In fall 2024, Caltech Library is hosting Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920–2020, an expansive public exhibition that weaves together the history of science with historical and contemporary art. How, it asks, have scientists and engineers used images and collaborated with artists to discover, invent, and communicate? The exhibition features displays of about 250 objects, most drawn from the Caltech Archives and Special Collections, including rare books, paintings, drawings, photographs, scientific instruments, molecular models, and video. It will be open September 27 – December 15, 11–4 Wednesday – Sunday.
A GALCIT Update by DiAndra Reyes
The GALCIT archival project has made tremendous progress in its first year, making headway to ensure that the rich history of the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories, California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) is properly preserved and accessible for future generations.
Over the past year, Mariella Soprano, Senior Collections and Special Projects archivist, has collaborated with Jamie Meighen-Sei, Department Administrator, Aerospace (GALCIT), and the GALCIT Department (Division of Engineering and Applied Science) to develop a robust collection plan, implement access policies, select materials, and organize the refurbishment of archival storage in the GALCIT Firestone basement. GALCIT Archival Processing intern DiAndra Reyes has been instrumental in this effort, describing materials, creating a comprehensive inventory, and rehousing them in acid-free folders and archival boxes. DiAndra has processed over 80 bankers’ boxes, resulting in 121 archival boxes of processed materials. She also published the Ten Foot Wind Tunnel Series finding aid, offering a sneak peek into the collection. As DiAndra’s internship concludes, a new intern will continue processing papers, photographs, and audiovisual materials.
Key Findings and Insights So Far
So far the processed GALCIT Collection spans from 1918 to 2005 and documents the extensive history of aeronautical engineering, fluid mechanics, and aerospace research at the GALCIT. It includes materials from significant research projects, wind tunnel developments, collaborations with military and government agencies, and the foundational work of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some highlights include the Research Projects Series, JPL Series, and Department Series.
The Research Projects Series (1935-1985) documents GALCIT's collaborative research in aerodynamics, materials science, and structural mechanics, including significant projects like ramjet propulsion and the analysis of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse. The series contains technical papers, classified reports, and correspondence with prominent scientists such as Theodore von Kármán and Frank Malina.
The JPL Series (1939-1986) highlights GALCIT’s early activities with JPL and includes instructional materials for military personnel by GALCIT faculty, early rocket research, and the development and usage of JPL’s supersonic wind tunnel. These materials are invaluable for understanding the collaboration between academic and military-industrial development during World War II.
The Department Series (1929-2005) gives insight into faculty, student, and administrative activities throughout GALCIT’s eighty-year history. Correspondence from prominent faculty like Hans W. Liepmann provides insight into their academic contributions, while classified materials and selective service documents offer a look at how GALCIT navigated national security during periods of sensitive research.
L to R: Benjamin and Jo physically arranging the collection boxes. Jo and Benjamin organizing D. Goodstein’s correspondence. Penny, Benjamin, and Jo stopping to smile after the hard work they completed.
Jo Krajeski and Benjamin Mendez Jr. worked as Archival Processing Interns this past spring and summer in the Caltech Archives and Special Collections processing the David L. Goodstein and the Judith R. Goodstein papers. This is the first time the Archives brought in two interns to collaboratively work in the archives. The Goodsteins both spent many hours in the Archives working and researching Caltech’s history, so it was fitting to have both collections successively processed. Both David’s and Judith’s collections are now both fully organized and accessible in the reading room.
Collections and Metadata Archivist Penny Neder-Muro asked Jo and Benjamin some questions about their experiences as MLIS students and their time working as interns in the Caltech Archives. We want to thank Jo and Benjamin for helping the Archives preserve and make accessible the collections of two significant figures in Caltech’s history.
Thank you, Jo and Benjamin, for speaking with us today. You are both enrolled in San Jose State University’s Master of Library and Information Science fully online program. What drew you to pursue the MLIS degree? And how has that program prepared you for this internship?
BM: My experience as an intern for the CSULB Center for the History of Video Games, Technology, and Critical Play drew me to enroll in the SJSU MLIS program. I enjoy information in general and its importance to people. During my time in SJSU’s program, I have learned tons about the LIS field, including archives. One course that helped a lot was a course called Archives and Manuscripts. This course reviewed the importance of archives as information spaces and how to be a successful archivist.
JK: Genealogy and a growing love for researching historical events inspired me to pursue an MLIS at SJSU. I have been studying archival and library science for a while now (my bachelor’s degree is also LIS focused), so I am well-educated but had little practical experience. I jumped at the chance to work in the Caltech Archives. I also hoped to gain smarts through osmosis.
Can you please briefly describe your work as a Caltech Archives Processing Intern?
JK: I had the privilege of appraising and organizing the collections of both David and Judith R Goodstein. Depending on the day my tasks included: applying basic preservation measures to rehouse the paper materials, moving them to acid-free folders/boxes, and organizing items alphabetically, chronologically or by subject. Once the collection order was determined, we created collection guides for researchers to quickly and easily locate the information sought within their collections. It was interesting to learn what was in a collection, which determined the best way to organize it and make it accessible to archives researchers.
BM: As an archives intern, I worked alongside you (Penny) and Jo on processing, which Jo mentioned. We rehoused David Goodstein’s papers into clean archival folders and boxes, organizing, then created Goodstein’s online finding aid for his entire collection. My day-to-day included arriving at the archive around 7:30 am till 12:30 pm, Monday only for the beginning of my internship, then after that; it sped up once summer began. Jo and I used a shared spreadsheet, and we communicated a lot about which organization made the most sense.
David Goodstein was a member of the Caltech Faculty from 1968 through 2007, as Frank J. Gilloon Distinguished Teaching and Service Professor, who taught physics and served as Vice-Provost for almost twenty years. What is the one thing you learned while processing his collection that you would like the Caltech community and beyond to know about David Goodstein?
BM: One interesting fact I discovered when processing his collection was his love for his students and his upbeat, funny demeanor. From responding to fan letters for those who know him from the Mechanical Universe, to students' evaluation notes– It was amazing to see what a great teacher he was.
JK: He had a great sense of humor, which is strange to say about someone you have never met except on paper. He was also a very curious person, a great admirer (and friend) of Richard Feynman, and he formed strong lasting friendships with colleagues and others within his profession. I was very impressed by his ability and determination to learn Italian after he accepted an NSF fellowship in Rome. He would not only learn to communicate with his fellow lab team, but he would give seminars solely in Italian. I have great respect for David Goodstein.
Jo, you also had the opportunity to process Judith Goodstein’s Papers. Judith is University Archivist emeritus and founded the Caltech Archives in 1968. What do you want to share about Judy?
JK: Judy, Judy, Judy. As a history buff, I enjoyed going through her collection, seeing her research process and eventual culmination of the research. She, like David, had a knack for forming lifelong relationships with colleagues and those she met through her research. I enjoyed creating her collection’s finding aid too. I look forward to reading her books in the near future.
What is one surprising thing you learned while working in the Archives?
JK: I guess what surprises me the most about working in archives in general is the number of ways actions can be performed; there is no one way to do any task, but the outcome is the same: to provide access to the collections. I didn’t quite know what to expect from the Caltech Archives and Special collections, but I learned there is more interesting history to be found within their stacks than I ever realized.
BM: Of the many important things I learned this summer, one that will stick with me is that every collection is different, and depending on the circumstances, decisions can change; as Penny would say, “It depends.” While archives have standards set in place, every day could be different, and sometimes exceptions are made. A lot depends on donor agreements and the information being processed, such as medical records or classified materials.
What do you hope to do when you complete your MLIS degree?
JK: Ultimately, my goal is to remain in the archival field, but I am open to anywhere in the LIS field. I have really enjoyed my time working in an academic environment, but my passion lies with genealogy so maybe a state or local archive, or something along those lines. Working with NARA would be an accomplishment.
BM: After graduation, I plan to work in an academic library or in an archives. If I take the librarian route, I would love to work at a community college or CSU in either an education or systems librarian role. If I go with the archivist route, I would love to work in an archive revolving around technology and video games. With only a year left in my MLIS, I am anxious but excited for what will come. The road will be tough, but I am ready for the challenge!
Any final thoughts?
JK: This experience has been amazing. I have learned so much and felt so welcomed by the archives staff (and by extension the library crew) from my arrival to departure. I was given several learning opportunities, such as helping with reference, that helped with my coursework and gave me the hands-on experience I desired. I feel prepared to embark on other adventures and hope the archives’ staff continue to share their wisdom with future interns and students.
BM: I would like to thank all the archives and library staff who have assisted me through my internship at Caltech, especially Penny, Richard, Mariella, Elisa, and Peter. You have all been great to work with, and I hope our paths cross again someday.
The mission of Caltech Archives and Special Collections is to facilitate understanding of Caltech's role in the history of science and technology and of the research and lives of its community. Earlier this fall, the Archives conducted a search for an Archival Processing Intern to assist with surveying, arranging, and describing physical and digital records held at the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT), Division of Engineering and Applied Science.
The Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology (GALCIT) was a research institute created in 1926, at first specializing in aeronautics research. In 1930, Hungarian scientist Theodore von Karman accepted the directorship of the lab and emigrated to the United States. Under his leadership, work on rockets began there in 1936. In 1961 the name changed to Graduate Aeronautical Laboratories at the California Institute of Technology. In 2006 GALCIT was once again renamed, taking on the new and current name of Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology (while continuing to maintain the acronym GALCIT) in order to reflect its vigorous re-engagement with space engineering and with JPL.
At the conclusion of the search, DiAndra Reyes was chosen to be our new GALCIT Archival Processing Intern. She is a second year Master of Library and Information Science student at San José State University. DiAndra agreed to answer some questions so we could get to know her better.
Hi DiAndra! We're happy to welcome you as the Library's new Archival Processing Intern. This position was funded by the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories (GALCIT) and you were chosen from many qualified candidates. What drew you to apply to this position?
Hello! I am truly honored to have been selected as the new GALCIT Processing Intern. Firstly, I want to thank GALCIT, Caltech Library, and Archives for giving me such an amazing professional development opportunity. There were many factors that drew me to this position. One of my motivating factors for applying was that I felt really aligned with the Caltech Archives’ focus on facilitating an understanding of Caltech’s pivotal role in the history of science and technology. I really got a sense from the job posting, as well as talking to Mariella Soprano and Kara Whatley in the interview, that the Archives and Institute really care about the preservation and discovery of its history and people, while at the same time they have a forward-looking approach to doing archival work.
Although I do not have a background in Aerospace Engineering, the chance to immerse myself in a subject area with which I am less familiar adds an enriching dimension to the experience and gives me a unique opportunity to become a more versatile and collaborative archivist who can adapt to any field. Furthermore, I’ve been in the San José State University Master of Library and Information Science online program for two and a half years, and the opportunity to work on-site, get hands-on experience with the physical materials, and build interpersonal relationships with the staff and faculty, really enticed me.
What kind of courses are you currently taking in the MLIS program at San José State?
I’m currently taking an Archives Reference class, where I’m learning about reference processes, guidelines, legalities, etc. in archival institutions. Additionally, I am also doing a fall semester internship at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles, which I will be receiving school credit for.
Now that you've started working in the Archives, what does a typical day in the life of a GALCIT Archival Processing Intern look like?
A typical day for me involves arriving at my office in the Guggenheim building at 9 a.m. Mariella Soprano, my supervisor, meets me there around the same time. I first check my calendar and emails to confirm what meetings I have for the day. Then I start working with Mariella in going through materials. We work together to decide what to keep and what to throw away, as well as conducting some basic preservation procedures like removing rusty staples and clips and flattening out papers. Then we figure out how to categorize and organize the materials into series and subseries. I input the data for the materials into a spreadsheet with titles, dates, creators, scope and content notes, etc. This spreadsheet will later be imported into ArchivesSpace. Next, I put the materials in archival folders and in their respective sections on shelves in my office. Sometimes, I also spend part of my day researching GALCIT and its history. The GALCIT website and the Caltech Archives’ oral histories website have served as valuable resources in understanding the context of the materials we are discovering.
What can you tell us about the Archives you're working on?
The GALCIT archives is a treasure trove of materials dating from the 1930s and 1940s through the present, consisting of records from the department’s initiatives and projects. It’s really a Pandora’s box, and we have still yet to know what we will find. So far, we know there are papers, large plans and drawings, and audio/visual materials. The commitment of the GALCIT department in taking the initiative to preserve all this history is truly commendable. The collection will be stored in GALCIT, in the basement of the Firestone building, while under the guardianship of the Archives department.
What do you enjoy so far about working at Caltech?
Working at Caltech has been an enriching experience so far, particularly due to the opportunity to interact with diverse individuals at GALCIT, the Archives, and the Library. Learning from passionate professionals who are doing amazing work has been truly inspiring. I hope to continue learning as much as I can about how each department functions and their impacts on the Caltech community as a whole.
Is there anything you'd like us to know before we go?
I would like to express my gratitude for the warm welcome from everyone and the opportunity to be a part of the Caltech community. I look forward to sharing our discoveries of the GALCIT collection in the near future!
Over the summer, thanks to the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Grant for Archives, the Archives hired SJSU MLIS student, Gabriela Lazo, to begin processing the Robert F. Christy Papers. They continued with us through the fall term. In addition to the Christy papers, they were able to experience Archives and Library operations by attending staff meetings, scanning documents, and learning about archival reference. Before moving on to finish their degree, we asked Gabriela some questions about their time at Caltech. We thank Gabriela for helping the Caltech Archives and wish them well on their journey.
Gabriela Lazo (they/them) worked as Archives Processing Intern for the 2023 summer term and into the fall, and they live in East Los Angeles, where they were raised. Gabriela has a BA in Sociology and Chicanx Studies with specializations in Social Movements/Political Sociology and Equity/Diversity from Cal State Northridge, and they will receive their Master of Library and Information Science from San Jose State by December 2023. Gabriela spends much of their free time visiting local museums and libraries, along with getting involved in their community through mutual aid work and a radical book club!
1) Hi Gabriela! How have you enjoyed your position as our first Archival Processing Intern?
I've enjoyed my time at Caltech immensely! I've learned not just about the archives field, but also of the history of Caltech and the discoveries made here. My supervisor, Penny, creates an amazing environment for me to learn about what goes into being an archivist. Not only that, but I also enjoyed the events that take place on campus, such as resource fairs and new building ceremonies. It feels as if I've only explored the tip of the iceberg of what Caltech has to offer.
2) Robert F. Christy, who lived from 1916 to 2012, made instrumental contributions to the development of nuclear weapons in the Manhattan Project. After World War II, he went on to study the biological and health effects of radiation and conducted research in astrophysics on cosmic rays and Cepheid variable stars. Christy also served as provost and acting president of Caltech. The Christy Papers consist of correspondence, lab notebooks, photographs and slides, and other documents related to his work on dosimetry, astrophysics, and Caltech administration. Could you tell us a little about your work processing the Christy Papers?
