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Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics curricula

 Collection
Identifier: AC-0074

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The early years of physics education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT) is documented in the "Plan of the Physical Laboratory" and "Report of the Physical Laboratory," by Edward C. Pickering, the first professor of physics at MIT.

There are sets of notes taken by students in physics classes between 1903 and 1917. They are organized primarily by course. The professor teaching the course is usually identified on the first page of the notes.

The collection contains minutes of the meetings of a fourth year class in advanced physics, 8 Mar. 1874-10 May 1879, chaired by Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Edward C. Pickering. There are four "Laboratory Circulars," 1877-1878, a student publication produced jointly with the Department of Chemistry, which describes the laboratory apparatus and processes in physics and chemistry which students "found convenient and think not in general use in laboratories."

Dates

  • 1869 - 1971

Access note

This collection is open.

Digital Access Note

Some parts of this collection are available online. Links to specific online digital items are found within their entry in this finding aid.

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

The establishment of a physics laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was an early idea of MIT founder William Barton Rogers. Professor Edward Pickering organized the establishement of such a lab, and his plan was approved by the MIT Committee on Instruction, May 11, 1869. The Corporation voted in February 1872 that the laboratory was to be named "The Rogers Laboratory of Physics."

Extent

1.6 Cubic Feet (5 manuscript boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Location

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

Related Materials

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections, Charles R. Cross papers, MC 107.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Distinctive Collections, Charles E. Pickering course notes, MC 457.

Bibliography

  • A history of the departments of chemistry and physics at the M.I.T., 1865-1933, by T.L. David and H.M. Goodwin. Cambridge, The Technology press, Massachusetts institute of technology , 1933.

Processing Information note

Some collection descriptions are based on legacy data and may be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. Description may change pending verification. Please contact the MIT Department of Distinctive Collections if you notice any errors or discrepancies.

Title
Guide to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics, Curricula
Status
Ready For Review
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

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