Skip to main content

Fowler, William Alfred (Physicist, Nobel Laureate)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1911 - 1995

Biographical/Historical

Background: Professor of Physics, 1939-1982; Nobel Laureate in Physics, 1983; Caltech alumnus (PhD, 1936).

Biographical/Historical

Description: William A. Fowler was born in Lima, Ohio, and educated at Ohio State University and at Caltech. For much of his career, Fowler was the acknowledged leader in the research area of astrophysics. Fowler's work in nuclear physics began in the 1930s while working with Charles C. Lauritsen and, slightly later, with Fred Hoyle. In 1983, Fowler received the Nobel prize in physics, with Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, for his theoretical and experimental studies of nuclear reactions in the formation of the chemical elements in the universe. During World War II Fowler worked closely with C. C. Lauritsen on Caltech's rocket project for the US navy. In the postwar era, he was head of Project Vista, a study of strategic weapons.

Biographical/Historical

Collection Notes: Oral history, 1983-84; 1986. This 154 page interview covers a broad range of Fowler's professional activities and professional life. A 15-page supplemental oral history completed in 1986 provides further discussion of the climate at Caltech during World War II and the rocket project undertaken for the US navy.

Papers: 213 boxes, 94 linear feet. Papers cover personal and professional life during years 1917-1994. Extensive material from World War II and some coverage of Project Vista.

Photo of William A. Fowler at the Nobel banquet (PhotoNet)

Found in 36 Collections and/or Records:

Airtalk: Caltech Edition

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1989-00167

Airtalk: The Caltech Edition

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1989-00166

AirTalk with Lee Browne, Pamela Fong, and William A. Fowler, 1989-05-24

 Item
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The collection is divided according to the recording type: audio and video then ordered chronologically. Each recording includes an interview with either Caltech faculty, administrators, staff, students, alumni, JPL scientists or administrators. It also includes features such as Caltech Almanac -a detailed look at some of the many interesting people, places and discoveries in Caltech’s history-, Caltech Calendar -a listing of upcoming public events on campus- and Caltech in the News....
Dates: 1989-05-24

Birthday Celebration

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1986-00217

Case Of The Missing Solar Neutrinos

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1986-00222

Dosimeter, pocket

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1995-00111

Fowler Photographs

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1988-00369

William A. Fowler Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 10070-MS
Abstract These papers document the career of William A. Fowler, who served on the physics faculty at California Institute of Technology from 1939 until 1982. Focusing heavily on nuclear physics and astrophysics, the Fowler papers form a rich and important collection for the history of physics, and illustrate the politics and sociology of science in the twentieth century. They also contain substantial material on Caltech's World War II rocket developments, plus documents on Project Vista, a Cold-War...
Dates: 1917-1994

In The Beginning Was Hydrogen

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1991-00067

In The Beginning Was Hydrogen

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1991-00068

Interview of Jesse Greenstein by Kip Thorne

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2003-00103

Interview of William Fowler by Kip Thorne

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2002-00213

Interview of William Fowler by Kip Thorne

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2003-00102

Memorial Observance

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1995-00108

Memorial Observance

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1996-00030

Nobel Award Dinner

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1986-00219

Papers of William A. Fowler, 1917-1994

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1985-00005

Portrait of William Fowler

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 2005-00034

Quest For The Origin Of The Elements

 Unprocessed Material
Identifier: 1986-00218

The Case of the Missing Solar Neutrinos

 Digital Record
Identifier: 2022-01-25-000003

The Case of the Missing Solar Neutrinos, 1978-03-29

 Item
Scope and Contents From the Collection: The collection is arranged by chronological order. This series started in 1922, but the first recording dates back to 1971 and since it is still ongoing, the collection continues to grow, with about 9 new lectures per academic year.These lectures feature speakers from Caltech and JPL, spotlighting a small selection of the pioneering research conducted in the fields of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Engineering and Applied Science,...
Dates: 1978-03-29

Whoopee Willy: Photo Album

 File
Identifier: HistoricalFiles_?
Scope and Contents

Album made by Juliana Christy. Photos of student preparation for the celebration of Fowler's Nobel Prize.

Dates: 19th century to present

Additional filters:

Type
Unprocessed Material 25
Archival Object 8
Digital Record 2
Collection 1
 
Subject
Physics 21
Nobel Prize 8
AirTalk 4
Astrophysics 4
Kip Thorne Audio Collection 3