The Christy Papers aided me in understanding the processing of archives. I began by sorting through his correspondence, which includes letters to and from world-renowned scientists. I sorted the correspondence by chronological order and created series and sub-series under the guidance of Penny. I’ve learned a great deal about Christy’s work as Caltech Provost and his involvement in the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. Christy began his work studying theoretical physics and later went on to study astrophysics. Later in life, he studied dosimetry and the effects of atomic bombings on populations impacted by bombings. I added this information to ArchivesSpace (the archives management database), making it discoverable for researchers.
3) What does a day in the life of an Archival Processing Intern look like?
A day in the life of an Archival Processing Intern looks like getting started by checking any emails or any online updates each morning. Then I'd begin processing the Christy papers where I last left off. Much of the materials consist of correspondence between Robert Christy and other Caltech admin dating back to the 1950s. I sort based on the contents of the materials. Additionally, I’ve also delved into work dealing with Amos G. Throop collection and the founding of Caltech. I also had the opportunity to shadow other librarians to understand the important work they do for students and researchers. Besides my archival work, I sometimes have time set out to explore the campus or join in on any events occurring at the time. I got to see something new every day at Caltech!
4) You're enrolled in the Master of Library and Information Science program at San Jose State University. How has it been studying in a fully online program? How has the coursework helped in processing the Christy papers?
San Jose State's MLIS online program has provided me with a better understanding of the responsibilities of an archivist. I’ve taken courses on information communities, digital tools, cataloging, coding, and applied research. I’ve taken skills from both school and this position and utilized them in my assignments in both settings. An online schooling experience has also provided me with flexibility in my schedule for opportunities such as my position at Caltech. I feel that I've achieved a great work-school-life balance due to the program's convenience. I still have time to visit museums and libraries, along with getting involved in my community in my free time.
5) What do you think is the most important function of any archival project?
I believe that the most important function of any archival project is to provide the people with access to history. The archivist's role is to make materials and other resources easily accessible to patrons. This aligns with my principles of making education accessible for all. There is an information gap that primarily impacts marginalized communities, so archival projects must take into account accessibility and reach. Access to quality information is a human right.
6) What do you hope to do when you complete your degree?
I hope to work in the GLAM field (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) when I complete my degree by the end of this year. I have a passion for art and history, which I would like to pursue in my profession as an archivist. My time at Caltech, along with work in other libraries and museums, has taught me that I seek to devote my time to being an information professional.
Caltech Archives is excited to be part of PST ART: Art & Science Collide, a Getty initiative. Our exhibition Crossing Over: Art and Science at Caltech, 1920–2020 will open to the public in four spaces on campus in September 2024.
Crossing Over considers how scientists use visual culture, examining the roles images and artists have played in scientific institutions. Far from depicting information impartially, scientific images make arguments, persuading viewers to accept particular theories and interpretations. Caltech, founded in the late 19th century, serves as a case study for how scientific images have been used over the 20th and 21st centuries and how they’ve evolved. Spanning 100 years, two global pandemics, and four venues across campus, Crossing Over mines the Caltech archives for objects, images, and stories illustrating the complex interchange between science and the visual arts at this influential institution. Caltech physicist Richard Feynman, for example, created a widely used system for depicting the behavior of subatomic particles, known as Feynman diagrams. Three contemporary Los Angeles artists—Lita Albuquerque, Ken Gonzales-Day, and Hillary Mushkin—contribute original, site-specific installations.
Richard Thai comes to us from CSUN where he was the ScholarWorks (Repository) Specialist, and he previously held archivist positions at the LA84 Foundation and the National History Museum of Los Angeles County. Richard holds a BA from UC Irvine and a MLIS from UCLA, where he sits on the Information Studies Alumni Association Board. The search committee was struck by Richard’s collaborative work style and his outreach efforts. We asked Richard some questions about his role in this new position.
Congratulations on your new position as Digital Archivist, Richard! Could you give us an introduction to what a digital archivist does?
Thank you! I am excited to be here at Caltech.
The role of a digital archivist can vary from institution to institution. At Caltech, I will be working primarily with “born-digital” materials. As you can guess, that’s materials that were created on a computer and not digitalized from a physical counterpart. So instead of preserving the letters and newspapers, I would be preserving emails and websites. More importantly, I would be developing the policies and workflows for preserving digital content and making them accessible. At other institutions, the digital archivist may also oversee digitalization as well. I am sure there are some “duties as assigned” waiting for me, too.
What inspired you to pursue a career in digital archiving?
The short answer: I like organizing stuff, I have a fondness for history, and I enjoy helping people.
The long answer: I thought I wanted to pursue a career in museums but the only department that had an opening was the history department. They had a western history collection that needed processing and the archivist needed help. Like many archivists, getting a taste of working in an archive was what sent me on my archives journey.
I did not intentionally set out to be a digital archivist but with things becoming increasingly digital, it is where the exciting new developments in the field are happening.
What does a day in the life of a digital archivist look like?
We are currently in process of developing our “born-digital” collection at Caltech and I am in the “training/discovery” phase of the job. This means I am attending training sessions, meeting with Library staff, researching standards/workflows, and testing out different software. Ask me again in a few months and I will have a better answer.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing digital archivists in 2023?
Digital archiving is a relatively young field, so we do not have a deep history of professional practice to fall back upon. Many of my digital archivist colleagues have told me that they are learning on the job. At the same time, we are not held back by decades old professional dogma and there are a lot of opportunities to be a pioneer in the field. It is daunting but also a very exciting time to be in archives.
What do you anticipate for the future of the Caltech digital archives?
It will be great. There are a lot of born-digital materials waiting to be collected and processed.
Wolfgang Knauss, Caltech’s von Kármán Professor of Aeronautics and Applied Mechanics, Emeritus, shares recollections of his life and career in a newly published oral history. Knauss, who is internationally known for his pioneering research in fracture mechanics, talks about Caltech’s GALCIT program, his work with NASA, the aerospace industry, and the US Navy, and his lifelong interest in music, among many other topics. Born in Germany in 1933, the year Hitler came to power, he also recalls his childhood experiences under the Nazi regime and during World War II. In 1954, he emigrated to the United States and began undergraduate studies at Caltech, commencing a relationship that has spanned nearly seven decades.
To celebrate this year’s Commencement and congratulate a new generation of distinguished graduates, the Caltech Archives feature two photographic galleries from the 1960s and 1980s.
Our oral history interview with J. Morgan Kousser has been published. Kousser is professor emeritus of history and social science, as well as an expert on minority voting, discrimination, and race relations in the United States.
Between 1962 and 1973 the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech operates for NASA, designed and built ten probes to visit Mars, Venus and Mercury under the Mariner Program.
Left to right: Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Walter Sullivan, Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray.
November 12, 1971, Ramo Auditorium, Caltech
In anticipation of Mariner 9’s planned orbit around Mars, Caltech professor of planetary sciences Bruce Murray invited the following gentlemen to participate in a public symposium on “Mars and the Mind of Man”: the science fiction writers Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke, Cornell’s Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies Carl Sagan, who was a Caltech visiting associate and a member of the Mariner 9 television team along with Murray, and New York Times science editor Walter Sullivan. The symposium was held on November 12, 1971, on the eve of the probe’s planned orbital entry. Caltech later published a brief account in the January 1972 issue of Engineering and Science .
Sullivan, who served as panel moderator,
Shown above: Walter Sullivan
introduced Sagan,
Shown above: Carl Sagan
who gave a brief history of man’s early fascination with Mars. Sagan reflected on the 18th century’s belief that Mars was a dying planet. By the early 20th century, though, thanks to Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli’s 1877 observations of “canali,” American astronomer Percival Lowell and others believed that intelligent beings had constructed canals. And early science fiction writers such as Edgar Rice Burroughs further popularized the idea of life on Mars.
Ray Bradbury followed, highlighting Jules Verne and Burroughs’ great influence on his becoming a writer, creating his own stories of human attempts at colonizing the red planet in The Martian Chronicles .
Shown above: Ray Bradbury
In jest, Bradbury said he hoped Mariner 9 photos would find Martians “standing there with huge signs, saying Bradbury was right.”
Shown above: Ray Bradbury
He ended by reciting his poem “If Only We had Taller Been,” summing up why he loves space travel and writes science fiction. An excerpt from Bradbury’s comments and reading of poem can be viewed in JPL’s memorial video for him .
Next, observing that humans so wanted Mars to be Earthlike—habitable and capable of supporting life—Bruce Murray criticized the earlier misinformation and distortion of scientific observation that he felt had “extended and endured beyond the realm of science to so grab hold of man’s emotions and thoughts” and which had helped mislead the scientific mind as well as the popular mind.
Shown above: Bruce Murray
But, on a more positive note, Murray acknowledged that the Mariner missions were important to the “idea of exploration,” to “learn about something we don’t know. The fact that we as a people have advanced far enough to explore another planet is something of which we should be very proud.”
Shown above: Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke followed Murray and spoke in defense of science fiction writers as well as those guilty of giving voice to misinformed theories and past misinterpreted observations, pointing out that this had helped to keep the interest in planetary science alive. He concluded:
“Whatever discoveries are made in the next few days or weeks or months, the frontier of our knowledge is moving inevitably outwards. The frontier is moving on and our viewpoint is changing with it.”
His one and only prediction was that “whether or not there is life on Mars now, there will be by the end of this century.”
Questions and rebuttals followed. Murray and Sagan debated the possibility of life on Mars, the ways of detecting life if it existed, and whether or not the sterilization of future space vehicles to Mars would be necessary to avoid contamination.
From left to right: Carl Sagan and Bruce Murray
Sagan felt all precautions should be taken and asked Murray to “keep an open mind and see what the [Mariner 9] observations uncover.” Yet for Murray, observation alone was not enough. To prove life existed, he felt it would be necessary to examine Martian samples in a lab as had been done with the Apollo moon rocks. (For more on this, see Caltech and the Apollo Program .)
Ever the positive voice, Bradbury concluded that our curiosity and thirst for knowledge beyond what we know was not foolhardy. Framing his thoughts as a visionary, Bradbury declared:
Shown above: Ray Bradbury
“I think it’s part of the nature of man to start with romance and build to a reality. In order to get the facts we have to be excited to go out and get them and there’s only one way to do that—through romance.”
Two years later in 1973, the panel participants published an account of the symposium along with 50 images chosen from over 7,000 taken by Mariner 9. The book also included “afterthoughts”—their reflections a year later on the discoveries made and the future of human exploration of Mars and beyond.
Shown above: Book cover for Mars and the Mind of Man
Murray admitted having had preconceived prejudices; a year later he was “astonished” at what the Mariner 9 photos and scientific data revealed geologically regarding Mars’ surface. Yet Murray continued to insist on the need to collect Martian samples to study the planet’s chemical and biological history.
Both Murray and Sagan addressed their concern over the political and socio-economic climate and the ever-decreasing government funding and were curious as to the future of U.S.-Soviet competition and collaboration in space. Sagan spoke of the value of space exploration to provide a “new perspective on our own planet, its origins, and its possible futures, to see the Earth as it is, one planet among many, a world whose significance is only what we make of it.”
For Clarke, space exploration fulfills the need to explore:
“Whether we find life or not, we will discover things which we could never have imagined. And these will provide material for the deeper and richer fantasies of the future, just as the earlier observations inspired the fantasies of the past.”
In a similar vein, Sullivan felt that
“the triumph of science and reason over superstition will not be complete until we have pushed our knowledge of the reality of the universe to the limits of our capabilities, both technological and intellectual.
We do know enough already, however, to believe that no myth or legend could be as rich in beauty, wonder, and awe as the full reality of the universe that is our home.”
Bradbury, the last to give his “afterthoughts,” spoke of the significance of science to continually probe and investigate:
“It is the duty of the sciences to break down the barriers between families of knowledge every few years so that we resight, realign, reexperience the miraculous-strange and recombine its components into new families.”
On February 11, 1972, NASA announced that Mariner 9 had achieved all of its goals, but the probe continued to send data until October 27, 1972.
Shown above: Model of Mariner 9
Besides making history as the first spacecraft to successfully orbit another planet, its 7,329 photos mapped 85% of the planet and included images of Mars’ moons Phobos and Deimos. It gathered data regarding the planet’s surface and atmosphere and detected water vapor over its south pole. And Mariner 9’s photos were used to help select the landing sites for the two Viking landers that set down on the surface of Mars in 1976.
As for the five gentlemen, in time each was recognized in some fashion for their interest in Mars or planetary science in general:
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) named their “Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism – Features” after its first honoree who received the award in 1989.
The Minor Planet Center named the asteroid “4923 Clarke” in Arthur C. Clarke’s honor, and the International Astronomical Union named a mountain on Pluto’s moon Charon “Clarke Montes.”
On July 5, 1997, NASA renamed the Mars Pathfinder lander the “Carl Sagan Memorial Station.”
Ray Bradbury was honored on August 22, 2012 when NASA named the Mars Curiosity rover’s landing site “Bradbury Landing.”
And on November 13, 2013, NASA announced two sites on Mars to be named “Murray’s Ridge” and “Murray Buttes” in Bruce Murray’s honor. LK, November 2021
The Caltech Archives has produced three short videos focusing on the institute’s early history: “Big T on the Mountain,” featuring the student tradition of maintaining a large carved letter on the hillside; “Caltech’s Lost World,” on the institute’s program in paleontology; and “Caltech’s House of Lightning,” on the High Voltage Research Lab. The videos are part of the Becoming Caltech initiative. The Archives are grateful to the Library Administration for its support, and especially to Matt Buga for creating the videos. Watch them on the YouTube playlist .
A series of oral histories conducted by Alice Stone in 1978 to document the early history of the Caltech Women’s Club and social life of the campus in the 1910s and 1920s have been published. The interviewees include Adeline Miller Adams, Eleanor Bedell Burt, Helen Keith Smythe, and Elizabeth Allen Swift.
Our 2017 interview with Arden Albee, Caltech professor emeritus of geology and planetary science, and a key figure in lunar and Martian exploration has been published. Professor Albee served as JPL chief scientist and led multiple NASA missions.
These oral histories offer a firsthand view of the lives and careers of students, faculty, and administrators with different backgrounds: J. Harold Wayland (enginering), Howard G. Smits (engineering), Herbert L. Hahn (trustee), Earl Mendenhall (BS 1918), Harvey W. House (BS 1920), Wesley L. Hershey (Caltech Y, shown above with a group of students).
A century ago, a small institution called Throop Polytechnic Institute dramatically reinvented itself, transforming from a manual arts academy to an engineering school, then expanding into a research institute. In 1920, it became the California Institute of Technology.
