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Brigham Young University. Department of Physics

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1921 - 1972

Biography

The Department of Physics (1921-1972) was responsible for various courses in physics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

The Department of Physics was established and placed in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1921 when the School of Arts and Sciences was abolished. In 1954 it was transferred to the newly formed College of Physical and Engineering Sciences. In 1972 the department was renamed the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

The Department of Physics was administered by a department chair, under the direction of the college dean. Department chairs of the Department of Physics included Carl F. Eyring (1921-1928, 1930-1937, 1939-1951), Milton Marshall (1929, 1938, 1951-1954), Wayne W. Hales (1955-1958), John H. Gardner (1961-1963, 1966-1972), Dwight R. Dixon (1964-1965).

The Department of Physics was responsible for teaching courses in: Elementary Physics, Household Physics, Mechanics and Sound, Electricity, Heat and Light, Molecular Physics and Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, Radio Instruments and Measurements, Optics and Astrophysics, Wave Motion, and History of Physics. By 1954 the department also taught courses in: Astronomy, Weather and Climate, Photography, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, Mechanics, Physics of Air, Meteorology, Acoustics, and Nuclear Physics.

Citation:
BYU Organizational History Project, via WWW, viewed June 12, 2013: Department of Physics (est. 1921 and placed in the College of Arts and Sciences; 1954, transferred to College of Physical and Engineering Sciences; 1972, renamed Department of Physics and Astronomy; administered by department chair, under direction of college dean; department chairs included Carl F. Eyring (1921-1928, 1930-1937, 1939-1951), Milton Marshall (1929, 1938, 1951-1954), Wayne W. Hales (1955-1958), John H. Gardner (1961-1963, 1966-1972), Dwight R. Dixon (1964-1965); responsible for teaching courses in: Elementary Physics, Household Physics, Mechanics and Sound, Electricity, Heat and Light, Molecular Physics and Heat, Electricity and Magnetism, Radio Instruments and Measurements, Optics and Astrophysics, Wave Motion, and History of Physics; by 1954 the department also taught courses in: Astronomy, Weather and Climate, Photography, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, Mechanics, Physics of Air, Meteorology, Acoustics, and Nuclear Physics)

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Department of Physics collection of photographic equipment

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 5755
Scope and Contents Cameras and photographic equipment from the Physics Department. Collection has 85 pieces including a Prosch Triplex Stereoscopic, a stereo viewer, camera lenses from various makers, film canisters, diffusers, glass dry plates and holders, light meters, two Pocket Kodaks, one Polaroid, one Fotron III, three Graflex cameras, one Century View model 40, a homemade bellow camera with color filters, film developing tools, Kodak paper catalog, large format lenses, examples of undeveloped film, and...
Dates: approximately 1890-1970
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Department of Physics collection of photographic equipment

Department of Physics department chair records

 Collection — Box 1: [Barcode: 31197233237236]
Identifier: UA 570
Scope and Contents

Contains materials from the Physics Department chair, including twenty-five mounted, photographic Lissajous figures and a reprint of the article, "Recording the Lissajous Figures" from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. Also includes a mounted explanation of the process.

Dates: 1944-1945
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives / Department of Physics department chair records

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