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Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics student records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: AC-0409

Scope and Contents

This collection contains student records kept by the Department of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1929-1998

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

All materials in this collection are restricted for 75 years from their date of creation.

Conditions Governing Use

Access to collections in the Department of Distinctive Collections is not authorization to publish. Please see the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy for permission information. Copyright of some items in this collection may be held by respective creators, not by the donor of the collection or MIT.

Historical Note

Physics was taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from the time classes were first offered in 1865. William B. Rogers, the founder and first president of MIT, was the first professor of physics. In 1869 Rogers established the “Physical Laboratory,” probably the first laboratory for instruction in physics in the United States. The lab was designed and equipped by Edward Pickering, the first director of the Rogers Lab. In 1872 the lab was renamed the Rogers Laboratory of Physics. Physics became Course VIII in 1873.

In 1882 the first course in electrical engineering in the United States was developed and administered within the Department of Physics. It became a separate department, Course VI, in 1902.

MIT History, Department of Physics, 2020.

Extent

41 Cubic Feet (41 record cartons)

Language of Materials

English

Physical Location

Materials are stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use.

Other Finding Aids

A more detailed collection inventory is available to staff in the collection control file.

Processing Information

In spring 2021, this finding aid was revised as part of a project to publish previously unpublished finding aids. The finding aid was brought up to minimum description standards and any personally identifying information in the description was removed.

Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2021: Edited by Lana Mason for compliance with DACS single-level optimum requirements and to remove personally identifying information from the description.
  • 2022: Access notes and additional box description added by Chris Tanguay.

Repository Details

Part of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Libraries. Department of Distinctive Collections Repository

Contact:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries
Building 14N-118
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA 02139-4307 US