Tondorf, Francis A. (Francis Anthony), 1870-1929

Francis Anthony Tondorf was born in Boston, Mass., on July 17, 1870, the son of Joseph and Louise Musler Tondorf. After joining the Society of Jesus as a young man he studied at Woodstock College in Maryland where he received the A.B. degree in 1895. He taught physics at Loyola College for two years and then continued his studies at Johns Hopkins University from 1897 to 1899. In 1905 Fr. Tondorf became assistant to Fr. Johann G. Hagen at the Georgetown College Observatory. He was made professor of physics in 1913 and received the Ph.D. degree from Georgetown in 1914. Father Tondorf was largely responsible for developing the seismology station at the university, which, during its existence, was one of the best equipped in the world. For 25 years he observed and reported some 9000 earthquakes annually. At the time of his death he was professor of geology and head of the Dept. of Physiology in the Georgetown University Medical School. Father Francis A. Tondorf died on Nov. 29, 1929.

From the description of The Rev. Francis A. Tondorf, S.J., papers, 1891-1936 (bulk 1910-1929). (Georgetown University). WorldCat record id: 183295876