California Institute of Technology

Abstract AirTalk is the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California, aired for the first time on April, 1985. Starting in 1988, the talk show hosted by Larry Mantle, was devoted to Caltech and JPL on the third Wednesday of every month and had the title “AirTalk: The Caltech Edition”.The first broadcast of "AirTalk: The Caltech Edition" took to the airwaves on January 20, 1988. The program was aired from 6 to 7 PM on KPCC, the National Public Radio affiliate of Pasadena City...

Abstract A selection of the course and teaching notes, correspondence, technical files, and photographs of Carl D. Anderson (1905-1991) form the collection known as the Carl D. Anderson Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology. Working under Robert A. Millikan at Caltech, Anderson conducted experiments on the penetrating radiation known as cosmic rays with a magnet cloud chamber, and in 1936 he won the Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of the positive electron, or...

Abstract The working papers, correspondence, publications, photos and biographical materials of Robert F. Bacher (1905-2004) form the collection known as the Papers of Robert F. Bacher in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology. Bacher was a nuclear physicist who during World War II worked on radar at the MIT Radiation Laboratory and then from 1943 at Los Alamos on the atomic bomb. He was one of the first members of the US Atomic Energy Commission (1946-49). He served on the faculty...

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Harry Bateman was a mathematical physicist and professor of physics, mathematics and aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech, originally Throop College), 1917-1946. The collection includes his manuscripts on binomial coefficients, notes on integrals and related material (much of which was later published by Arthur Erdélyi); and a small amount of personal correspondence. Also included are teaching materials and reprints.

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Eric Temple Bell was professor mathematics at Caltech from 1926 to 1953. He was a specialist in the theory of numbers. He also distinguished himself as a writer of science fiction under the name of John Taine, and also as the author of non-fiction and poetry. His papers include literary and scientific manuscripts; correspondence, largely with publishers; and some reprints of his own scientific publications.

Abstract Seymour Benzer (1921-2007) first came to Caltech in 1949. He held the James G. Boswell Professorship of Neuroscience from 1975 to 1993. A selection of his correspondence, research notes, technical files, reprints, manuscripts and writings form the collection known as the Seymour Benzer Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology. Benzer was awarded the Crafoord Prize in 1993 for his pioneering genetical and neuropsychological studies on behavioral mutants in the fruit...

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The papers of James Frederick Bonner (1910 – 1996), Caltech alumnus (PhD, 1934) and professor of biology, 1938-1981. His papers include a large correspondence section with colleagues and organizations worldwide, as well as writings and talks, papers about his consultancy activities, scientific and technical files and biographical material.

Abstract Ira Sprague Bowen (1898-1973) Astrophysicist; Director, Mt. Wilson Observatory, 1946-1964; Professor of Physics, Caltech 1926-45. Much of his physics research was concerned with studies of spectral lines and spectroscopy; in the 1930s his interests turned more to astronomy and astrophysics and he devised many new instruments and techniques for observational astronomy. Papers include correspondence (ca. 1933-47), notebooks (many from his years at University of Chicago, 1916-21), articles,...

Abstract Norman H. Brooks, Caltech James Irvine Professor of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Emeritus; Member of National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering, taught at Caltech for over forty years. Brooks retired from teaching in 1995. The Norman H. Brooks papers illustrate Brooks' contributions to the field of fluid turbulence and diffusion and environmental fluid mechanics, particularly ocean pollution control and consist of reports, research, historical documents from...

Abstract The personal and organizational correspondence, working papers, notebooks, and manuscripts of John P. Buwalda (1886-1954) form the the bulk of the collection known as the John P. and Imra Wann Buwalda Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The writings of Imra Wann Buwalda, wife of John P. Buwalda, on the history of Caltech, the subject of earthquakes, and miscellaneous family and professional papers connected to her work as a policewoman form a subgroup...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection provides a thorough record of George Ellery Hale’s activities. A prolific correspondent, Hale kept copies of most of his letters. The collections contains significant material relating to the theoretical and instrumental development of astrophysics, the history of the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories, and the early history of the California Institute of Technology. It also documents Hale’s work with the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council.

Scope and Contents

The California Graduate School of Design (1937-41) and the California Institute of Technology Industrial Design Section (1941-49) papers contain student files, correspondence, and documents regarding the formation and operation of the two schools.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection provides a thorough record of George Ellery Hale’s activities. A prolific correspondent, Hale kept copies of most of his letters. The collections contains significant material relating to the theoretical and instrumental development of astrophysics, the history of the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories, and the early history of the California Institute of Technology. It also documents Hale’s work with the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council.

