Valasek, Joseph, 1897-1993

Joseph Valasek was born on April 27, 1897 in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his B.S. from the Case School of Applied Science (now Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH) in 1917, his M.A. in 1920 and Ph.D. in 1921 from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Valasek joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota in 1919 as a teaching assistant in physics. He was promoted to instructor in 1920, assistant professor in 1922, associate professor in 1927 and professor in 1941. He specialized in geometrical and physical optics, experimental optics and spectroscopy, and x-rays. Dr. Valasek discovered ferroelectricity in the 1920s, the spontaneous and reversible electric polarization of crystalline substances. He retired from the University in 1965. In 1983, the University of Minnesota honored Dr. Valasek with an honorary doctor of science degree. Joseph Valasek died in 1993.

From the guide to the Joseph Valasek papers, circa 1917-1965, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])