Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-

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Died 1978.

From the description of Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1978 May 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77898623

From the description of Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1962 June 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78112200

Dr. Karl Ferdinand Herzfeld, 1892-1978, was a noted physicist, author, educator, and humanitarian. Born in Vienna, Austria, on February 24, 1892, he received his primary education from the Benedictines. He continued his education at the Universities of Vienna (Ph. D. 1914), Zurich, and Gottingen. During the First World War, Dr. Herzfeld served as a First Lieutenant of Artillery for the Austrian Army, and saw combat on the Italian and Russian fronts. After the war he returned to his academic career, taking the position of Privatdozent (loosely translated as junior faculty) and assistant professor at the University of Munich 1920-1926. In 1926, he accepted appointment as professor of physics at the Johns Hopkins University. He remained in that position until 1936, when he accepted appointment as professor of physics and Head of the department at The Catholic University of America. While at Catholic University, Herzfeld met his future wife, then Regina Flannery, who was studying anthropology under the esteemed John Montgomery Cooper (Dr. Regina Flannery Herzfeld would go on to her own distinguished career as an anthropologist). After a brief courtship, the two were married by Msgr. Cooper on June 9, 1938. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Dr. Herzfeld served as a consultant to the Naval Ordnance Laboratory to improve artillery shells. He continued his service to the Navy after the war by creating and chairing the Mine Advisory Committee, which studied the scientific issues of mine warfare for the Chief of Naval Research. In 1959 Dr. Herzfeld was named the area editor of physical sciences and mathematics for the New Catholic encyclopedia. He relinquished his chairmanship of the Department of Physics at Catholic University in 1961, and he retired from teaching in 1968. Dr. Herzfeld was named professor emeritus the following year, and remained active as a scholar and teacher. During his long career, he attained international recognition for significant contributions to the knowledge of physics and physical chemistry. Through his numerous books and scholarly journals, his outstanding work advanced the fields of ultrasonics, liquids and gases, chemical kinetics, and interior ballistics. The professional and academic community recognized Dr. Herzfeld's achievements with numerous awards. Dr. Herzfeld died following a stroke on Sunday, June 4, 1978 at the age of 86.

From the description of The Karl F. Herzfeld papers. 1886-1974. (Catholic University of America). WorldCat record id: 67153222

Physicist, (solid state physics). On the physics faculty at Universität München, 1920-1926; Johns Hopkins University, 1926-1936; and Catholic University, 1936-1961, department chair, 1936-1961.

From the description of Papers, 1914-1977. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80923386

Physicist (solid state physics). On the physics faculty at Universität München (1920-1926), Johns Hopkins University (1926-1936), and Catholic University (1935-1961), department chair (1936-1961).

From the description of Papers, 1941-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77974031

From the description of Papers, 1951-1974. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122575303

Herzfeld died in 1978.

From the description of An illustrated history of the Herzfeld family, 1972. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78225781

