11/10/1 Guide to the Physics Department Subject File Physics Department Subject File

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Guide to the Physics Department Subject File 1929/2000 University of Illinois Archives Overview of the Collection Physics Department Subject File 1929-2000 11/10/1 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics Almy, Gerald, 1094-77 Kruger, P. Gerald, 1902-1978 Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976 Simmons, Ralph O. 32.00 English University of Illinois Archives
19 Library 1408 W. Gregory Dr. Urbana, IL, URL: http://archives.library.illinois.edu Email: illiarch@illinois.edu Phone: (217) 333-0798 Fax: (217) 333-2868

Other Information:

Additional information may be found at https://files.archon.library.illinois.edu/uasfa/1110001.pdf

Historical Note:

Courses in chemical physics and higher physics were listed in the 1868-69 catalogue.1 In 1870-71, the Board of Trustees listed Stillman W. Robinson as professor of Physics, and, in 1871-72, they listed Physics and Astronomy as a "department of study."2 Course catalogs for 1876-77 through 1890-91 refer to a "course in physics" as part of the curriculum of the four schools in the College of Engineering.3 In 1886, the Physics course was divided, offering a general course, and one for engineering.4 Until 1889-90, when Samuel W. Stratton assumed teaching responsibilities in Physics, the courses were usually taught by the heads of the departments of Mechanical and Mining Engineering.5 Upon Stratton's formal appointment as Assistant Professor of Physics, the scope of instruction in Physics was expanded and Physics emerged as separate department in 1890-91.6

Graduate work in Physics leading to the Master's and Ph.D. were offered through the Graduate College after its establishment in 1907. The first Ph.Ds. in Physics were awarded in 1910, and an undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor's of Science in Engineering was approved in 1917 and the first B.S. was awarded in 1923.7 The aims of the department are to offer "a curriculum in engineering physics to give . . . training in fundamental physics and mathematics." The department has "extensive facilities for instruction and investigation in physics."8 Physics is available as a field of concentration and as a major leading to the Bachelor's of Science degree within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.9

1. Catalogues and Circulars, 1868-69, pp. 26-27.

2. Board of Trustees Transactions, 4th Report, 1870-71, p. 45; 5th Report, p. 56.

3. Catalogues & Circulars, 1876-77 to 1890-91.

4. Board of Trustees Transactions, 13th Report, 1884-86, p. 159.

5. Board of Trustees Transactions, 15th Report, 1888-90, December 10, 1889, p. 114.

6. Board of Trustees Transactions, 15th Report, 1888-90, June 10, 1890, pp. 148-49, 160.

7. Board of Trustees Transactions, 24th Report, 1906-08, June 10, 1907, p. 133. Board of Trustees Transactions, 1916-18, June 25, 1917, pp. 392-93.

8. Undergraduate Study Catalog, 1969-70, p. 266.

9. Undergraduate Programs, 1987-90, p. 274, 287-88.

Access Terms

This Collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Topical Term: American Institute of Physics Committees Condensed Matter Physics Control Systems Laboratory Courses Elemental Particle Physics Engineering, College of Faculty Salaries High Energy Physics History of Physics Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation (NSF) Naval Research, Office of Nuclear Physics Physics Physics Building Physics Department Physics Education Physics Research Laboratory Reactor Physics Division Solid State Physics Theoretical Physics
Arrangement of Materials:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Contents

Physics Department Subject File includes correspondence with administrators, deans, department heads, and faculty; reports, memoranda, and publications of the department of Physics related to academic policy, admissions, affirmative action, American Institute of Physics, appointments and promotion, Argonne National Laboratory, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, betatron, budgets, building projects, cataracts, College of Engineering, colloquia and seminars, Control Systems Laboratory, Coordinated Science Laboratory, courses and curricula, department, school, and campus committees, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Graduate College, High Energy Physics Group, Materials Research Laboratory, McMillan Award, Midwestern Universities Research Association, National Science Foundation, nonacademic personnel, Nuclear Physics Laboratory, patents, Physics Research Laboratory, picnics, PLATO, professional societies and organizations, research grants, salaries, safety, space allocation, sabbaticals, teaching evaluation, Undergraduate Studies Committee, U. S. Office of Naval Research, and University Research Board. Principal correspondents include Gail Adams, Gerald Almy, Ansel Anderson, Peter Axel, Robert Becker, George Beggs, Gilberto Bernardini, David Campbell, D. C. Drucker, W. L. Everitt, Donald Kerst, P. Gerald Kruger, F. Wheeler Loomis, Bess Matteson, Clark Robinson, Harry Edward Seidel, Frederick Seitz, and Ralph O. Simmons.