Kelly, Harry C. 1908-1976

Harry Charles Kelly (1908-1976) was educated in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 1945, Kelly accepted the position of Chief of Science and Technology for the Special Projects Unit of the United States Army. His work helped strengthen cooperative scientific ventures between Japan and the United States.

From the description of Harry Charles Kelly papers, 1882-1976 [manuscript] (North Carolina State University). WorldCat record id: 466115585

Harry Charles Kelly was born on September 3, 1908, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Science (1931) and Masters of Science (1933) degrees from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and his Doctorate in Physics (1936) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After graduating, Kelly worked briefly as a research engineer, taught at Montana State College, and directed laboratory facilities at Saint John's College in Maryland. Later in 1945 while employed at MIT's radiation laboratory, Kelly accepted the position of Chief of Science and Technology for the Special Projects Unit of the United States Army. Although hired to inform the government of Japan's alleged secret scientific advancements in defense, Kelly focused instead on building a trust among Japanese and United States scientists, sharing ideas and cooperative ventures. His success has been well-documented in numerous articles, books, interviews, and a television documentary. Throughout his lifetime, Kelly continued to promote international scientific education and research, serving as head of Naval Research, and filled various prominent posts during his ten years at the National Science Foundation. In 1961, Dr. Kelly became the Chairman of the United States Delegation to the United States-Japan Committee on Scientific Cooperation. Resuming his academic career in November, 1962, Kelly was appointed as Provost, Dean of Faculty at North Carolina State University. He retired in 1974.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kelly's strong interest in science and education did not go unnoticed. He was awarded numerous awards and honors, and joined several professional and honor societies, including: American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Physics Society; American Association of Physics Teachers; American Nuclear Society; Phi Beta Kappa; and Sigma Xi. Other associations included the Pacific Science Board and the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology. Dr. Kelly, educator, author, and physicist, husband of Irene Andes Kelly, father of two sons, Henry and Thomas Kelly, died on February 2, 1976.

Recently, a tribute to Harry C. Kelly was written by Hideo Yoshikawa. Published originally in Japan in 1987, translated in English language in 1994, Science Has No National Borders: Harry C. Kelly and the Reconstruction of Science in Postwar Japan reflects Kelly's commitment to a world-wide exchange of scientific and cultural ideas between the East and West.

From the guide to the Harry Charles Kelly Papers, 1882-1995, (Special Collections Research Center)