Piccard, Jean-Félix 1884-1963

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Jean Felix Piccard was born January 28, 1884 in Basel, Switzerland, educated at Basel and at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich where he received his doctorate in 1909. He moved to the United States in 1916 and taught first at the University of Chicago, and then (in 1936) at the University of Minnesota, Dept. of Aeronautical Engineering, where he remained until he retired in 1952. He was a pioneering stratosphere balloonist and cosmic ray research scientist.

From the description of Papers, 1932-1952. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86134262

From the description of Jean Felix Piccard papers, 1932-1952 (bulk 1935-1942). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 63300851

Jean Felix Piccard, Dipl. Ing. Chem. (1907), Dr. Sc. (1909), Swiss Institute of Technology (Zurich). Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Minnesota (1936-1952). Pioneer in the field of stratospheric flight and cosmic ray research.

Jean Felix Piccard was born on January 28, 1884 in Basle, Switzerland. He was educated in Basle and at the Swiss Institute of Technology in Zurich where he received the degree of Dr. Sc. in 1909. He moved to the United States in 1916 where he taught at the University of Chicago. In 1919, he married Jeannette Ridlon, who worked with her husband in many of his studies and experiments. She would, in 1935, receive her Ph. D. from the University of Minnesota. Together, they had three sons; John, Paul, and Donald. Jean Felix Piccard joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 1936 as a lecturer in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering where he remained until his retirement in 1952. He was considered a pioneering stratosphere balloonist and cosmic ray research scientist.

The Piccard family was internationally known for scientific achievement. His father, Jules Piccard, was Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Basle. His twin brother, Auguste Piccard, later became the inventor of the stratosphere balloon, and made the first stratosphere flight in Europe in 1931. He is equally noted for his development of equipment for undersea exploration.

Jean Felix and Jeannette Piccard's famous stratosphere flight in 1934 was made in a balloon that left the Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan. It was the first flight made in the United States to study cosmic rays. In 1937, they boarded the "Pleiades" at Soldiers Field in Rochester, Minnesota to make another successful flight.

Piccard retired from the University of Minnesota in 1952 as professor emeritus, and died eleven years later on his birthday in 1963.

From the guide to the Jean Felix Piccard papers, 1932-1952, (bulk 1935-1942), (University of Minnesota Libraries. University of Minnesota Archives [uarc])

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Piccard, Jean F., 1884-1963. Papers, 1932-1952. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Charles Chadenat collection of manuscripts on French Canada, 1590-1822. Houghton Library
creatorOf Piccard Family Papers, circa 1470-1983, (bulk 1926-1983) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Institute of Technology papers, 1933-1945, 1954-1961 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn Piccard Family Papers, circa 1470-1983, (bulk 1926-1983) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Jean Felix Piccard papers, 1932-1952, (bulk 1935-1942) University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn William Francis Gray Swann Papers, 1903-1962 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Ney, Edward Purdy, 1920-. Oral History interview with Edward P. Ney, 1984 February 29. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Piccard, Jean Félix, 1884-1960. Letter, 1932. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Piccard, Jean Felix, 1884-1963. Jean Felix Piccard papers, 1932-1952 (bulk 1935-1942). University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Collection of Brigham Young University photographs, circa 1884-1980s L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Piccard, Jeannette, 1895-1981. Program, 1965. Dearborn Historical Museum
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Chadenat, Charles, collector. person
associatedWith Hill, Edward J. person
associatedWith Hill, Edward J. person
associatedWith Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Masson, Louis Talwin, 1897 person
associatedWith Masson, Louis Talwin, 1897- person
associatedWith Ney, Edward Purdy, 1920- person
associatedWith Piccard, Auguste, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Piccard, Jeannette, 1895-1981. person
associatedWith Swann, William F. person
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Department of Aeronautical Engineering corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Dept. of Aeronautical Engineering. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota High School corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota. Institute of Technology corporateBody
associatedWith University of Minnesota. University High School. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Dearborn, Michigan
Rochester (Minn.)
Rochester, Minnesota
Dearborn (Mich.)
United States
Switzerland
Subject
Education
Aeronautics
Ballooning
Mobile radio stations
Pleiades
Stratosphere
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1884-01-28

Death 1963-01-28

Swiss

Undetermined

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