In summer 2020, Caltech archivists gave a series of livestreamed presentations on the science, engineering, architecture, and community life of early Caltech. Here is the link to video of these presentations .
The Caltech Archives is collecting the experiences of the Caltech community on campus, at home, and elsewhere during this unprecedented time. Your contributions will document how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected our community. Learn more.
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In the 1910s and 1920s, Pasadena college Throop Polytechnic Institute dramatically reinvented itself, first focusing its curriculum on engineering, then expanding into a research institute. On February 10, 1920, Throop's trustees acknowledged this transformation by changing the institution's name. Throop became the California Institute of Technology.
A hundred years later, this exhibit tells the story of how Caltech's research, architecture, and campus life were transformed by new visions, rapid growth, and World War I. Additional information .
Our interviews with physicists Ronald Drever and David Goodstein, engineer Frederick Lindvall, administrator and English lecturer Charles Newton are now online. Read more about our oral history program.
As Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969 on its way to landing the first men on the moon, among the spectators was novelist Herman Wouk—who was inspired to send a postcard to his brother, Caltech alumnus Victor Wouk (MS ’40, PhD ’42), noting that “nothing can trivialize this awesome thing.”
Four days later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. They completed their mission on July 24 when they returned to earth. On July 25, Caltech’s President Harold Brown sent a congratulatory letter to NASA administrator Thomas O. Paine, commenting:
I am sure that [Apollo 11] will be followed by many other feats, both in terms of adventure and in terms of the understanding of the universe around us. But the first manned lunar landing will always remain the largest single milestone in the exploration of the solar system. (Harold Brown Papers, folder 17.1)
But landing a man on the moon was only part of the mission. The astronauts were to collect and return with lunar materials.
Over a two-year period, approximately 140 scientists from around the world were selected by NASA to receive lunar samples. Among them were six from Caltech:
Silver (PhD ’55) and Patterson were to measure amounts of the radioactive elements uranium and thorium, which decay at known rates into forms of lead, thereby determining the age of the rocks as well as possibly dating any volcanic activity and any heat produced from the decay.
Epstein and Taylor (BS ’54, PhD ’59) were to search for isotopes of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and other elements to determine the temperatures at which moon minerals were formed, as well as any possible interactions between the rocks and water that might exist on the moon.
Wasserburg and Burnett would, in Wasserburg’s words, “watch the abundances of certain elements in the lunar material with regard to implications about the origin of the moon, the earth and meteorites.” Their analyses would include looking for traces of such chemical elements as lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, gadolinium, and rare gases such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon.
A seventh Caltech scientist, Geology Division chair Eugene M. Shoemaker (BS ’48, MS ’49), was Principal Investigator of the field geology program. That summer, immediately following the astronauts’ return, Shoemaker and Wasserburg left for Houston to be advisers at the Manned Spaceflight Center’s Lunar Receiving Laboratory (LRL), where the samples were quarantined and underwent preliminary examination. Earlier, Shoemaker and Silver had trained the astronauts to perform field geology.
(Leon Silver discusses Shoemaker, the Apollo program, and astronaut and Caltech alumnus Harrision H. “Jack” Schmitt (BS ’57) in his oral history interview , pages 42–53, available online. For more on preparing astronauts as geologists, see “ Geology on the Moon ” in the November 1971 issue of Engineering and Science .)
On the Caltech campus, five new laboratories were constructed in the North Mudd and Arms buildings to receive the lunar samples in an antiseptic environment, free of dust and lead. Wasserburg and his graduate student Dimitri Papanastassiou (BS ’65, PhD ’70) developed what came to be known as “Lunatic I,” the first fully digital mass spectrometer, enabling them to measure isotope ratios with 30 times the precision of earlier instruments. Wasserburg’s lab on the second floor of Arms would become known as the “Lunatic Asylum.”
On September 8, 1969, NASA administrator Thomas O. Paine wrote President Brown to discuss the future delivery of the lunar samples to Caltech and their proper handling, adding that “loss due to carelessness or for any reason, including theft, would be inexcusable.”
Once the materials were received at all participating institutions, a deadline was set for January 1970, when the 140 scientists would arrive in Houston and report their preliminary studies. A summary of Caltech’s findings by Wasserburg, Epstein, and Silver was reported as “ Research Notes ” in the January 1970 issue of Engineering and Science .
With Caltech’s participation in the Apollo lunar sample program, as well as previous work in space sciences—beginning as early as 1961 with then research fellow Bruce Murray (and future JPL director, 1976 to 1982)—in December 1970 the Division of Geology decided to change its name to Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences.
Caltech would continue its involvement with the Apollo program through December 1972, when Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (Caltech BS ’57), who NASA had selected as its first scientist-astronaut in 1965, served in the last manned Apollo mission, Apollo 17, with Eugene Cernan.
In a June 28, 1972 letter sent to Schmitt, Wasserburg wished Schmitt well, and wrote, “we look forward to your having a very exciting and valuable trip and will have the wine all ready, if you will be willing to swap it for rocks.… I look forward to a successful mission for the last of the Apollo generation.” (Gerald Wasserburg Papers, folder 27.28)
LK, July 2019
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Lifting 130-foot radio telescope dish onto pedestal |
This year marks two important anniversaries for the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO), one of the largest university-operated radio telescope facilities in the world. Managed by the Caltech Astronomy department and located on the East side of the Sierra Nevada, OVRO was inaugurated in 1958 and continues observations to this day.
Its iconic 130-foot radio antenna was dedicated on October 18, 1968, and it soon made its mark in the single-dish spectroscopy of interstellar clouds and in very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), paired with antennas thousands of kilometers away. Here is a selection of photos from our OVRO collections, chronicling the construction of the 130-foot radio telescope. EP - Posted 10-18-2018
A series of seven oral histories conducted by the Caltech Archives between 1991 and 1992 to document the early history and development of the Keck Observatory at Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
On August 26 th , a transcontinental race began between Caltech and MIT—pitting Caltech's 1958 Volkswagen bus against MIT's 1968 Corvair, each modified to operate on battery power alone. The Caltech crew left for Cambridge, MA, while the MIT group hit the road for Pasadena. The race would end on September 4 th , with Caltech's arrival in Cambridge.
Shown above: Wally Rippel's converted 1958 Volkswagen bus
Initially, the challenge was the brainchild of Caltech undergrad Wally E. Rippel (BS '68 in physics) to see who could develop the fastest and most reliable all-electric vehicle. Though MIT would cross the finish line first, arriving in Pasadena at 3:26 pm (PDT) on September 2nd, due to penalty time accrued by MIT for towing, replaced motor, overheated batteries and other issues, Caltech would be declared the winner by 30 minutes by the Motor Design magazine judges. Both vehicles took over 200 hours to complete the race, and both needed repairs during it. However, Caltech's ''Voltswagon'' made the entire trip without being towed once, while MIT's Corvair had to be towed numerous times—including the last 130 miles, breaking down just outside of Victorville. Caltech arrived at MIT on September 4 th , crossing the finish line at 7:46 am (EDT)—under their own power!
The details of their adventure are recounted in the October 1968 issue of Caltech's magazine Engineering and Science
Shown above: Wally Rippel on the cover of Engineering and Science, October 1968 .
Shown above: Caltech students Wally Rippel (left), Ron Gremban (center) and George Swartz (right), upon their arrival at MIT, September 4, 1968.
To honor both teams, a dinner was arranged a few days later in New York City by Caltech alum Victor Wouk (MS '40, PhD '42 in electrical engineering)—an early pioneer in electric, and especially hybrid, vehicles, who later converted a 1972 Buick Skylark to a hybrid.
To read more regarding this, and his other achievements, Wouk's 2004 oral history interview is available online . And available at the Caltech Archives are Wouk's personal papers , comprised of 70 boxes which contain correspondence, publications, patents, research and consulting, lectures, and expert testimonies.
Shown above: Wouk with his 1972 hybrid Buick Skylark at the EPA test site, 1974.
After Wally Rippel's graduation from Caltech and an MS in electrical engineering from Cornell, he continued his commitment to the development of electric motors. In the 1970s and 1980s he joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's technical staff, focusing on developing batteries and electric vehicle drives based on induction motors. And in the eighties, Rippel along with over a dozen other Caltech graduates, including Alan Cocconi (BS '80)—his future partner at AC Propulsion, Inc.—consulted for AeroVironment in the development of General Motors' Sunraycer, a solar-powered vehicle designed to compete in the 1987 World Solar Challenge—a race across Australia, which they won. AeroVironment founder and Caltech alum Paul MacCready (MS ’48 in physics, PhD ’52 in aeronautical engineering) put together a winning team led by one of his chief engineers, Caltech alum Alec Brooks (MS ’77, PhD ’81).
The full account can be read in MacCready's ''Sunraycer Odyssey,''
Winter 1988 Engineering and Science .
Shown above: Paul MacCready with GM's Sunraycer, December 1987
Shown above: On January 1, 1988, Sunraycer leads the Rose Parade down Colorado Boulevard
With the success of the Sunraycer came GM's next project. Once again, MacCready, together with his team of Caltech graduates, helped design the GM Impact, a concept car which would become the prototype for General Motor's EV1—the electric car mass-produced and leased to the public from 1996–1999.
MacCready discusses this, and more, in his 2003 oral history interview, available online . Also available online is the digitized collection of the Paul MacCready Papers .
In 1998, to commemorate the 30 th anniversary of The Great Electric Car Race, Caltech cohosted a daylong celebration, ''Engineering the EV Future.'' This was an opportunity to meet past and current representatives of the electric vehicle community as well as behold the latest concept cars. All the ''usual suspects'' of the past took part—Victor Wouk being not only the driving force for the event but also its master of ceremonies, and Paul MacCready heading one of the panel discussions. -LK
Details regarding the conference are highlighted in the 1998 Caltech New s (Vol. 32, #3)
“Engineering the EV Future,” Beckman Institute courtyard, September 3, 1998.
Top photo: Victor Wouk (right) with unknown man. Bottom photo: Paul MacCready (left) with Alec Brooks (right).
George Ellery Hale (1868–1938) founded not only Caltech, but also the world’s largest telescopes. We’ve digitized his papers for the 150th anniversary of his birth.
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Descending from Firestone with a motorbike |
Visitors to Caltech are usually struck by the quiet of its campus; if they chance on the right day of the year, though, they will witness the most unusual scenes: students wrestling with dismantled cars, climbing buildings, hammering doors, and drilling through concrete.
On "Ditch Day", toward the end of Spring Term, all Seniors ditch their classes and disappear from campus (Seniors found on campus are often tied to a tree). They leave their dormitory rooms locked with clever, painstakingly wrought Rube Goldberg-style puzzles ("stacks") that their underclassmates must solve to enter the rooms. It’s a battle of brains: high-tech devices and cerebral procedures. There are three types of stacks, requiring different approaches to the final break-in: brute force, finesse, or honor (the room is left open but cannot be entered until a puzzle is solved). Inside the rooms are bribes; if the underclassmen are not satisfied, they may booby-trap the lodgings, and it is the Seniors’ turn to use their wits. The exact date of Ditch Day is kept secret until the very last moment, but when it is on, everybody is sure to notice! -EP
Here is a gallery of candid Ditch Day moments from our collection. Posted 5-25-2018
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In work and play, Richard Feynman was a distinctively visual thinker. The Caltech Archives is telling the story of Feynman’s life and physics by exhibiting the notes and artwork through which he shared his vision.
Highlights include the early Feynman diagrams with which Feynman developed his Nobel Prize-winning contributions to quantum electrodynamics, illustrated lecture notes for the famous Feynman lectures on physics, sketches of colleagues and campus sites, and photographs of Feynman as a teacher, drummer, and amateur actor. Additional information. Posted 5-7-2018
A Caltech Archives special exhibition on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Richard Feynman's birth. Learn more.
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Beckman (right) and James McCullough in a Caltech chemistry lab, 1934. |
In his roles as a Caltech chemistry professor, a pioneer in scientific instrumentation, and a philanthropist, Arnold Beckman contributed in many ways to our knowledge of the natural world. His impact is visible in buildings on campus and equipment in labs around the world. Historians are using his legacy to study how science shaped the 20th century.
Join the Caltech Archives for a panel discussion with a group of researchers working to understand Beckman's historical significance. The research team will share their experiences learning about Beckman's life in science and finding meaning in the photographs, private correspondence, and surprising objects preserved in Caltech's collections.
Panelists: Deanna Day, Joseph Klett, Roger Turner – Science History Institute. Moderator: Peter Collopy – Caltech Archives
This discussion will be followed by a reception from 5:00 to 6:00 on the Beckman Institute patio, and then by a screening of the Science History Institute's new film about Beckman, The Instrumental Chemist , from 6:00 to 7:30. More information about the panel discussion . Posted 4-2-2018
Read our interview with Jerome Pine (1928-2017), neuroscientist and physics professor in the Division of Physics, Mathematics, and Astronomy.
- Richard H. MacNeal (Electrical engineering) - H. Victor Neher (Physics) - David S. Saxon (Astronomy) - Apollo M. O. Smith (Mechanical engineering; Aeronautics) - Hallet D. Smith (History) - Robert L. Walker (Physics)
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Donald Glaser playing the viola |
The Caltech Archives are proud to announce the launch of the Donald A. Glaser digital collection .
Donald. A. Glaser (1926-2013), completed his PhD in physics at Caltech in 1950 and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1960 for his invention of the bubble chamber. His scientific work transitioned then to molecular biology and later to neuroscience, leading to significant contributions in both fields.
The Glaser Digital Collection unites two physical collections owned by the University of California Berkeley and Caltech. It is extremely rich and significant and includes papers, diaries, notebooks, many photos and slides.
Visit the online collection . Posted 12-11-2017
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Commencement on the steps of Gates, 1917 |
The Gates Laboratory of Chemistry was constructed in 1917. It is now 100 years old, making it—repurposed as the Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration—Caltech’s oldest building. Explore our exhibits on the history of Gates and on the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering that grew up within it.
CARVER MEAD'S legacy preserved
The Caltech Archives is proud to announce the production of a series of videos where Professor Carver Mead, the pioneer of modern microelectronics, tells the story of the realization of his 'first chip' and of the first VLSI course.
The first video, titled 'My First Chip' starts from the time when he met Gordon Moore, who would soon predict that every year the semiconductor industry would double the number of transistors that could be fabricated on a commercial integrated circuit. Carver Mead and his students worked on the physics of ultra-small transistors, and showed that, in addition to allowing greater density, they ran faster and used less power. This work proved that Moore's prediction did not violate any laws of physics, and it became known as 'Moore's Law'–the term coined and made famous by Mead. The second video, still in production, will cover the inception of the first VLSI course and its development and impact on the world.