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These papers document Caltech's building of a one-billion volt (1 BeV) electron accelerator, the synchrotron. Funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the project marked the beginning of high energy physics at Caltech. The records consist of photos, technical notes, reports, conference proceedings, and proposals to the Atomic Energy Commission.

Abstract This collection encompasses most of Delbrück's lifetime and chronicles his role in the development of molecular biology. The bulk of the materials date from the time of his immigration to the U.S. in 1946. They include personal and professional correspondence, lectures, manuscripts, and biographical material. These materials relate to topics such as his immigration as a German scientist during the early years of World War II; biophysics; his work with the Phage Information Service; his...

Scope and Contents

The Ronald W.P. Drever papers document his career and research at Caltech with his research in laser interferomters, including his collaborative work in what was known as Gravity Wave Physics and the founding of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). The collection includes correspondence, memos, research notebooks, and a collection of Caltech and the Physics, Math, and Astronomy (PMA) Division announcements.

Abstract The consulting files, patent files and correspondence, and a selection of working papers, general correspondence, and biographical papers of the biochemist William J. Dreyer, known as the William J. Dreyer Papers in the California Institute of Technology Archives. A specialist in molecular immunology, Dreyer was professor of biology at Caltech from 1963 until his death in 2004. At Caltech he was involved in the creation of a series of automated instruments for high-sensitivity protein...

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Jesse William Monroe DuMond, experimental physicist and professor of physics at Caltech, 1938-1963, was known for his work on physical constants and spectroscopic instrumentation. His papers contain principally his scientific correspondence, with some reprints, photos of experimental apparatus, and biographical material, the latter including his unpublished autobiography.

Abstract The Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series brings to the public the most innovative scientific research taking place at Caltech. Spotlighting a small selection of the pioneering research the Caltech faculty is conducting, these lectures are geared toward a general audience, part of the Institute's commitment to benefiting the local community through education and outreach. The lectures are given by world renowned Caltech Faculty and in the past have featured also several Nobel Prize winners, such...

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Epstein was a physicist at California Institute of Technology from 1921-1953; he taught advanced courses in mathematical and theoretical physics. Collection includes general and family correspondence; personal and biographical material; notebooks; manuscripts; class notes by a Caltech student; books, mostly technical and in Russian; reprints of Epstein's writings.

Abstract The working papers, correspondence, scientific data, teaching and biographical material of Samuel Epstein form the collection known as the Samuel Epstein Papers at the California Institute of Technology Archives. Epstein had a distinguished career in isotope geochemistry, resulting in the development of the carbonate paleotemperature scale, as well as the publication of some pioneering papers with regards to the measurements of paleotemperatures and of the isotopic composition of water in...

Abstract The correspondence, manuscripts, published papers, course lecture notes and special wartime (World War II) and postwar working documents of Horace N. Gilbert (1901-1990) form the collection known as the Horace N. Gilbert Papers in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Gilbert was professor of business economics at Caltech from 1924 until his retirement in 1969. During World War II he worked for the US Air Force in materiel production. In the postwar period he...

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection provides a thorough record of George Ellery Hale’s activities. A prolific correspondent, Hale kept copies of most of his letters. The collections contains significant material relating to the theoretical and instrumental development of astrophysics, the history of the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories, and the early history of the California Institute of Technology. It also documents Hale’s work with the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council.

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The Records of the Gnome Club (1897-2007), organized in six archival boxes, contains diverse material related to Caltech's oldest social club. Material includes historical information, constitution and by-laws, member lists, newsletters, photos and artifacts.

Abstract These papers document the career of Jesse L. Greenstein, a Harvard educated astronomer who came to the California Institute of Technology in 1948 to run the astronomy program. While at Caltech he did research on stellar composition and high resolution spectra using the Palomar telescope. The papers consist of correspondence, technical material, professional organizational material, class and lecture notes, and subject files. They emphasize Greenstein's research on the discovery of peculiar...

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The small collection of 36 items contains 20 letters and postcards of Richard Feynman to his childhood friend Elmer W.Heller, in addition to letters from others to Elmer Heller, including two letters from Arline Greenbaum, Feynman's first wife. Also included are some miscellaneous documents and photos related to Richard Feynman. The collection was assembled and donated by Elmer Heller's brother, Joseph Heller.

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The working papers, correspondence, manuscripts, and lectures of Norman Harold Horowitz form the collection known as the Papers of Norman Horowitz in the Archives of the California Institute of Technology. Horowitz was professor of biology at Caltech, and a pioneer in the fields of exobiology and biochemical genetics.