A. B. Arons papers, 1946-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Arons, A. B. (Arnold B.)
Title
A. B. Arons papers
Dates
1946-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
1.84 cubic feet (3 boxes)
Collection Number
5380 (Accession No. 5380-001)
Summary
Former University of Washington Professor of Physics
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

Presume open to all users, but access to portions of the papers restricted. Contact repository for details.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Arnold Boris Arons was born on November 23, 1916 in Lincoln, Nebraska. He received his M.E. degree in 1937 and his M.S. degree in 1940, both in physical chemistry from the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 1943, he earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Harvard University. Arons began working at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) in 1942 as a graduate student of E. Bright Wilson and joined the staff in 1943 full-time in the Underwater Explosives Research Laboratory, where he worked under Robert Cole as a leader of the group that made shock wave measurements on the first atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946.

Arons left WHOI to accept a position as assistant professor of Physics at Stevens Institute of Technology in 1946, were he continued to conduct research on aspects of explosion phenomena and shock wave propagation until 1952. At this time, he was named a professor of Physics at Amherst College and turned his research attention from the reflection of acoustic pulses to physical oceanography and meteorology, in particular the study of abyssal oceanic circulation and cloud physics. Arons continued to work at WHOI as a non-resident staff member until 1968, when he was named professor of Physics at the University of Washington. He continued his relationship with WHOI through his service as a trustee and corporator for the remainder of his life.

Arons taught at the University of Washington from 1968 until his retirement in 1982, where he founded the Physics Education Group, a program that prepares teachers for physics instruction at high school and introductory college levels, published a number of articles, and received the UW Distinguished Teaching Award in 1973. The previous year he was awarded the Oersted Medal by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) in recognition of his contributions to the teaching of physics and physics education research. Arons also served as president of AAPT and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering in 1982 from Stevens Institute of Technology. After his retirement in 1982, Arons continued to teach through workshops in the Seattle area and published several workbooks and textbooks concerned with teaching introductory physics. Arnold Arons died on February 28, 2001.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Subject series, videocassette, slides, photographs.

Primarily correspondence related to Arons' involvement in national committees, invitations to campus and conference lectures and workshops, and letters to professors and publishers. Also includes publications, conference papers, newsletters, clippings, a grant proposal, lecture notes, biographical features, college directories, conference files, agendas, and photographs related to Aron's involvement in physics education research and instruction and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Also includes a videocassette of a colloquium offered by Arons at Ohio State University in 1988 and slides related to a discussion on rotating tanks

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

  • AAPT: American Association of Physics Teachers
  • AGU: American Geophysical Union
  • AJP: American Journal of Physics
  • APS: American Physical Society
  • SUNY: State University of New York
  • TPT: The Physics Teacher

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Received February 21, 2003.