Professor Mead, Gordon and Betty Moore Professor of Engineering and Applied Science, Emeritus, has made seminal contributions to microelectronics that include the physics of nanostructures, the development of tools and techniques for modern integrated-circuit design, laying the foundation for fabless semiconductor companies. He has taught generations of engineers that have made fundamental contributions to the development of modern microelectronics. He continues to be actively involved in research, currently in gravitation and electromagnetism. He has also donated his papers, correspondence, lectures, audio-visual recordings, chip layouts and masks, small apparatus and other materials to the Caltech Archives.
At Caltech, the interest in gravitational waves began with a young professor of theoretical physics, Kip Thorne, who by the late 1960s began further exploring Einstein's predicted existence of such waves. As Thorne wrote in 1969:
According to general relativity, space and time make up a four-dimensional "space" (or manifold) called spacetime, which is curved. The curvature of spacetime is produced by its material content (galaxies, stars, planets, people). Experimentally, the curvature of spacetime shows up as gravity. In effect, gravity and spacetime curvature are one and the same thing. [Excerpt from Thorne's " Relativistic Astrophysics at Caltech: 1923-1969 ."]
Kip Thorne, 1969
Einstein's theory of general relativity also entailed that gravitational interactions produce waves, ripples in this spacetime. In the 1960s, physicists began building interferometers to detect such gravitational waves. In an interferometer, a beam of light is split into two rays which are sent off in different directions, reflected from mirrors, recombined, and ultimately projected onto a screen. If the two rays have each been subject to the same forces, the pattern of light on the screen will be the same as if the beam shone on it directly; if, on the other hand, the rays have been subject to interference—such as a gravitational wave that subtly moved one mirror further away, so that one ray travelled further than the other—the combined pattern of light will appear different.
Drever’s simplified diagram, illustrating an optical cavity gravitational wave interferometer.
In 1968, Thorne established a research group here at Caltech, dedicated to working on the theory of gravitational waves. They also began a collaboration with Moscow State University professor Vladimir Braginsky and his experimental group. And by 1979, Caltech recruited Ronald Drever of the University of Glasgow (where Drever had developed a 10-meter prototype) to lead an experimental gravitational wave group here, together with Caltech physics professor Stanley Whitcomb, who came on board in 1980.
Shown above: May 18, 1976, Caltech's Alumni Seminar Day. Thorne discusses how, if gravitational waves could be detected and studied, how these waves could reveal what is happening inside quasars, black holes, and the cores of galaxies.
In 1980, the National Science Foundation decided to fund the construction of a Drever-Whitcomb 40-meter prototype interferometer at Caltech —as well as Rainer Weiss's 1.5 meter prototype at MIT. And by 1984, Caltech and MIT signed an agreement for the joint design and construction of LIGO, with administrative headquarters at Caltech under joint leadership by Drever, Weiss, and Thorne.
One arm of the 40-meter interferometer prototype made the cover of E&S in January 1983
Ronald Drever's 1983 article, "The Search for Gravitational Waves," discussed the history, theory, and problems regarding gravitational waves, and introduced the Caltech community to their prototype interferometric gravitational wave detector:
Caltech’s first prototype gravity wave detector, four years in planning and construction, is approaching completion in its initial form and is nearly ready for preliminary experiments. The sensitive instrument, with 40-meter-long arms, is housed in its own temperature-controlled and vibration-isolated "building" attached to the north and west sides of the Central Engineering Services facility. . . . [If] this project —or any of the others around the world— do actually find gravitational waves, it could lead to a new window on the universe. . . . an entirely new area of astronomy would be opened up. [ Excerpt from Drever’s January 1983 article .]
Stanley Whitcomb and Ronald Drever, with their prototype
When the LIGO construction proposal phase was initiated in 1987, Caltech physics professor Rochus Vogt was appointed Director of LIGO. By 1989, Vogt, Drever, Fred Raab, Thorne and Weiss submitted their joint Caltech-MIT proposal to NSF. And construction of 2 sites was approved in 1990—the eventual sites being Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana.
Kip Thorne, Ronald Drever and Rochus Vogt in 1990, together with the 40-meter prototype
In 1994, Caltech’s physics professor Barry Barish became Principal Investigator, and would be appointed LIGO Director in 1997. Under Barish's leadership, the final design stages, construction and commissioning of both LIGO sites was completed. And his creation of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC) would enable collaborators worldwide to participate in LIGO—which presently includes approximately 1000 scientists from 75 institutions and 15 nations. - LK
Barry Barish, Linde Professor of Physics, Emeritus. 2005
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1965, a class in the formerly 201 E. Bridge |
To the new Caltech students now beginning a year of instruction, creativity, and enlightenment, everything must seem novel and exciting. Yet they follow in the footsteps of many generations of Techers, who walked our campus with the same hunger for learning, making, inventing, and excelling. This exhibit features pictures taken five decades ago, when clothes and hairdos, culture and technology were all very different, but the Caltech spirit is unmistakably the same. We wish the class of 2021, as well as Techers in all walks of life, a wonderful new year. - EP Visit the exhibit . Posted 9-25-2017
- Frank Estabrook (Gravitational Waves and JPL) - Philip Fogg (Business Economics) - Hans Liepmann (Engineering and Applied Science) - Thayer Scudder (Anthropology) - Verner Schomaker (Chemistry) - Peter Wyllie (Geology and Planetary Sciences)
Read the recollections of: - Pol Duwez (Engineering) - Frank E. and Ora Lee Marble (Engineering) - Philip Saffman (Engineering) - Margaret Lauritsen Leighton (Physics) - Robert Leighton (Physics) - Richard Marsh (Chemistry)
READY FOR A QUICK CALTECH HISTORY QUIZ?
Which pillar of the campus community began his scientific career dissolving his mother's clothes in acid, earned his first successful patent when he was barely out of high school, and was (fleetingly) featured in the Caltech Catalog as Caltech's first and only "Chem-mate of the Year"? Renowned for research at the frontiers of chemistry and biology, he recruited three future Nobelists onto Caltech's faculty, presented lectures in a horse's head, and received the National Medal of Science 30 years after he won hometown notoriety for scoring a newspaper interview with a very young Elvis Presley. The answer of course is Harry Gray, Caltech's Beckman Professor of Chemistry and head of "Gray's Solar Army," a global network of high school and college students working on solar energy research. His oral history, chronicling his colorful life and career, is now online. Check out the photo gallery "There's Something about Harry" and enjoy some excerpts, below, from the oral history." -HA
Bonding with "the King"
I interviewed Elvis Presley. This was before he became super-famous. I was probably eighteen; he was probably nineteen. I worked nights at the newspaper keeping books. And the city editor calls me because I was the only guy at the newspaper at night. He said, "Harry, Elvis Presley is at the Manhattan Towers [the local nightclub]. Drive out there and interview him." I went out and barged into the Manhattan Towers. There must have been thirty women surrounding him. I said, "Elvis, I'm from the newspaper. I'd like to interview you." He says, "Okay, come on out to my car." We sat in his car, in his Cadillac, and we talked for an hour. He was a nice guy, a very nice guy. The one thing I remember is that he said, "I feel that things are getting away from me. It's going to be too big for me; I'm not sure I can handle all this." And so I wrote it up. It was on the front page of the Park City Daily News the next day.
Serving Up Science
I was elected to National Academy of Sciences five years after I came to Caltech. I was thirty-five years old—the youngest member for a while after that. I remember that my wife, Shirley, and I went to the Academy for me to be inducted in 1971, and I was wearing this tuxedo. And essentially everybody there thought I was a waiter. Several people asked me for a drink. And I said, "I'm a member." And somebody would say, "Sure. And I'm Abraham Lincoln." Nobody believed me.
Campus Theatrics
One day I decided, "Well, what the hell, I may as well get a horse costume and lecture as a horse." Which got me the part in the TACIT [Caltech Theater Arts] musical Guys and Dolls. I was a natural for "Harry the Horse" because I was already known as "Harry the Horse." So that led me to become really good friends with Dick Feynman because he was also in the thing. I'd sit up there every night with Dick, and TACIT's director Shirley Marneus would yell at us. She'd say, "Harry and Dick, you may be great scientists, but you can't act, you can't sing, you can't dance."
The Beckman Institute
We came up with this idea of building an institute that would be devoted to completely revising the infrastructure for chemistry and biology research at Caltech. It would be devoted to developing instruments, methods, and technologies that would support basic research in chemistry and biology, help bring them together, and make the research more interdisciplinary. In other words, ramp chemistry and biology up from single laboratory test tube-like sciences to much bigger science-type models that had been around in astronomy and physics for a long time.
Solar Solidarity
In 2008, we started all of this work with kids and high schools, searching for new catalytic materials. Real hands-on research activities, working on a problem that is perceived to be one of the great problems of this century —renewable energy— really motivates these kids. We've been a main source of recruiting bright kids for STEM subjects so that's one of the great outcomes of the Solar Army. And also our mentors now occupy top academic jobs all over the Country. Explore the complete oral history here. Posted 05-22-2017
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Donald A. Glaser |
Donald A. Glaser, PhD '50 was one of the most innovative and progressive scientists of the 20th Century. From his invention of the bubble chamber -- for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize -- to his pioneering role in bioengineering and his leading contributions to visual neuroscience, Glaser has advanced many of our most important frontiers of scientific discovery and technological progress.
The exhibit wants to illustrate Donald Glaser and his strong connections to the Caltech scientific community. The on-site version was part of a day of celebration of Glaser's many accomplishments in December 2016 at Caltech. Visit the online exhibit .
The collection guide of the Glaser papers is available online at the Online Archive of California (OAC). Thanks to a very generous donation by the Glaser family, the papers have been digitized and will be available online in the near future on the Caltech Archives Digital Collections page. - MS Posted 5-9-2017 and 5-19-2017
G. J. Wasserburg received the prestigious Crafoord Prize in 1986 for his pioneering work on isotope geology. His personal recollections are now available online. This completes the Wasserburg collection in the Caltech Archives, which are also home to his papers. They are open to researchers and the finding aid can be found online at the Online Archives of California (OAC).
Read the recollections of mathematician W. A. J Luxemburg, of LIGO physicist Stanley E. Whitcomb and of Professor of Literature Oscar Mandel.
A frequent visitor to Caltech over the years, spending a month almost every year, Hawking’s first association with Caltech came in 1974 when he was offered the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Scholar Visiting Professorship for 1974-75 academic year.
Shown above: Stephen Hawking, 1975
During that visit, Hawking was interviewed on whether he believed that humans would ever discover the ultimate laws that control the universe. Hawking replied:
"I rather hope not. There may be ultimate answers, but if there are, I would be sorry if we were to find them. For my own sake I would like very much to find them, but their discovery would leave nothing for those coming after me to seek. Each generation builds on the advances of the previous generation, and this is as it should be. As human beings, we need the quest..."
Hawking's professorship in 1974-75 would include not only a salary, but a car and new electric wheelchair, as well as a house, where he moved in with his wife Jane and their two children, Robert and Lucy. The house was conveniently located across the street from the Caltech campus, at 535 So. Wilson, today known as the Fitzhugh House, which contains the USGS offices
Shown above: Hawking and family enjoying their Caltech home, 1975.
While at Caltech, Hawking also joined Kip Thorne's TAPIR (Theoretical Astrophysics Including Relativity and Cosmology) group, among its members a graduate student by the name of David Lee, Caltech's present Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Shown above: Back, from left to right: Vladimir Braginsky, Don Page, David Lee, Kip Thorne. Front, from left to right: Carlton Caves, Steve Slutz, Sándor Kovács, Stephen Hawking
In 1975, Thorne and Hawking made their first famous bet, questioning the existence of black holes—specifically, whether the binary star Cygnus X-1 was a black hole. In 1990, Hawking acknowledged that he had lost the bet, which was the first of several that he was to make with Thorne and others.
On September 24, 1991, a second famous bet was made—this time between Hawking, Thorne, and John Preskill—on whether or not naked singularities exist. As outlined in a 1997 E&S article regarding this bet: No one disputes that singularities can exist, but Hawking believes that a singularity can occur only inside a black hole, where it cannot be seen. According to Thorne and Preskill, there should be situations in which singularities could exist outside of black holes and therefore be observed . Thanks to a supercomputer simulation done at the University of Texas by Matthew Choptuik, where they were shown they could occur, Preskill concluded, "Basically it could exist only in a computer. But it's the sort of event that would be allowed to happen, and that's what the bet was all about." Alas, on February 5, 1997, Hawking conceded the bet, but only on a "technicality" as he put it.
Shown above: John Preskill, Kip Thorne, and Stephen Hawking committing to their bet. February 6, 1997.
Yet another bet was made the following day, on February 6, regarding Hawking's theory on the black hole information paradox and whether black holes destroy information. Hawking and Thorne argued that information was lost in a black hole, whereas Preskill believed information could escape and be retrieved. However, by July 2004, at a Dublin conference on general relativity and gravitation, Hawking conceded to Preskill (Thorne has not as yet).
In June 2000, on the occasion of Kip Thorne's 60 th birthday, Hawking came to Caltech to honor his old friend and colleague, and participated in Kipfest in June 2000, a three-day symposium, where he delivered a lecture entitled, "Protecting the Order of Things in Time". -LK
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Robert A. Millikan Nobel medal |
Throughout its history, Caltech has accumulated an exceptional record of prestigious awards, conferred to its outstanding scientists for their groundbreaking research and discoveries.
The Nobel Prize, awarded by the Swedish Academy of Science, holds a cherished place among international recognitions. Caltech is privileged to count 34 Nobelists (and 35 prizes) among its faculty and alumni.
Among them, physicist Robert A. Millikan is doubly special: as the first Caltech recipient, and as a founding father of the Institute. Millikan's command of physics and extraordinary experimental skills were on par with his charisma and administrative acumen. He was a masterful teacher, and the author of countless textbooks; his research spanned fields as diverse as electromagnetism, optics, molecular physics, and cosmic rays.
For his intuition, dedication, creativity, and curiosity, Millikan is a paragon of 20 th century physics, and an enduring inspiration for generations of Techers.
On the occasion of the 2016 Nobel Prize announcements, the Caltech Archives is pleased to present an illustrated account of Millikan's road to Stockholm. -EP
Visit the online exhibit . Posted 9-30-2016
Richard L. and Dorothy M. Hayman Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Jet Propulsion Emeritus, Frank Marble, was a member of the Caltech community for over 50 years. Before coming to Caltech in 1946, Marble earned both his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Applied Mathematics in 1940 and 1942, from the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio (now known as Case Western Reserve University).
