B
1978
Chronological File
1978
Chronological File "Outside"
1978
Arts and Sciences
1978
Arts and Sciences
1976-77
Folder Accession
2 03-018
Chronological File
1975
Chronological File - Personnel
1974
Chronological File - Personnel
1973
Chronological File - Personnel
1972
Chronological File - Personnel
1971
Chronological File - Personnel
1970
Chronological File - Personnel
1969
Chronological File - Personnel
1967-68
Visitors
Invitations to Visitors
Daria Zieminska
1976
Miscellaneous Short-Term Visitors
1976-79
Richard Alben
1976
Ernest Coleman
1974
Heisenberg
1973
Rau, R. Ronald
1974
Visitors
1972
Visitors
1971-72
Visitors
1970-71
Visitors
1969-70
Visitors
1968-69
Visitors
1967-68
Visitors
1966-67
Visitors
1965-66
Visitors
1964-65
Visitors
1963-64
Notes of Chairman Geballe
Academic Referrals
1968-76
Academic Referrals – Requests
1969-76
Notes to Faculty
1973
2.6 Faculty
1963-72
Staffing
1973
2.65 Publications, Department of Physics
1950-62
[Professional Leave]
1973-76
Colloquium List
[Physics Dept. Newsletter]
1974-75
Classified Staff
1973-76
Exempt
1974-76
Box/Folder Accession
3 03-018
[Doctor of Arts Degree]
1975-76
2.31 Examination Committee
1975
[Graduate Committee]
1974-76
[Women in Engineering]
1975
Future Research
1973
[Physics Safety Committee]
1973-75
[Curriculum]
1974-76
Space Committee – Henley
1972-76
2.3 Committee Reports
1973-76
American Council on Education
1973
[College of Education]
1973-77
IV. Physics, Professional
1973
PNACP (Pacific Northwest Association for College Physics)
1973-75
[AIP (American Institute of Physics)]
1976
4.1 Data, AIP
1969-76
4.2 Publications, AIP
1962
Box/Folder Accession
4 03-018
4.3 Data, U.S. Government
1960-74
V. – (President’s Office)
1974-75
5.11 Reports
1966-71
Junior College Meeting
1965-66
Islam
1972-73
President Search Committee
1972-73

Accession No. 17-004: University of Washington, Department of Physics records, 1990-2003Return to Top

1.14 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Meeting minutes, agendas, and correspondence for various committees within the Department of Physics.

Restrictions on Access: Access restricted: For terms of access, contact Special Collections.

Restrictions on Use: Public Records (Use is unrestricted after access has been granted)

Acquisition Info: Ivy Mason (Assistant to the Chair), 2009-03-12

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 17-004
Annual Report
1999
1 17-004
Undergraduate Advisor
1999-2000
1 17-004
Technical Services Committee
1998-2000
1 17-004
Teaching Assistant Committee
1998-2002
1 17-004
Teacher Education Advisor
1998-2000
1 17-004
Summer Session Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
Secretary
1999-2000
1 17-004
Safety Committee
1999-2002
1 17-004
Research Support Committee
2001-2002
1 17-004
Newsletter Coordinator
1999
1 17-004
Majors Committee
1999-2000
1 17-004
Liquid Helium Committee
1999-2000
1 17-004
Library Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
Lab Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
Instructional Quality Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
Instructional Facilities Committee
1999-2002
1 17-004
Graduate Program Coordinator
1999-2000
1 17-004
Graduate Program Committee
2001-2002
1 17-004
General Curriculum Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
12X Coordinating Committee
2000-2002
1 17-004
Admissions Committee
1999-2003
1 17-004
Computing Committee
1999-2001
1 17-004
Colloquium Committee
1999-2000
1 17-004
Chilled Water Committee
1999-2000
1 17-004
Building/Space Committee
1999-2000
1 17-004
Awards Committee
1999-2002
1 17-004
Aesthetics Committee
1999
1 17-004
Visiting Committee
1992-1998
1 17-004
Faculty Meeting Agendas & Minutes
1991-2000
1 17-004
Executive Committee Minutes
1990-1995
1 17-004
Executive Committee Agendas
1999-2000
1 17-004
Hiring Plan
2002
1 17-004
Faculty Searches
1999-2003
1 17-004
Staff/Group Projections
1998
1 17-004
Provost Initiative
1998
1 17-004
Raise Evaluations (Faculty)
2000-2002

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Physics--Study and teaching--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Geballe, Ronald, 1918---Archives

Corporate Names

  • University of Washington. Applied Physics Laboratory--Archives
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Archives
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Buildings
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Curricula
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Employees
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Faculty
  • University of Washington. Department of Physics--Research grants

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names
    • University of Washington. University Archives