Zeleny, Anthony, 1870-1947

Anthony Zeleny was a physicist and teacher at the University of Minnesota.

Anthony Zeleny was born in Racine, Wisconsin in 1870. He received his B.S. (1892), M.S. (1893) and Ph.D. (1907) from the University of Minnesota. From 1893-1895 he taught high school physics in Jamestown, North Dakota and Minneapolis. In 1895, he joined the faculty of the Physics department as "Scholar in Physics" and then as an instructor in 1897. He became an assistant professor in 1906 and served as professor of the physics department from 1909 until his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1938. He was one of three academically prestigious brothers. His brother John, who began his career at Minnesota, was Chairman of the Yale University Physics department, and his other brother Charles was Chairman of the Zoology department at the University of Illinois. Both of Dr. Zeleny's sons received Ph.D.’s from the University of Minnesota, Lawrence in 1930 and Leslie in 1931.

Dr. Zeleny had many non-academic concerns, including the evils of tobacco, drinking and dancing. Many of his lectures included brief "sermonettes" as to the hazards of smoking and drinking. He was involved in the No-Tobacco League of America, served as president of the League's Minnesota Chapter during the 1920's and corresponded with the national officers throughout his career. Another non-academic interest was Czechoslovakian activities. Of Czechoslovakian descent himself, Zeleny corresponded with the Minnesota District of the Sokol Union of America and the Masaryk Institute in Pittsburgh and was a foreign member of the Masaryk Academy in Prague.

Dr. Zeleny's was best known, however, as a nationally recognized inventor and physicist. His research was conducted in the field of electricity. He developed an electrical method of recording the moisture content of grain that became the basis of measurement of moisture in many materials, including corn and lumber.

He was a member in numerous professional organizations including the American Physical society, American Optical society and the National Academy of Science of Czechoslovakia and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He assisted in establishing the National Laboratory for Invention and Research and helped solicit new members for the American Association of Physics Teachers. Dr. Zeleny died December 16, 1948 at the age of 77.