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Marble with GALCIT faculty outside of Karman laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Jet Propulsion, left to right Malladi Venkata Subbaiah, Edward Zukoski, W. Duncan Rannie, Fred Culick, and Frank Marble. January 14, 1982 (Photo ID PR-82-141-7a)
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During WWII he worked with NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), where he managed projects to address engine cooling issues for the Martin Marauder B-26 bomber and the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. After being awarded a pre-doctoral fellowship from the National Research Council, Marble and his wife Ora Lee moved to Pasadena, and Marble completed his PhD in Aeronautics and Mathematics at Caltech. As a GALCIT faculty member, Marble's research made pioneering contributions to combustion in jet propulsion systems, propagation of acoustics waves, and flame stabilization. Besides being a pioneer in the field of aeronautics, he was a beloved teacher and advisor for over 40 years. In his oral history with Shirley Cohen, he stated how important his students were to him and that he and his wife always treated his students as an extended part of their family. In 2012, Marble’s former PhD and graduate students honored the Marbles by creating the Frank and Ora Lee Marble Endowed Professorship, which benefits a faculty member in the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences and ensures Marble’s continued legacy at Caltech.
Frank Marble passed away on August 11, 2014 at the age of 96. The papers of Frank Marble were recently processed, and a searchable guide is now available by visiting the Online Archive of California. -PN
Caltech faculty members, administrators, alumni, and staff have told us their stories, and now you can read them online. Enjoy therecollections shared by Charles Peck (Professor of Physics, emeritus, and former PMA Division Chair), Hans Hornung (Professor of Aeronautics, emeritus), Dana Roth (alumnus and former Chemistry Librarian) and Herman Miller (alumnus).
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For the first time the Caltech Archives is making available online an entire multi-media collection.
A Caltech alumnus (MS physics, 1948; PhD aeronautics, 1952), Paul MacCready was a visionary, an inventor and an entrepreneur who pioneered alternative energy solutions through his company, AeroVironment. In the 1970s he began work on the celebrated human-powered Gossamer aircraft series, beginning with the Gossamer Condor. He continued to work on the problems of solar-powered flight and unmanned aircraft, but his interest in environmentally friendly technology also led him to innovative electric and hybrid automotive vehicles, micro-air vehicles and the high altitude, long endurance Helios solar aircraft for telecommunications, imaging and scientific research.
The collection includes a diverse array of documents, media, and objects—manuscripts and printed material; awards; videos and film; photographs and slides, diaries and notebooks; memorabilia, biographical material and ephemera—all created over a span of over 70 years (ca. 1930-2002). It is very fitting with Paul MacCready's innovative and entrepreneurial personality that his collection is the first one to be accessible on the internet in its entirety.
The project was made possible by a generous gift from the MacCready family. - MS
Visit the online collection . Posted 8-15-2016
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The students marching toward Beckman Mall |
It's 1986. Many know it as the year when Halley's comet painted the sky, the Mets beat the Red Sox in the World Series, and the Bangles "walked like Egyptians".
But for the students who marched through Beckman Mall in cap and gown, surrounded by cheering friends and family, 1986 will always be remembered as the year of their graduation.
Eyeglasses may have been larger and hairdos fluffier, but the 2016 graduating class feels the same pride for their achievements, and holds the same hopes for brilliant futures in invention, exploration, and discovery—lives as true Techers.
To celebrate Caltech's 122nd Commencement and congratulate a new generation of distinguished graduates, the Caltech Archives is pleased to present a photographic gallery from thirty years ago, when President Marvin Goldberger led the Commencement exercises, and Caltech alumnus Arnold Beckman, inventor and entrepreneur, delivered the address. EP
Visit the photographic gallery . Posted 6-9-2016
The papers of Professor Anson -the Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry, Emeritus- have been processed, and the searchable collection guide is now available online at the Online Archive of California (OAC).
The Archives and the Digital Library Development staff gave a joint presentation to the Society of California Archivists, Annual General Meeting. See the slides.
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The 2001 Olive Walk chair prank |
At Caltech, pranks are an integral part of student life. Over the years students pranked their comrades, student Houses pranked other Houses, and their witty machinations often spread outside campus.
The pranks were varied, involving furniture, vehicles, and even architecture, but all share the trademark Caltech ingenuity, and the sheer pleasure of working together to solve difficult problems. This light side of Caltech life, on par with scientific achievement, remains a highlight among the memories of many alumni.
For this year's April Fools Day, the Caltech Archives pay a photographic tribute to all the Caltech students who, over the decades, have used their creativity, imagination and hard work to explore not only the boundaries of science, but also those of humor and merriment. - EP
Visit the photographic gallery . Posted 3-31-2016
Alumnus Melvin Levet (born in 1917; BS 1939, MS 1940) shares his Caltech, World War II and life memories stretching back nearly a century. Read the full interview.
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The 1991 Caltech's Centennial float |
On January 1, 1991, Caltech kicked off its centennial celebrations with a magnificent and elaborate Rose Parade float entitled "For every action... a reaction."
Befitting Caltech's spirit of daring cleverness, the float featured a Rube-Goldberg device of unmatched complexity, culminating in the proverbial apple being dropped on Isaac Newton's head. The float was circled by nine giant beavers, who energized the crowd and thrilled children.
Many Caltech students helped decorate the float with flowers, while mechanical-engineering majors built and carefully tested the complex computer-controlled machinery. Nevertheless, the computer malfunctioned at show time, leaving the float operators to heroically match actions to reactions by hand.
The 1991 float wowed crowds and impressed commenters, and it is remembered fondly by the alumni, students, faculty, staff, and family members who contributed their inspiration and perspiration to build it. - EP
Visit the online exhibit . Posted 12-20-2015
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Harry Burkus Gray |
As Caltech prepares to celebrate Harry Burkus Gray's 80th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the Beckman Institute, the Archives wishes to send our best to Dr. Gray. We would also like to briefly acquaint everyone with this unique and generous individual.
As a scientist, Dr. Gray has played an important role in the development of the school of inorganic chemistry and in linking that field to biochemistry. Among his many awards—too numerous to list here—is his receiving 1986 National Medal of Science in 1986 "for his pioneering research in bioinorganic chemistry and inorganic photochemistry." And Dr. Gray's seminal work on long-range electron transfer reactions in proteins has been a unifying theme for much of his and his group's research. In 1989, Dr. Gray was honored by becoming the first Director of the then newly established Beckman Institute at Caltech.
Though a well-respected scientist, Dr. Gray has always had a passion for teaching, mixing science with some creativity and a little fun—thereby becoming a beloved teacher in the truest sense of the word, and living by his motto, "You've got to keep people excited." [ Dr. Gray's interview in the December 1991 issue of Caltech News , page 3]
And finally, as Founding Director of the Beckman Institute, where the Archives resides, over many years we have found Dr. Gray to have been a supportive "landlord"—respectful of, and interested in, our mission. Here then, is the Archives tribute to Dr. Gray, and the "ManySides of Harry!" - LK
Aron Kuppermann was born in São Paulo, Brazil on May 6, 1926. He received his BS in Chemical Engineering in 1948, and another in Civil Engineering in 1952, both from the University of São Paulo.
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Aron Kuppermann standing in his lab with a piece of equipment called a molecular beam machine, 1974 (photo by Floyd Clark). Photo ID Kuppermann, Aron_74-217-1-25
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In 1955 he received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame. From 1955 to 1963 he taught at the University of Illinois. He was appointed professor of Physical Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in 1963, where he spent the rest of his academic career until his retirement in 2010. Kuppermann was a leader in the field of computational chemistry and was best known for his theoretical studies of the dynamics of chemical reactions. During his many years at Caltech (1963-2011), Kuppermann also worked as a consultant for the World Bank on projects of Science and Technology in Brazil, China, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Uganda from 1983 to 2005. His papers, organized in 108 archival boxes, reflect his avid interest in both scientific research and teaching. -NL
Steele Professor of Astronomy Richard Ellis joined the faculty at Caltech in 1999, where he served as director of Palomar Observatory/Caltech Optical Observatories, carried out pioneering observations at the W. M. Keck Observatories and Hubble Space Telescope, and was centrally involved in still-ongoing efforts to build the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Read the full interview.
Shown above: The media frenzy at JPL, July 14, 1965.
On July 14 and 15, 1965, the world's attention centered on Mariner 4 when it began transmitting a series of 22 grainy black & white pictures of the Martian surface as it made its closest approach to Mars. Launched on November 28, 1964, the spacecraft performed the first successful flyby of Mars and gave us the first images ever taken from deep space of another planet—revealing a cold, cratered, moon-like surface, rather than an Earth-like planet as originally assumed would be the case.
It took Mariner 4 approximately 25 minutes to take the 22 pictures as it flew passed the planet.And the transmission of data was very slow; it would take over 8 hours to complete one picture. Though blurry by today's standards, and only capturing a very small portion of the Martian surface, the images nevertheless gave scientists a brief glimpse of one of the more ancient regions of the planet, revealing craters that ranged anywhere from 3 to 75 miles (5 to 120 kilometers) in diameter and were estimated to be between 2 and 5 billion years old. Later missions would reveal a planet of varied environments, including great volcanoes and valleys.
Shown above: Mars image #11 taken by Mariner 4 showing the largest (120 kilometers) and smallest (5 kilometers) craters seen on any of the photos. This was also the photo chosen, enlarged, and framed to present to President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House in July 1965.
Three members of Caltech's faculty were important to the success of the mission's imaging experiment.
Shown above: Robert Leighton (seated), reviewing Mars images taken by Mariner 4.
Physics professor and Caltech alumnus Robert Leighton—who in the 1950s had done work at Mount Wilson with developing an image stabilization device and had photographed Mars through the 60-inch telescope and created actual movies of Mars rotating—helped guide and develop JPL's first digital television system for use in deep space and would lead the imaging experiment team.
Shown above: Robert Sharp with Mariner 4's Mars images on the table before him.
Robert Sharp, also a Caltech alumnus and the Chairman of Caltech’s Geological Sciences Division at the time, being an expert in geomorphology, also joined Leighton’s team. Once the pictures were transmitted to Earth, Sharp would be in charge of interpreting them. In his honor, on March 28, 2012, NASA would name a mountain "Mount Sharp" on Mars—located at the center of Gale Crater, where in August 2012 JPL’s rover Curiosity successfully landed.
Shown above: Bruce Murray in discussion, analyzing the data.
And Caltech’s first Associate Professor of Planetary Science Bruce Murray—who began his career at Caltech by using big telescopes, such as the 200-inch Hale telescope at Palomar to observe the Moon and Mars—would complete the team by using the pictures taken by Mariner 4 to work out the geologic history of Mars.
Shown above: Model of Mariner 4 (NASA photo).
Considered one of the great successes of the early U.S. space program at the time, Mariner 4 would far outlast its original 8-month mission, remaining in solar orbit about 3 years, during which time it would continue to send useful scientific data on solar wind as well as make coordinated measurements with its sister spacecraft Mariner 5. The information collected would lead scientists and engineers to conclude that the Martian atmosphere and surface were fully exposed to solar and cosmic radiation. Communication with Mariner 4 would be terminated on December 21, 1967.
All totaled, there were 10 Mariner spacecraft launched between 1962 and 1973, with the purpose of visiting and collecting data on our nearest neighbors—Venus, Mars, and Mercury. The Mariner program would prove important in laying the groundwork for all future exploration of our solar system. – LK
The Caltech Archives is pleased to announce it has received the papers of Nobel Prize winner Donald Glaser. The papers include Glaser’s work on his award-winning invention of the bubble chamber, which allowed scientists to study subatomic particles. Donald. A. Glaser, PhD '50 was one of the most innovative and progressive scientists of the 20th century. From his invention of the bubble chamber to his pioneering role in molecular biology and his leading contributions to visual neuroscience, Glaser has advanced many of our most important frontiers of scientific discovery and technological progress.
Susan Davis had been the administrator for the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) at Caltech for more than 20 years (from 1981 to 2012). Read the full interview.
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Speaker Frank Stanton addressing the 1965 graduating class. Photo credit: James McClanahan |
The pomp and cheerful animation of commencement ceremonies mark an important milestone for students and their families, who savor the culmination of years of hard work, and the beginning of a new phase of life. To celebrate this year's Commencement, the Caltech Archives are pleased to present a photographic gallery of the 1965 Commencement exercises, performed during the tenure of President Lee A. DuBridge. The speaker that year was Frank Stanton, president of CBS at the time.
Although many things have changed in the last 50 years, we believe that the class of 2015 will recognize themselves in the youthful enthusiasm of their 1965 predecessors and we congratulate this and all generations of outstanding Caltech graduates. EP
[We would appreciate your help in identifying any of the people seen in this online exhibit; please free to contact us]. Visit the online exhibit . Posted 6-8-2015
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Einstein lecturing at the offices of the Mt. Wilson Observatory (Carnegie Institution, Pasadena). Photo ID 1.8-2 |
In collaboration with the Einstein Papers Project, the Caltech Archives has mounted an exhibit honoring the centenary of Einstein's publication of the theory of general relativity in 1915. The exhibit may be viewed on the second floor of Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration. The display focuses on Einstein's visits to Caltech in the early 1930s during which he discussed the implications growing out of the theory of relativity with scientists in Pasadena, both at Caltech and at the Mount Wilson Observatory. The California public and press, while understanding little of the science, were lavish in their attention to the world's most famous scientist. Visit the online exhibit . Posted 3-27-2015 and 5-29-2015
Many capers have been pulled off by Caltech students, but the 1961 Rose Bowl prank remains arguably the greatest, for one reason because it was televised. The single original color photograph of the live prank, a Kodachrome slide, has just been donated to the Caltech Archives, along with full documentation of how the stunt was executed, thanks to the tireless efforts of alumnus and Lloyd man Lee Molho (BS 1963). Molho was at the center of the action when the Caltech pranksters covertly switched the Washington Huskies' instruction cards, resulting in the display of "Caltech" during half-time. Not one of the stuntmen was physically present in the stands at the time of the card trick.
The photographer, Bruce Whitehead, had just arrived in Pasadena to take up a research fellow position in physics. He got a ticket to the game and a seat on the 50-yard line through his father, a Rotarian with connections to the committee that oversaw the annual Rotary float for the Rose Parade. He just happened to be aiming his camera in the right direction as the cards flipped up into position. Whitehead loaned his slide to Caltech's Public Relations office, and a black and white photo of the prank was published on the cover of the January 1961 Engineering and Science . Whitehead then put his slide away for 52 years. Not until he was tracked down recently by Lee Molho and agreed to donate the slide to Caltech did his original see the light again.
The photo shows the text "Caltech" on a gold background. Since the Washington Huskies' colors are gold and purple, the gold was the closest the pranksters could get to Beaver orange. The donation from Molho and Whitehead includes artifacts and documents that reveal the full story of how the prank was carried out. They will form the Great Rose Bowl Hoax Collection at the Caltech Archives. Molho plans to publish his complete account of events in the near future.
Shown above: E&S cover, January 1961.