Processing Note

Unprocessed.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Subject SeriesReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
AAPT
Box
1
National AAPT
1963-1992
1
TPT & AJP
1981-2001
1
AJP Letter Counter Weinstock
1991-1992
1
Letter to TPT Re: Robert Frost
undated
1
S.U.N.Y
1967-1987
1
Teacher Preparation
Box
1
Teacher Education Matters
1976
1
Invited Talks
Box
1
Kingston Conference (Matthews)
1992
1
Resnick Symposium
1993
1
University of Idaho
1992
1
Miami U.
1993
1
Atlanta - Chantauqua
1993
1
San Francisco - Chantauqua
1992
1
Lincoln, Neb.
1992
1
Simon Fraser U.
1992
1
Lafayette College
1992
1
University of York
1992
1
Rome
1994
1
U. Illinios Chicago
1994
1
Pavia
1994
1
Dayton - Chantauqua
1994
1
Miami (Ohio)
1994-1995
1
Calgary
1997
1
Southern Methodist University
1996
1
Wichita State
1996
1
Northern Illinois - Chantauqua
1996
1
Dayton - Chantauqua
1995
1
San Jose State U.
1996-1997
1
AGU in SFO
2000
1
Toronto
2000
1
North Carolina
2000
1
SMU
1997
1
Syracuse
1999
1
Oswego
1999
1
Lincoln, Neb.
1998
1
Lecture and Speaking Invitations
Box
1
Lecture & Speaking Invitation
1968-1989
1
Science Education
Box
1
Correspondence with Authors of Papers on Education
1983-1994
1
Correspondence re: Science Education
1970-1992
1
Visitors Interested in Education
1972-1993
1
People Interested in Physics Education
1990-1995
1
Educational R&D
1977-1992
1
Other Universities
Box
1
Dickinson College
1991-1999
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1953-1995
1
Princeton
1951-1962
1
Stockholm
1959
1
Reed College
1963-1988
1
Smith College
1989-1992
1
Wesleyan
1967-1976
1
Ohio State
1993
1
[Untitled]
Box
1
Prof. E.F. Redish
1988-1991
1
Computer-Aided Instruction
1979-1983
1
Seattle Science Center
1970-1973
1
Multnomah Co. School Dist.
1986
1
Prof.. Bruce Sherwood
1984
1
Dr. Sheila Tobias
1989-1991
1
Trafoline
1988
1
APS
1991-1992
1
Correspondence: Dick Hake
1993
1
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
1999
1
Publishers
1983-1992
1
Arons Proposal
1976
1
Bio-CV Information
Box
1
CV + Bionote + Biblio.
undated
1
Souvenir Photos
undated
1
Assorted Info
1967-1993
1
Stevens Honorary Degree
1981-1994
1
Aron's Amherst Correspondence
1980-1989
1
UW Employment Correspondence
1967-1982
1
UW General
1969-1988
1
ABA
undated
1
Amherst
Box
1
Correspondence re:Amherst Science Course
1955-1969
1
Physics Lab Notebook
1976
1
Amherst Student Editorial on Change of Curriculum
1965
1
Freshman Pictures
1956-1970
1
Cornell
1967-1982
1
Schools
1959-1984
2
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
Box
2
Woods Hole
1988-1998
2
Trustees
1983-1999
2
Education Committee
1995-1999
2
Stommel Medal
1994
2
Trustees
1993
2
January
1995
2
Acoustics Talks
2000
2
Trustees
1996
2
Visiting Committee
1992
2
Boston
1997
2
Nuclear Testing
Box
2
Bikini Reminiscences
1946-1984
2
Nuclear Test Participation
1979-1984
2
Letters of Commendation
1946-1964
2
Clearance Matters
1952-1973
2
Personnel Security Questionnaire (RESTRICTED)
undated
2
Physical Oceanography
Box
2
Guage Patent
1946-1953
2
Hawaii - Woodcock
1975-1995
2
Scripps & UCSD
1951-1966
2
Salt Fountain
1994-1995
2
University of Washington
Box
2
Correspondence Re: Phy 101-102-103
1970-1980
2
Harvard University
Box
2
Harvard/Halton
1954-1992
2
Wilson, E. Bright - Kenneth
1954
2
Project Physics
1971
2
General Correspondence
Box
2
Some Email Correspondence
1998-2001
2
General
1975-1998
3
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Box
3
Congress
1973-1989
3
Council for Basic Education
1979-1980
3
Oxford
1973-1978
3
Critical Thinking Questionnaire
1989-1993
3
Rockefeller Foundation
1961-1971
3
Generalizations Masters
1991-2001
3
Energy Concepts - TPT
1978-1990
3
Uses of the Past
1991-1993
3
Introductory Lab
1990-1993
3
Resnick Symposium
undated
3
Spinning Skater & Decaying Satellite
1998-1999
3
AJP Thermo Issue
1998-2000
3
Obstacles to Learning - AJP
1998-1999
3
Correspondence with Teachers
1991
3
General Education
1987-1993

VideocassetteReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Aron Colloquium at Ohio State University (VHS)
1988

SlidesReturn to Top

Container(s): Box 3

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
3
Rotating Tank Slides
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Oceanography
  • Physicists--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
  • Physics
  • Physics--Study and teaching
  • Teachers--Training of--United States
  • University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)

Personal Names

  • Arons, A. B. (Arnold B.)--Archives

Corporate Names

  • American Association of Physics Teachers
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution