Center for History of Physics (American Institute of Physics)

Variant names
Dates:
Active 1992
Active 1994

Biographical notes:

This oral history project was undertaken by the Center for History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics, beginning in about 1976. The American Philosophical Society Library is a designated repository for the archive, which includes photocopies of typed manuscripts of the interviews, and microfilm and microfiche of certain manuscript collections of astrophysicists. These include the papers of Robert D'E Atkinson, Seth Chandler, Theodore Dunham [The American Philosophical Society has received a separate Dunham collection that has not yet been cataloged (Ms. Coll. #40).], Frank Edmondson, Ejnar Hertzsprung, Edwin Hubble, George Cunliffe McVittie, Jan Hendrik Oort, Frank Schlesinger, Harlow Shapley, Otto Struve, Polydore Swings, and Charles A. Young.

From the description of History of Modern Astrophysics Archives, 1976-1979. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122474028

During the mid- to late-1970s, the Center for the History of Physics of the American Institute of Physics sponsored an oral history project designed to provide a systematic survey of late 20th century astrophysics. Slightly adjusting the model provided by the successful Sources for the History of Quantum Physics, the History of Modern Astrophysics project slightly deemphasized detailed inquiry into early scientific work, while delving more deeply into personal and social matters. Like the Quantum Physics project, they also sought out and microfilmed significant bodies of records, particularly those for observatories, that were deemed to be "in danger, or in remote locations, or of exceptional value to a broad community of scholars."

The initial list of candidates for interviews was compiled based upon recommendations that emerged from a series of exploratory interviews with astrophysicists, supplemented by individuals who were frequently cited in review articles, who were the recipients of major astronomical prizes, or who were mentioned as significant contributors in the existing secondary literature. These were then ranked and submitted to an advisory panel of historians of astronomy to fill in any omissions. Given the limitations of such a large undertaking, the project organizers inevitably chose to emphasize certain fields at the expense of others. In particular, they limited the number of interviews with radio astronomers and solar system astrophysics because these subfields were covered under other projects, while they sought extensive coverage of a variety of subfields in cosmology. Approximately 25% of the interviews were with cosmologists and a slightly smaller number concerned astronomical spectroscopy. The selection of subjects for interviews was also biased geographically: over half of the subjects were born and educated in the United States, with Britain, the Netherlands, and Germany relatively well represented, but the Soviet Union notably underrepresented.

Ultimately, the project logged over 400 hours of interviews with over 100 astronomers, resulting in over 10,000 pages of edited transcripts. Following the standard procedures established at the AIP, the interviews were fully transcribed and edited against the tape by the interviewer before being sent to the astronomer for further editing and permissions. Several different interviewers were employed during the project, including interviewers who were not members of the AIP staff.

From the guide to the History of Modern Astrophysics Collection, 1849-1979, (American Philosophical Society)

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Subjects:

  • Astronomical spectroscopy
  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics
  • Astrophysics
  • Cosmology
  • Galaxies
  • Physics
  • Quasars
  • Radio astrophysics
  • Science
  • Stars

Occupations:

  • Astrophysicists

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