Marvin L. "Murph" Goldberger (1922-2014) was Caltech's fifth President and professor of particle physics, who worked on the Manhattan project (learn more). A researchable collection guide has been published online at the Online Archives of California (OAC).
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Arnold Beckman portrait. Photo ID AOB7.5-8 |
The Beckman Room on the ground floor of the Beckman Institute (room 131) is a small museum devoted to the history of chemistry and to the scientific and philanthropic work of Arnold O. Beckman. Starting on October 3, the museum will be open to walk-in visitors from 1 to 4 PM on the first Friday of each month. The museum is also open by appointment to individuals and groups.
Please contact the Caltech Archives for appointment information. More information about the room and its displays may be found here . Posted 9-28-2014
With a strong background in digital library management, Kristin Antelman brings to Caltech an understanding of the profound changes that have affected library services in the last decade. For the Caltech Archives, an informed application of new technologies to support digital collections will be fundamental to maintaining the historical record of the Institute.
We look forward to working with Kristin as we develop our 21st-century archival management know-how. Further information: Interview with Kristin Antelman. Posted 8-28-2014
The Gordon J. Stanley papers were donated to the Caltech Archives in February 2012 by the Stanley Family Trust. This small, yet unique, collection covers Stanley's research involvement in radio astronomy, both in Australia and the United States.
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Gordon Stanley and John Murray at OVRO. Photo by J. A. Roberts. Photo ID 10.21.2-30
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Stanley was born in Cambridge, New Zealand on July 1, 1921. He became an engineer by training and was among a group of scientists who in 1944 joined the Radiophysics Laboratory of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Sydney, Australia. He later worked at the Dover Heights field station and was a key contributor along with John Bolton, Bruce Slee, Dick McGee, Joe Pawsey and others to early radio astronomy.
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Gordon Stanley operating the jack to lower the antenna onto the new station. Photo by J. A. Roberts. Photo ID OVRO10.21.1-37
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In mid-1955, Stanley left Australia and followed his close colleague, John Bolton, to Caltech. They began searching for a suitable site for Caltech's new radio observatory. Stanley found the ideal location in Owens Valley, and along with Bolton and Bruce Rule, Caltech's Chief Engineer, designed the first radio interferometer operating above a few hundred megahertz.
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130-foot radio telescope dish under contruction. Photo ID OVRO2.5-2
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This interferometer became fully operational in 1960 and shortly thereafter Bolton returned to Australia. Stanley was subsequently appointed Director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, a position he held until his retirement in 1975.
Early printed editions of classical Greek mathematics from the Caltech Archives’ collection are on exhibit from April 7 through July 31, 2014. Beginning with the first edition of the complete known works of Archimedes in both Greek and Latin published in Basel in 1544, the display includes 16th-century Italian editions of Euclid and Archimedes that were used by Galileo in his mathematical studies.
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Portrait of Archimedes from the 1792 Oxford edition of his works in Greek and Latin. Caltech Archives Rare Book Collection. |
The first English translation of Euclid’s Elements from 1570 and editions of Archimedes and Apollonius of Perga published in the 18 th century by the Oxford press are shown, as well as the 17th-century French edition of Diophantus of Alexandria’s Arithmetica —the work that inspired Pierre de Fermat’s last conjecture. The exhibit is located on the second floor of Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration and may be viewed during weekdays, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM. The Caltech exhibit complements the Huntington Library’s “Lost & Found: The Secrets of Archimedes” (March 15-June 22, 2014). Visit the online exhibit . Posted 4-16-2014
Professor Aron Kuppermann (1926-2011) was a leader in the field of computational chemistry and was best known for his theoretical studies of the dynamics of chemical reactions. His collection of papers covering different aspects of his work was recently donated to the Caltech Archives.
Archives' patrons may now use our new online photo collection, the Caltech Image Archive . The new digital collection uses the Islandora open source framework for the management of digital assets. Images may be browsed or searched. The Image Archive is the first of several digital collections planned for presentation by the Archives.
The Archives' legacy digital image search, PhotoNet, has been decommissioned. Its original data forms the backbone of the new digital collection, which will be augmented with new graphic material on a regular basis. The collection includes over 10,000 historic and contemporary photographs of people and places, reproductions of historic scientific artifacts and art, and illustrations drawn from Caltech's exceptional rare book collection in the history of science. Posted 12-16-2013
Murray Gell-Mann oral history available online.
As of June 20, 2013, all patrons are required to create an account in order to make an appointment in the Caltech Archives or to order reproductions of archival materials for study or for publication. Please follow the link provided to proceed to registration . Once you have registered, your account will be valid for 12 months.
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The page of the Archives' new request system. |
An automatic request to update your account will be issued after 12 months. Please note that our former online Contact Form has been disabled. For those patrons who simply have questions or want additional information, you are welcome to e-mail or phone us per instructions on our Contact page. For more information, see our detailed Access Policy . Posted 06-20-2013
Gerald J. Wasserburg, 1995. (Photo ID GJW162.9-4)
Wasserburg (1927-2016) came to Caltech in 1955. His papers document his groundbreaking science but also the scientific culture of Caltech during his active years.
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Gerald J. Wasserburg (left) with the King Carl VII of Sweden on the occasion of the awarding of the Crafoord Prize in 1986. (Photo ID GJW162.11-2)
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From 1955 on, with the founding of the new discipline of geochemistry, to the emergence of planetary science, to close collaboration with NASA on the Apollo missions and lunar samples, Wasserburg was a driving force inside the lab and outside.
His working group, the Lunatic Asylum, gained national notoriety, not least for its name, but principally for its imaginative techniques in the analysis of lunar and planetary rocks.
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Crafoord medal with the name of Gerald Wasserburg. (Photo ID GJW162.11-13)
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With his invention of the first computer-controlled mass spectrometer, Lunatic I, and later sophisticated instruments, Wasserburg was able to establish a time scale for the development of the early solar system, including the end of the process of nucleosynthesis and the formation of solid objects such as planets, moons, and meteorites about 4500 million years ago.
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Gerald Wasserburg at the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, where he received an honorary degree in 1986. (Photo ID GJW162.17-5)
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His research also encompassed earth science and marine geochemistry. He received the Crafoord Prize in 1986 jointly with Claude Allègre for their pioneering work in isotope geology.
Wasserburg was fond of wagers and bets, typically involving his scientific predictions. A bottle of good wine was often at stake.
The Caltech Archives has finished the processing of Professor Wasserburg's Papers and a searchable collection guide to the now 172 archival boxes has been published online at the Online Archive of California (OAC).
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Prof. Daugherty chatting with other attendees at Seminar Day, 1977. Photo ID RLD9.3-2 |
On Caltech's Alumni Seminar Day in May 2012, the Archives recorded short interviews with eight alumni volunteers. Several of these interviews may now be read in transcript form at our oral history website . The interviews are grouped for easy retrieval under Alumni Seminar Day as subject. Alums related entertaining stories from their student years, replete with pranks and social antics. They also spoke about the seriousness of their days on campus, the hard work, and the high value of a Caltech education in later life.
This year on Seminar Day, May 18, the Caltech Archives will again host alumni for 10 to 15-minute recording sessions between 12 noon and 2 PM at the Sherman Fairchild Library. Interested alums are warmly invited to drop in. Posted 4-5-2013
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The exhibit PAGES flyer |
On the evening of October 12, coinciding with Pasadena's Art Night, the Art Center College of Design will open its new exhibit titled " Pages ". The exhibit explores the role of the page in its many manifestations in forming and preserving collective memory. Entry to the exhibit is free to the public beginning at 6 PM.
Three artifacts will be on loan to the exhibit from the Caltech Archives: two rare books and one sheet of mathematical calculations on a placemat. The books are a volume from the historic atlas of cities of the world, Civitates orbis terrarum , printed in Cologne around 1600, and an account of the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755 printed in Germany. The page of calculations is by Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize winner in Physics (1965), late Caltech faculty member, and sometime diner at Gianonni's bar in Altadena.
Materials from the Albert Einstein papers will also be shown, courtesy of the Albert Einstein Archives of Jerusalem and the Einstein Papers Project at Caltech.
"Pages" is curated by Stephen Nowlin and John David O'Brien and will be mounted in the Alyce de Roulet Williamson Gallery at the Art Center Hillside Campus, 1700 Lida Street, Pasadena. Posted 10-01-2012
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Photo ID CaltechY 3.6-4 |
The Caltech Archives and Library captured nine sessions of alumni reminiscences on Seminar Day, May 19, for inclusion in the Oral History Project. Degree years ranged from 1943 to 1997, and engineering grads led the way, followed by math and physics. Recounting of pranks and social life was a popular theme, but some alums also took a moment to reflect positively on the value of a Caltech education. Recordings will be transcribed and released (with permission) for inclusion in the Archives' collection and for online publication in the Library's digital repository . Posted 5-22-2012
The MacCready digitization project will be the first on the part of the Caltech Archives to make an entire paper, artifact, image and analog media collection available on the internet to the widest possible public.
A Caltech alumnus (MS physics, 1948; PhD aeronautics, 1952), MacCready was a visionary, an inventor and an entrepreneur who pioneered alternative energy solutions through his company, AeroVironment. In the mid-1970s he began work on the celebrated human-powered Gossamer aircraft series, beginning with the Gossamer Condor. He continued to work on the problems of solar-powered flight and unmanned aircraft, but his interest in environmentally friendly technology also led him to innovative electric and hybrid automotive vehicles, micro-air vehicles and the high altitude, long endurance Helios solar aircraft for telecommunications, imaging and scientific research.
The Paul B. MacCready papers were donated to the Caltech Archives in 2003 and are partially processed for use. They contain a diverse array of documents, media, and objects—manuscripts and printed material; awards; videos and film; photographs and slides, diaries and notebooks; memorabilia, biographical material and ephemera—all created over a span of over 70 years (ca. 1930-2002). All of this material will be digitized and made open to users via the internet. MacCready himself was an indefatigable promoter of technology, the environment, and his own projects. His papers include hundreds of folders with speeches, talks and interviews, many given to interested non-scientific groups such as bicycling organizations, high schools and flying clubs. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the papers of Paul MacCready in a fitting recognition of his spirit of innovation and entrepreneurism.
Memories of Caltech Past
following his death in 1996. They include a large correspondence section with colleagues and organizations worldwide, which is a reflection of his long-life collaboration with some of the major scientists in biology of the 20th century.
Bonner was an expert on plant growth hormones, and his research interests ranged from physiology of flowering to rubber production. He was considered the world expert on rubber and for many years was the rubber consultant to the government of Malaysia. Another area of his research covered how chromosomes functions in the growth and development of plants and animals. He was also interested in finding ways in which agriculture could better provide for the world's needs
During his long professional career Bonner had over 300 students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting researchers that worked in his laboratory. He authored over 500 publications, including 10 books, which covered his very wide range of scientific and philosophical inquiries. The archival material reveals the role that he played in the careers of his students and young researchers and the relationships that continued with many of them well beyond their time at Caltech.
Bonner was a member of several prestigious national and international societies which included the National Academy of Science (1950); the German Academy of Science (1970); the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1970); the American Society of Plant Physiologists and the Botanical Society of America. The material in the Archives reveals the extent of his involvement in the running of these institutions.
James Bonner traveled all over the world, including climbing many mountains such as the Himalayas. Several detailed reports of his travels can be found among his papers. Skiing was his passion, and skiing vacations were considered “sacred” and never sacrificed in favor of work commitments. For many years he was part of the National Ski Patrol system.
At the age of 71, Bonner had to retire due to the institutional policies of the time, and in several letters he talks about his “forced” retirement and about the free time that he then had to dedicate to his newly founded biotech company called Phytogen. He was Phytogen chairman and chief scientist for several years.–MS
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200-inch mirror in the astrophysics optical shop on the Caltech campus. Photo ID 10.16-16 |
Palomar Observatory stars in the first archival video posted to the web by the Caltech Archives. Original footage of the Observatory’s construction, along with images of the preparation of the 200-inch mirror in the astrophysics optical shop on the Caltech campus, may be viewed at the Internet Archive . Dating from the period 1936-1940, two of three extant reels of historical footage have been digitized as part of California Light and Sound, a series of moving images of California history. The project is managed and funded by the California Audiovisual Preservation Project, funded and operated by the California Digital library. The third reel is scheduled to be digitized and made accessible in the coming year. Posted 9-8-2011
The LIGO interviews were conducted by Shirley K. Cohen as part of the Caltech Archives' Oral History Project. The original set were conceived as Series I. A second series was planned to begin after LIGO became operational (August 2002); however, current plans are to undertake Series II after the observatory's improved version, known as Advanced LIGO, begins operations, which is expected in 2014.
Interviews now available online are with the following subjects (with interview date): Barry Barish (1998), Vladimir Braginsky (1997), Peter Goldreich (1998), Gary Sanders (2001), Thomas Tombrello (1998), and Rainer Weiss (2000). These interviews have already been made available in print form, along with others that have not yet been approved for online access. A complete list of LIGO interviews may be obtained from the Archives advanced search (use string oral history LIGO).
The original LIGO partnership was formed between Caltech and MIT. It was from the start the largest and most costly scientific project ever undertaken by Caltech. Today it has expanded into an international endeavor with partners in Europe, Japan, India and Australia. As of this writing, 760 scientists from 11 countries are participating in the LSC—the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.
The Milton Plesset papers comprise a small collection of technical reports, lecture notes, and symposia materials. Much of the material is not authored by Plesset, although the collection contains three early undated notebooks of calculations, probably from the 1930s. The materials were donated to the Archives by the Plesset family early in 2011. Of special interest are several sets of lecture notes taken from Richard Feynman’s courses on quantum electrodynamics (Cornell, 1949), statistical mechanics (Caltech, 1960-1961), and gravitation (Caltech, 1962-1963).
Plesset first came to Caltech as a postdoctoral scholar in 1932. During that time he worked closely with J. Robert Oppenheimer on the Dirac electron. In March 1933 he gave a theoretical physics seminar which was attended by Einstein—who never said a word, according to Plesset's account in his oral history interview of 1981 for the Caltech Archives. That date also turned out to be the day of the Long Beach earthquake.
The following year, with the help of Robert Millikan, Plesset was able to visit the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen.
Returning to the US, Plesset was hired as an instructor in theoretical physics at the University of Rochester. His interests, however, gradually shifted to applied science and engineering. From 1941 to 1948 he headed the Analytical Group of the Douglas Research Laboratories, then returned to Caltech in 1948. Plesset's later reputation was as an authority on the problems and progress of nuclear power. He was a consultant to the Science Division of the RAND Corporation from 1948-1972, and from 1975-1982 he served on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (ACRS).