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008. Papers, [ca. 1950s-1970s]. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Archive for the History of Quantum Physics, 1898-1950 (bulk), 1898-1950 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-. Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1962 June 14. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-1978. Papers, 1941-1974. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn History of physics manuscript biography collection D-H, 1901-1989, [ca. 1960]-1989 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-1978. The Karl F. Herzfeld papers. Catholic University of America
referencedIn John Archibald Wheeler Papers, 1880-2008, 1880-2008 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-1978. Papers, 1951-1974. American Institute of Physics
referencedIn H. S. (Herbert Spencer) Jennings papers, ca. 1893-1947, Circa 1893-1947 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand),. Papers, 1914-1977. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Inglis, David Rittenhouse, 1905-1995. Oral history interview with David Rittenhouse Inglis, 1977 May 9 and 10. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976. Oral history interview with Werner Heisenberg, 1962 November 30 to 12 July 1963. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-. Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1978 May 11. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Heitler, Walter, 1904-. Oral history interview with Walter Heitler, 1963 March 18 and 19. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-. An illustrated history of the Herzfeld family, 1972. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abraham, Max, 1875-1922 person
associatedWith Amaldi, Edoardo, 1908-1989 person
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associatedWith Becquerel, Jean, 1878-1953 person
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associatedWith Birge, Raymond T., (Raymond Thayer), 1887-1980 person
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associatedWith Broglie, Louis de, 1892-1987 person
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associatedWith Catholic University of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967 person
associatedWith Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962 person
associatedWith Coster, Dirk, 1889-1950 person
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associatedWith Dieke, Gerhard Heinrich, 1901-1965 person
associatedWith Dirac, P. A. M., (Paul Adrien Maurice), 1902-1984 person
associatedWith Eddington, Arthur Stanley, Sir, 1882-1944 person
associatedWith Ehrenfest, Paul, 1880-1933. person
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associatedWith Eucken, A. (Arnold), 1884-1950. person
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associatedWith Fokker, A. D., (Adriaan Daniel), 1887-1972 person
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associatedWith Gerlach, Walther, 1889-1979 person
associatedWith Goudsmit, Samuel Abraham, 1902-1978 person
associatedWith Haber, Fritz, 1868-1934 person
associatedWith Hasenöhrl, Fritz. person
associatedWith Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976. person
associatedWith Heitler, Walter, 1904- person
associatedWith Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1982- person
associatedWith Hilbert, David, 1862-1943. person
associatedWith Inglis, David Rittenhouse, 1905-1995. person
associatedWith Jennings, H. S., (Herbert Spencer), 1868-1947 person
associatedWith Johns Hopkins University. corporateBody
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associatedWith Kapitsa, P. L., (Petr Leonidovich), 1894-1984 person
associatedWith Kayser, H., (Heinrich), 1853-1940 person
associatedWith Kemble, Edwin C., (Edwin Crawford), 1889-1984 person
associatedWith Klein, Oskar, 1894-1977 person
associatedWith Kramers, Hendrik Anthony, 1894-1952 person
associatedWith Kuhn, Thomas S., person
associatedWith Ladenburg, Rudolf Walter, 1882-1952 person
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associatedWith Nishina, Yoshio, 1890-1951 person
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associatedWith Paschen, F., (Friedrich), 1865-1947 person
associatedWith Pauling, Linus, 1901-1994 person
associatedWith Pauli, Wolfgang, 1900-1958 person
associatedWith Planck, Max, 1858-1947. person
associatedWith Polanyi, Michael, 1891-1976. person
associatedWith Rice, Frank. person
associatedWith Rosenfeld, L., (Leon), 1904-1974 person
associatedWith Rosseland, Svein, 1894-1985 person
associatedWith Rubens, Heinrich, 1865-1922 person
associatedWith Runge, Carl, 1856-1927 person
associatedWith Rutherford, Ernest, 1871-1937 person
associatedWith Scheel, Karl, 1866-1936 person
associatedWith Schrödinger, Erwin, 1887-1961. person
associatedWith Sommerfeld, Arnold, 1868-1951. person
associatedWith Stark, Johannes, 1874-1957 person
associatedWith Stern, Otto, 1888-1969. person
associatedWith Taylor, Hugh. person
associatedWith Teller, Edward, 1908-2003. person
associatedWith Thirring, Hans, 1888-1976. person
associatedWith Thomson, J. J., Sir, (Joseph John), 1856-1940 person
associatedWith Uhlenbeck, George Eugène, 1900-1988 person
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associatedWith United States. Navy. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Naval Research. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. corporateBody
associatedWith Universität Göttingen. corporateBody
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associatedWith Universität München. corporateBody
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associatedWith Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981. person
associatedWith Van Vleck, J. H., (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980 person
associatedWith Voigt, Woldemar, 1850-1919 person
associatedWith Von Kármán, Theodore, 1881-1963. person
associatedWith Von Neumann, John, 1903-1957 person
associatedWith Warburg, Emil Gabriel, 1846-1931 person
associatedWith Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002 person
associatedWith Wentzel, Gregor, 1898- person
associatedWith Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008. person
associatedWith Wien, W. (Wilhelm) person
associatedWith Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995. person
associatedWith Wood, Robert Williams, 1868-1955. person
associatedWith Zeeman, Pieter, 1865-1943 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Washington (D.C.)
Subject
Atomic theory
Chemistry, Physical and theoretical
Universities and colleges
Genealogy
Jewish refugees
Nuclear physics
Physical sciences
Physics
Physics
Quantum theory
Religion and science
Science
Science
Solid state physics
Statistical mechanics
Statistical physics
Ultrasonic waves
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Physicists
Physicists
Activity

Person

Birth 1892-02-24

Death 1978-06-03

French,

English,

German

Information

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Ark ID: w63b621r

SNAC ID: 60463234