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National Medal of Science, first awarded to Theodore von Kármán in 1962. |
Caltech's scientists and engineers have won a magnificent array of prizes. The bar was set high by Robert A. Millikan, George Ellery Hale and Arthur Amos Noyes—the triumvirate of Caltech's founding fathers. Millikan won Caltech's first Nobel Prize in 1923. Today the Institute claims 31 Nobel laureates from the ranks of its faculty and alumni. But there are other stellar awards, decorations and citations to be celebrated, many of them embodied in visually striking form or presented under deeply memorable circumstances. The current display, located on the second floor of Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration, provides a close-up view of some of these grand marks of distinction, drawn from collections in the Caltech Archives. Posted 4-5-2011
The 100th oral history place goes to Dr. Jenijoy La Belle, Caltech's first woman professor. Read her story here. The Caltech Archives has been putting oral histories online since 2002. Learn more about the Oral History Project. 12-2-2010
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Detail of map of southern Russia, published by |
A selection of rare maps and related books from the Archives is currently on view for the Caltech community on the second floor of Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration. Beginning with one of the earliest prints of Ptolemy's map of the world, the exhibit covers the themes of mapping the earth, mapping the skies, and the mapping of longitude. Highlights include a beautifully bound edition of the Braun and Hogenberg atlas, Towns of the World, dating from 1572, which contains hand-colored copperplate engravings that will charm today's armchair traveler. Several celestial and star maps are not only works of art but incorporate important observational data. Finally, the quest for accurate measurement of time and its relation to the determination of longitude is portrayed in part by Cassini's famous meridian in Bologna and by Huygens's invention of the pendulum clock. Posted 10-5-2010
Collating earthquake data
Beno Gutenberg. 1.15.1-13
Professor Hiroo Kanamori has deposited in the Caltech Archives four volumes of the International Seismological Summary (ISS) for the years 1931-1934. All are closely annotated in Gutenberg's hand. These new volumes join others in the Gutenberg papers which date between 1918 and 1942 with gaps, one of which is now bridged.
Gutenberg systematically annotated the ISS over many years. These annotations form a companion piece to a separate and extensive set of earthquake data which Gutenberg painstakingly made on tear-off note pads and which, like the ISS data, he revisited and reworked over time. The ISS bulletins and the data pads may or may not overlap each other for a given event. The two sets of data must be understood to be complementary, and together they provide a full picture of Gutenberg's meticulous working method.
A page from the 1931 ISS shows reported data from two events on August 15. The first event, centered in the mountains of Pakistan north of Jalalabad according to the coordinates given, occurred at 4:01:04 UT. The first station to record the shock was Andijan (Uzbekistan). The second event, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan, occurred at 12:43:48 UT. Both are annotated "deep" and are assigned a magnitude in red pencil "M=6± and M=5 ¾", respectively. The magnitude figure helps to date the annotations, as Charles Richter's paper on the magnitude scale appeared in print in 1935. According to Professor Kanamori, the annotations were probably made in the 1940s.
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Data pad number 33. Beno Gutenberg papers, Box 30. | Data pad number 31. Beno Gutenberg papers, Box 30. |
Corresponding pages for both events on the ISS page may be compared with Gutenberg's note pads. –SE
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Throop Hall, Caltech's first building, dedicated June 8, 1910. Photo ID 40.4-70 |
Caltech celebrated the centennial of its founding in 1991, but the current campus is having its own 100th birthday in 2010. The complex of six schools that formed Throop Polytechnic Institute, Caltech’s predecessor, broke apart in 1910. The first building on the current campus, Throop Hall, was dedicated June 8, 1910, and was paid for by the citizens of Pasadena—and was originally named Pasadena Hall. The campus occupied the 28 acres bounded by Wilson and Hill Avenues on east and west and by San Pasqual Street and California Boulevard on north and south—only about 20 percent of the present grounds. The newly reformed Throop was to be collegiate only and devoted to the education of top-level engineers and scientists. The former lower division became the independent Polytechnic School, located just across California Boulevard from the new college.
Until it was irretrievably damaged by the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, Throop Hall stood at the center of the new campus. The original campus plan dates from 1908. It was later superseded by the work of renowned architect Bertram Goodhue. Posted 5-3-2010
James Bonner. 10.24-26
James Bonner's papers were donated to the Caltech Archives by his heirs following his death in 1996. They include a large correspondence section with colleagues and organizations worldwide, which is a reflection of his long-life collaboration with some of the major scientists in biology of the 20th century.
Bonner's research interests ranged from the physiology of flowering to rubber production. He was considered the world expert on rubber and for many years was the rubber consultant to the government of Malaysia. Another area of his research covered how chromosomes functions in the growth and development of plants and animals. He was also interested in finding ways in which agriculture could better provide for the world's needs.
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James Bonner in the laboratory, late 1950s. Photo ID GWB38.2-3 |
During his long professional career Bonner had over 300 students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting researchers that worked in his laboratory. He authored over 500 publications, including 10 books, which covered his very wide range of scientific and philosophical inquiries. The archival material reveals the role that he played in the careers of his students and young researchers and the relationships that continued with many of them well beyond their time at Caltech.
Bonner was a member of several prestigious national and international societies which included the National Academy of Science (1950); the German Academy of Science (1970); the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1970); the American Society of Plant Physiologists and the Botanical Society of America. The material in the Archives reveals the extent of his involvement in the running of these institutions.
James Bonner traveled all over the world, including climbing many mountains such as the Himalayas. Many detailed reports of his travels can be found among his papers. Skiing was his passion, and skiing vacations were considered “sacred” and never sacrificed in favor of work commitments. For many years he was part of the National Ski Patrol system.
At the age of 71, Bonner had to retire due to the institutional policies of the time, and in several letters he talks about his “forced” retirement and about the free time that he then had to dedicate to his newly founded biotech company called Phytogen. He was Phytogen chairman and chief scientist for several years. –MS
"Why can't we write the entire 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica on the head of a pin?" Feynman queried in 1959. He offered $1000 to the first person who could reduce the page of a book to 1/25,000 linear scale, readable by an electron microscope. He also offered the same amount to the first person to build a miniature motor no bigger than 1/64th-inch cube. The talk was published the following February in Caltech's magazine, Engineering & Science, and has since become a classic.
The micromotor, constructed by William McLellan (see our current Photo Gallery), was the first practical result of Feynman's talk and the first prize-winner. From his award letter, Feynman apparently hoped that McLellan would not make a stab at the other prize.
The tiny motor was put on display on the Caltech campus in 1962, and the start button may still be pushed --though the device became inoperable in 1991-- in East Bridge Laboratory. The micromotor also made a guest appearance at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as Feynman revisited "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom" in a second talk titled "Infinitesimal Machinery." By then, January 1983, the computer chip had arrived.
The tiny print prize took 25 years to materialize and was finally awarded in November 1985 to a Stanford grad student named Thomas H. Newman. Newman had spent a month shrinking the first page of Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities.
Tsien's talent was recognized during his student years at Jiaotong University in Shanghai. He came to the United States in 1935, first to study engineering at MIT, then to complete his graduate work in aeronautics at Caltech. After working closely with his mentor Theodore von Karman to transform American rocketry during World War II, he traveled behind the Allied armies into the heart of Europe to study German missiles. He became a key figure in the transition from propeller-driven aircraft to jet engines and finally to outer space rockets, collaborating with Von Karman and Frank Malina in the founding of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena for the U.S. Army. In 1948 he was invited to become the Robert H. Goddard Professor and head of the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Jet Propulsion Center at Caltech.
Political trouble began for Tsien in 1950 when his security clearance was revoked on the grounds that he had Communist associations. Although President Lee DuBridge of Caltech rallied to Tsien's defense, as did most of his scientific colleagues, in the end Tsien himself decided to return to China in 1955. Once repatriated, Tsien became the leader of China's space and military rocketry programs.
Obituaries of Tsien appeared in the Los Angeles Times and New York Times.
Tsien's Chinese alma mater, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, is preparing to build a commemorative museum to Tsien. Delegates from the university and the museum project visited the Caltech Archives in September 2009 to look at documents and photos concerning Tsien. Some of these materials will be incorporated into exhibits in China. The museum is scheduled to open in 2011, the 100th year of Tsien's birth.
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Feynman in 1959 Photo ID 1.10-48 |
"What I want to talk about is the problem of manipulating and controlling things on a small scale." So Richard Feynman stated the topic of his talk at the American Physical Society meeting on the Caltech campus, December 29, 1959: "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom." Fifty years later, much has been written about Feynman's role in launching the nanotechnology revolution. The historic importance of the talk is undisputed, and we celebrate its half-century mark in the Caltech Archives with some photos and documents related to the original occasion. See both our photogallery and in the news pages. The Archives is home to the Richard Feynman Papers. Posted 12-1-2009
Traditionally the Caltech Women's Club has been able to store their records in various rooms at The Athenaeum and most recently in a storeroom in the basement. Permanent storage in the Caltech Archives will ensure that these records will be properly preserved in a climate-controlled and secure environment. A system for members to access the records has been put in place and can be arranged through the current Archive representative on CWC Board. The papers will be open as well to qualified researchers across campus and beyond.
Efforts to preserve the Club's papers as a historical collection were begun by long-time member and former CWC President Meg Cole, who saw the importance of these papers and began organizing them in a logical manner. Carol Andersen served as the Club Archivist for several years, and she and Meg worked together on the project to organize the Club's files, photos, and memorabilia. The planned deposit of the papers is a continuation of their efforts.
Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius (translated as either The Sidereal Messenger or The Starry Messenger) was published in Venice in March 1610. The first scientific study conducted with a telescope, it began with Galileo's observations of the Moon. But he then revealed a major discovery—that the planet Jupiter itself had four orbiting moons. This observation struck an important blow for Copernicanism. The full implications of the discovery would not be demonstrated by Galileo until two decades later, at which time he found himself at dangerous odds with the Roman Inquisition.
Galileo's success with the telescope won him election to the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, the first academy of science. In an engraved portrait first published in his book on sunspots (History and Demonstration of Sunspots, 1613), the title “Linceo” is appended to his name. His two most important inventions, the mathematical compass and the telescope, are pictured above in the hands of cherubs, the latter depicted in a somewhat fanciful trumpet-like shape.
In his Dialogue of the Two Worlds Systems, published in Florence in 1632, Galileo presented a comparison of the ancient cosmology of Aristotle and Ptolemy with that of the modern Copernicus, cast in the form of a series of dialogues. In it he included a diagram of the Copernican system that showed the ordering of the planets, moving out from the Sun. The diagram is similar to one that appeared in Copernicus' Concerning the Revolutions of the Heavenly Bodies ninety years previously, except that Galileo adds the four moons of Jupiter which he discovered in early 1610.
The full gamut of original editions of Galileo's works published during his lifetime, with the inclusion of three manuscript copies, were purchased for Caltech in 1955 as part of the library of Count Giampaolo Rocco of Bologna. The Rocco library was the gift of trustee Harry Bauer.
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Judy Goodstein in a 1974 photo |
On October 1, 2009, Judith R. Goodstein retired after 41 years as Caltech's first university archivist. After receiving her PhD in the history of science from the University of Washington, Goodstein came to Caltech in 1968 to create an institutional archive formed around the papers of Caltech's faculty and administrators, beginning with George Ellery Hale, Robert Millikan, and Theodore von Kármán.
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Shelley Erwin |
Among many other scholarly achievements, Goodstein wrote a history of Caltech, Millikan's School (1991). Goodstein is succeeded in the Archives by long-time associate archivist Shelley Erwin.
Posted 10-1-2009
2009 marks the International Year of Astronomy. In the Caltech Archives, important new acquisitions continue in the astronomy field. And old friends like the Hale papers continue to remind us of the critical role Pasadena and Caltech have played in astronomy for well over 100 years.
A recent donation of high-quality digital images by J. A. (Jim) Roberts augments the photographic record of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory by 90 images, half of which are in color. Roberts was a member of the Australian team led by John Bolton and Gordon Stanley that launched radio astronomy at Caltech, beginning in 1958.
Einstein came to Caltech to discuss the cosmological implications of his relativity theory. In January 1931 he made an ascent to Mt. Wilson in the company of several astronomers, including William Campbell (shown below) and Edwin Hubble.
The 100-inch Hooker Telescope on Mt. Wilson above Pasadena was in its day the largest optical telescope in the world. The observatory was established by a grant from the Carnegie Institution of Washington in December 1904, and George Ellery Hale was appointed Director.
Edwin Hubble's discovery of the redshift, the key to the expanding universe phenomenon, was done at the Mt. Wilson Observatory. Hubble was also on staff at the Palomar Observatory, where he is shown observing at the 48-inch Schmidt telescope in 1949.
Edwin Hubble observing at the 48-inch Schmidt telescope, Palomar Observatory, in 1949. Photo ID 10.12-17
Recently two 16th-century translations of Euclid's Elements were supplemented by a third, the work of the Italian scholar Federico Commandino of Urbino, from 1575. Italian was the first vernacular language into which Euclid was translated.
Commandino, described as the most competent mathematician among all Renaissance translators, produced his Italian text from Greek editions. His rival, Nicolas Tartaglia, who takes the prize for the first Italian Euclid (1565), relied on earlier Latin versions. Between these two Italian editions appeared the first English translation of Euclid, by Henry Billingsley (London, 1570). The Archives holds all three early translations.
Giordano Bruno (1548-1600), the Italian Renaissance philosopher who was ultimately burned as a heretic by the Roman Inquisition, is the author of another recent acquisition, the De monade numero et figura (On the Monad, Number and Figure). This work is part of the trilogy of Latin verse works published in Frankfurt in 1591 and considered to be Bruno's philosophical testament. In the De monade Bruno discusses Pythagorean number symbolism and the meanings of the numbers 1 to 10. The Archives' copy was originally part of the personal library of the great rare book collector and historian of medicine Walter Pagel. In his important study of William Harvey (William Harvey's Biological Ideas, 1967), Pagel links Brunos ideas on geometrical symbolism and the philosophy of circles to Harvey's discovery and observation of the circulation of the blood by the heart.
The Gregorian calendar is the theme of another valuable new book. A first edition, the work is by Ugolino Martelli (1519-1592) and was written in Italian but published in France in 1583. It is bound together with a very rare French work on the same subject, Briefve explication de l'an courant by Pierre de Belloy (1540?-1613). The Gregorian calendar, the accepted international civil calendar, was decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582. Both the guide by Martelli and the work by Pierre de Belloy were published just after the decree.
The first two volumes of an English translation of the collection of scientific papers by the Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman (1735-1784), Opuscula Physica et Chemica, concludes the list of recently acquired rare books. Bergman was well known for his work on the chemistry of metals. This translation from the original Latin is by Edmund Cullen. It includes notes and illustrations by Cullen and was published in 1784 by J. Murray, London.
First published in English in 2007 , University Archivist Judith Goodstein's biography of Vito Volterra is now out in an Italian edition, Vito Volterra: Biografia di un matematico straordinario .
This book describes the life and times of one of Europe's most important scientists and mathematicians, whose contributions continue to influence fields as diverse as economics, physics, and ecology. Volterra (1860-1940) was an eminent scientist and Jewish intellectual, a passionate Italian patriot and a devoted family man. His life's story encompasses the rebirth of science in the new Italian state, the rise of Italian Jewry, and its travails under Mussolini's Fascist state. Posted 07-17-2009
Born in Rome in 1905, the son of one of the finest scientists and mathematicians Italy ever produced, Enrico Volterra earned his first degree from the University of Rome in 1928, and continued to study and do research there with the help of several assistantships, including a five-year stint with renowned mathematician and professor mechanics, Tullio Levi-Civita.
After the Mussolini regime promulgated the 1938 racial laws, which prohibited Jews from teaching, Enrico lost his position. The following year, he left Italy for Cambridge, England, where he earned a PhD in engineering. When Italy entered World War II on the German side, Enrico was imprisoned in an internment camp on the Isle of Man, where he learned of his father's death. Released through the efforts of well-placed British scientists notably Archibald V. Hill, Enrico spent the rest of the war years in England, working on plastic and rubber materials under G. I. Taylor and for the British Admiralty.
The assistance of both Theodore von Kármán and Tullio Levi-Civita in Enrico's search for a permanent position is documented in their and in the latter's papers. Enrico's extensive correspondence with Levi-Civita traces his mentor’s attempts to secure a teaching position in Argentina for his protégé. In the end Enrico chose the path offered by Von Kármán, which in 1948 took him across the ocean to the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.
Enrico spent the rest of his life in the United States. He soon moved to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and in 1957 to the University of Texas at Austin as a professor of aerospace engineering. He specialized in the theory of vibrations, in the strength of materials, and in the mathematical theory of elasticity. He died in 1973.
Enrico felt keenly his father's scientific legacy. Frequently the source for historical information about his father, Enrico composed an extensive scientific-biographical manuscript around which Sir Edmund Whittaker built the obituary notice on Vito Volterra for the Royal Society. Enrico took advantage of his visits to his mother in Italy to look after his father's famous library, now deposited at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The papers include an interesting exchange of letters between Enrico and fractal pioneer Szolem Mandelbrojt regarding the editing of some of Vito's unfinished manuscript material. The Enrico Volterra papers also include many photographs of his father as well as a collection of autographs of distinguished scientists such as Giovanni Schiaparelli, George Ellery Hale, Max Noether, Sophie Kowalevski and Felix Klein, among others
Donated to Caltech by Enrico's widow, Edith Volterra, the collection has been processed in nine archival boxes and is open to researchers. The finding aid will be online by the end of the summer.
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Photo ID 20.7-8 |
Caltech's Commencement archive runs from 1920, the year the school became the California Institute of Technology, to the present. In 1920 the Commencement speaker was Dr. George Ellery Hale, Director of the Mt. Wilson Observatory and Institute trustee, who spoke on "Scientific Research as the Foundation of Engineering Education and Industrial Development." Caltech awarded its very first PhD —to Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson in chemistry. The ceremony was held in front of Gates Laboratory (now Parsons-Gates Hall of Administration). The Institute awarded 31 bachelors and 3 masters degrees, in addition to the first doctorate. Posted 06-12-2009
In 1928 Thomas Hunt Morgan left Columbia University to found a new program in biology at the California Institute of Technology. Only geneticists would be recruited to Caltech at the start, among them Morgan's former students and long-time associates Alfred H. Sturtevant and Calvin Bridges, in addition to Theodosius Dobzhansky, the plant geneticist E. G. Anderson, and a graduate student in embryology, Albert Tyler. Morgan got a new building for his work, the elegantly functional Kerckhoff Laboratory. Morgan's program at Caltech formed and grew around a cadre of distinguished geneticists who over the years garnered an impressive number of Nobel Prizes: George W. Beadle (1958), Max Delbrück (1969), Barbara McClintock (1983), and Edward B. Lewis (1995). Morgan himself won the prize in 1933.
Morgan's belief that every biological process was grounded in discoverable physical and chemical functions had early on hindered his acceptance of Darwin's theory of natural selection. It did not explain to Morgan's satisfaction how new, adaptive variations in species arose, nor how they were passed on. He began his experiments to introduce mutations in Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly, at Columbia soon after his appointment there in 1904. The small "Fly Room" in Schermerhorn Hall was the scene of both science and the social events that bound Morgan's group together.
In 1910, with the publication of his first paper on Drosophila in the journal Science, Morgan had shifted his direction from evolution to a study of heredity. He went on to develop the fundamental chromosome theory of heredity for which he became celebrated.
The Caltech Archives holds the bulk of the papers of Thomas Hunt Morgan as well as papers of the following scientists who worked closely with Morgan or with members of his original school in the field of genetics at Caltech: George W. Beadle, Seymour Benzer, Max Delbrück, Sterling Emerson, Norman Horowitz, Edward B. Lewis, Barbara McClintock, A. H. Sturtevant, Albert Tyler, and Jean-Jacques Weigle. In addition, oral histories of Benzer, Delbrück, Lewis, and a joint interview with James Bonner, Norman Horowitz, and Sterling Emerson, are among the Archives' digital collections: http://oralhistories.library.caltech.edu. More interviews with other Caltech biologists are also accessible at that site, notably, those with Renato Dulbecco, Herschel Mitchell, Ray Owen, and Robert Sinsheimer.
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Photo ID 10.24-187 |
Seymour Benzer learned about the discovery of the double-helix structure of DNA from Francis Crick's collaborator, James Watson, at a lecture at Cold Spring Harbor in 1953. His correspondence with Crick starts two years later, in 1955, when Crick expressed interest in Benzer's work on the fine structure of the gene. Benzer worked with Crick at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge in 1957-58, and the correspondence over the next few years points to a close collaboration between the two men. The letters of 1960-1962 are especially noteworthy with discussion of each other's findings, honest comments on drafts of each other's papers, and also, some indications that the relationship was not always so smooth. Benzer's practical mapping techniques and his success in showing the physical nature of the gene helped Crick's more theoretical orientation and contributed to his fundamental work in understanding the genetic code in the 1960's. In addition, Benzer's papers provide detailed information on the formation of the Salk Institute, in which both men were involved. Posted 05-07-2009
Edith Wallace (1881-1964) came to Columbia in 1908 to work for Thomas Hunt Morgan in the laboratory known as the Fly Room. She later accompanied him to California to work with him at Caltech, from where she retired in 1944. A native New Englander, Wallace graduated from Mt. Holyoke College in 1903 and received a master's degree in biology at Clark University. She taught at colleges in Ohio and Maine before signing on with Morgan.
A number of Wallace's original drawings have survived in the papers of Morgan and of his student, A. H. Sturtevant, including the well-known color illustration of a pair of wild-type flies that served as frontispiece to Sturtevant and George Beadle's An Introduction to Genetics (W. B. Saunders, 1939). The recent acquisition of drawings, almost all in black ink on ivory artist's board, vastly increases the number of originals now in the Archives' collections. The drawings date from both before and after Morgan moved his laboratory to Caltech.
Michael Ashburner, Professor of Biology at Cambridge University, chose recently to return the Edith Wallace drawings to Caltech. They had been sent in the 1960s by Caltech's Professor Edward B. Lewis to Dan Lindsley (who passed them to Ashburner) for inclusion in the Red Book (The Genome of Drosophila Melanogaster, 1992; first edition 1968). Lindsley (Caltech PhD, 1952) and Lewis were both students of A. H. Sturtevant and thus genuine progeny of the Morgan school.
Wallace's fly drawings not only incorporate an extraordinary level of detail, but they are usually carefully dated and annotated to indicate the type and source of a mutation, the gender of the fly, and often the name of the geneticist for whom the drawing was made.
Born in Olmütz, then Austria-Hungary, today Olomouc in the Czech Republic, Olga Taussky was educated at the University of Vienna and in Zürich. Afterwards she became one of the editors at Göttingen of David Hilbert’s collected works in number theory. Taussky married John Todd, a native of the north of Ireland, in London shortly before the outbreak of World War II. During the war years, Taussky-Todd worked at the Ministry of Aircraft Production in Teddington, outside of London, while Todd was assigned to the Admiralty. In 1947, they visited the US, where they spent time at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton and the Institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA. In fall 1947, they accepted jobs at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, DC. Ten years later, in 1957, John Todd was appointed professor of mathematics at Caltech; Olga Taussky-Todd’s appointment as professor of mathematics came in 1971, after serving 14 years as a research associate in the mathematics department.
Caltech Archives received the Todds’ papers in multiple donations between 1994 and 2009. Although Taussky was an algebraist and Todd an analyst, there were large areas in which they could and did work together. For this reason, their papers have been treated as one unified collection. Correspondence and manuscript material has been organized chronologically and thematically wherever possible, keeping in mind that the material was loosely scattered in their home and in their departmental offices in Sloan Laboratory, with little obvious internal organization.
The core of the collection consists of long runs of correspondence with eminent scientists in Germany, Austria, and the United States, in many cases reaching back 80 years. Of particular interest are the letters from Erwin Schrödinger, Helmut Hasse, Wilhelm Magnus, Emmy Noether, Arnold Scholz, B. L. van der Waarden, and Hans Zassenhaus.
Dedicated teachers both, Olga Taussky-Todd and John Todd were passionate about mathematics and dedicated to mentoring young mathematicians around the world.
The collection is presently organized in 52 archival boxes (about 26 linear feet), and the finding aid is expected to be completed within the next several months and made available to researchers through the Online Archive of California.
For more information on Olga Taussky-Todd and John Todd, please consult their oral histories published at the Caltech Archives digital collections site Oral Histories Online: Olga Taussky-Todd John Todd
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Photo ID 10.24-12 |
Seymour Benzer (1921-2007), the father of neurogenetics, was one of the leading biologists of his time. His papers, presented to Caltech by his family in 2008, are now being arranged for future access by researchers. Benzer's scientific interests covered three distinct fields: physics (semiconductors), molecular biology (bacteriophage genetics) and neurobiology (the relationship between genes and behavior, working with mutants of the fruit fly Drosophila). These three fields are highlighted in the wealth of material: research notebooks, correspondence and reprints. The notebooks demonstrate his meticulous work over close to 70 years of scientific creativity and innovation. The correspondence reflects his cooperation and lifelong relationships with some of the greatest scientists of the 20th century, including numerous Nobel Prize winners. His correspondents include Francis Crick, James Watson, Francois Jacob, Salvador Luria, Max Delbruck, Eric Kandel, Sydney Brenner and Renato Dulbecco. The material also reveals his role as mentor and advisor to generations of students. Posted 04-09-2009
George Housner will be remembered at a memorial gathering this month at Caltech. Recognized here and throughout the world as the founding father of earthquake engineering, Housner was also devoted to the collecting of art and books. In an oral history with the Caltech Archives in 2003, he noted that these interests occupied a separate sphere in his life from science and technology. Housner donated his Asian art collection to Pasadena's Pacific-Asia Museum. The bulk of his rare book collection—approximately 270 titles—was given to the Caltech Archives in 2001. His personal and scientific papers were gifted to the Archives in 2002.
Housner's book collecting was guided by his personal interests. The visionary English poet and artist William Blake was a special favorite. He also admired the art and writings of William Hogarth, among other 18th-century satirists. On the early history of science and technology, Housner acquired a number of exceptional books, among them the first Latin edition of Newton's Opticks (1706), published two years after the original English edition under Newton’s supervision. Housner also amassed a group of rare early writings on earthquakes, beginning with a 1531 pamphlet claimed to be the earliest published first-hand account of an earthquake. The shaker occurred in Mainz, Germany, in 1528, and the booklet was printed by no less a publisher than the grandson of Gutenberg’s own assistant and eventual successor, Peter Schoeffer. Other notable early printed accounts include several of the great Lisbon quake of 1755 and a very rare illustrated report on the great Ansei quake of 1855 near Tokyo.
More images from the Housner book and art collections may be viewed in Parts 4 and 5 of the Archives' online exhibit, "Documenting Earthquakes".
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Photo ID 1.22-8 |
Now his actual notebooks, in which he meticulously recorded his painstaking measurements, may be viewed online. Millikan began his attempt to measure the charge on the electron in 1907. The only two lab notebooks which he kept until the end of this life, and which are now in the Caltech Archives, record his conclusive work on this problem during the period from October 1911 through April 1912. Millikan won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1923. The notebooks are presented in digital facsimile in the Archives' new repository titled Lab Notes Online within the Caltech Libraries' Digital Collections (CODA). Additional lab notes and data by others will be added to this repository over time.
Earnest Watson (1892–1970) was Caltech’s first dedicated historian of science. Trained as a physicist under Robert Millikan at the University of Chicago, Watson came to Caltech with his mentor in 1920. During his many years of teaching physics and serving in the administration, Watson pursued his passion for collecting the rarest and most valuable early books and prints for the study of the history of science and technology. His collection was later donated to Caltech.
Among Watson’s choicest acquisitions were rare and beautiful early atlases and maps. With the generous support of the Friends of the Caltech Libraries, six early maps are being included in this year’s conservation work. They include two hand-colored examples by the father of modern geography, Abraham Ortelius of Antwerp, who published the first systematic world atlas in 1570. Four additional maps identified and dated by Watson to 1657 are by the Amsterdam printer Jan Jansson from plates acquired from the early German atlas of world cities, Civitates Orbis Terrarum, by Braun and Hogenberg of Cologne. For a reception for the Friends in February, Watson’s copies of both Latin and French editions of the hand-colored Braun and Hogenberg atlas were displayed, along with the magnificently bound Dutch atlas of cities by Jan Blaeu, printed in 1649, which was last displayed at Caltech in 1949.
With the assistance of a grant from the American Institute of Physics, the Archives staff will organize the extensive Gerald J. Wasserburg papers into the following categories: correspondence, Caltech (institutional and divisional) documents, the Lunatic Asylum lab and working group, government and organizational files, writings and conferences, and biographical and pictorial material. The most extended and perhaps richest body of material, running to approximately 35 to 40 archival boxes, concerns Wasserburg's long association with NASA and his membership in the Lunar Sample Analysis Planning Team and Lunar Sample Review Board throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Wasserburg was also a meticulous researcher and a devoted teacher, and the files relating to his laboratory and to his many students and postdocs give a vivid picture of the conduct of a major scientific enterprise at Caltech from the early 1960s until approximately 2001.
The entire collection is expected to occupy just over 100 archival boxes, or approximately 50 linear feet. The Wasserburg papers are scheduled to be ready for use by late 2009.