aip.org:history/ead/aip_aapt_webster/20000090 Finding Aid to the American Association of Physics Teachers. Records of David Locke Webster, 1930-1958 This finding aid has been encoded by the Center for History of Physics, American Institute of Physics as part of a collaborative project supported by a grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities, an independent federal agency. Collaboration members in 1999 consisted of: American Institute of Physics, California Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Rice University, University of Alaska, University of Illinois, and University of Texas. American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
One Physics Ellipse College Park, MD 20740 nbl@aip.org
2000 Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD v.1.0 by Clay Redding on November 28 2000 from an existing finding aid using NoteTab Pro and C++ scripts created by James P. Tranowski (provided by Elizabeth Dow, Special Collections, University of Vermont). Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process. Finding aid written in English. May 21 2008 EAD v1.0 finding aid converted to EAD 2002 using UC Berkeley's eadv1to2002.pl perl script. Description of the Collection American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
American Association of Physics Teachers. Records of of David Locke Webster, 1930-1958 3.25 linear feet in 6 boxes American Association of Physics Teachers. These papers document the career of David Locke Webster, who served at Harvard, MIT, Stanford, the U.S. Signal Corps, and the Ordnance Department. He had been a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers from its inception in 1930 and worked devotedly for the advancement of physics education. Webster served as Vice-President of the Association in 1933 and 1934 and as President in 1935 and 1936.

See below for information on access and restrictions.

 English Selected Search Terms

These papers have been indexed in the International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Sciences (ICOS) using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.

Cope, Thomas D. (Thomas Darlington) Dodge, Homer Levi, 1887- Klopsteg, Paul E. (Paul Ernest), 1889- Lemon, Harvey Brace, 1885- Palmer, Frederic, 1878-1967. Richtmyer, F. K. (Floyd Karker), 1881-1939. Roller, Duane Emerson, 1894- Sutton, Richard Manliffe, 1900- Taylor, Lloyd William, 1893-1948. Webster, David Locke, 1888-1976. American Association of Physics Teachers -- Administration. Education -- Societies, etc. Engineering -- Study and teaching. Medical physics -- Study and teaching. Physics -- Societies, etc. Physics -- Study and teaching. Reminiscences. Biography of David Locke Webster

David Locke Webster was born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 6, 1888. He attended Harvard University, receiving an A.B. in 1910 and a Ph.D. in physics in 1913.

He began his teaching career at Harvard (mathematics instructor, 1910-1911; physics assistant, 1911-15; and physics instructor, 1915-1917). During 1919-1920, Webster was a physics instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was professor of physics at Stanford University from 1920 until his retirement in 1954, when he became emeritus professor. During World War II, Webster served as head physicist in the United States Signal Corps (1942), chief physicist in the Ordnance Department (1942-45), and was a consultant to these units after 1945. Webster died December 17, 1976.

Webster was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Physical Society and the American Geophysical Society. He had been a member of the American Association of Physics Teachers from its inception in 1930 and worked devotedly for the advancement of physics education. Webster served as Vice-President of the Association in 1933 and 1934 and as President in 1935 and 1936.

Webster is most well known for his work on the physics of x-rays, ultra-high frequency radio work, airplane pilot training and rockets.

 Scope and Contents of Collection

The Webster Papers consist of 3.25 feet of official AAPT correspondence files (1930-1958) kept by Webster in his various official positions, and five especially prepared binders of correspondence, manuscripts and other materials (1930-1936), documenting the organization of the AAPT and its journals, the American Journal of Physics and The Physics Teacher.

 Access to Collection

Open to approved researchers without restrictions.

 Restrictions on Use of Collection

Use of primary source material in the Niels Bohr Library requires prior approval through an Application for Access, which includes a statement of research purpose and the names and addresses of two scholars as references. Access applications can be obtained by contacting the Library (telephone 301-209-3177; or e-mail nbl@aip.org). The application can also be printed from our website.

 Provenance and Acquisition Information

Gift of David L. Webster in October 1963.

 Container List Correspondence, 1930-1958 Box 1 Folder 1 Correspondence 1957-1958, and manuscript and reprints of "Reminiscences of the Early Years of the Association" Box 1 Folder 2 Correspondence 1956, Northern California Section, American Journal of Physics Box 1 Folder 3 Rough draft and notes for "Reminiscences on the early years of the AAPT" Box 1 Folder 4 Coulomb's Law Committee, reprints and notes Box 1 Folder 5 Correspondence, 1949-1953 and AAPT Nominating Committee, 1952 Box 1 Folder 6 Correspondence, 1947 Box 1 Folder 7 American Journal of Physics, 1946 Box 1 Folder 8 Correspondence, 1946 Box 1 Folder 9 Correspondence, 1941-42 Box 1 Folder 10 Correspondence, 1941-42 Box 1 Folder 11 Richtmyer Lecture, 1942 Box 1 Folder 12 Civilian Pilot Training Program, Ground School, Seattle, June 1940 Box 1 Folder 13 AAPT miscellaneous, 1940 Box 1 Folder 14 Annual Meeting, 1940 Box 1 Folder 15 AAAS; Business and program of Annual Meeting, Seattle, 1940 Box 1 Folder 16 Committee on Award, 1940 Box 1 Folder 17 Council on Physics Education, 1940 Box 1 Folder 18 Dodge, Homer L., 1940 Box 1 Folder 19 Lemon, Harvey B., 1940 Box 1 Folder 20 Sutton, Richard M., 1940 Box 1 Folder 21 Executive Committee, 1940 Box 1 Folder 22 Committee on Award, Richtmyer, 1939 Box 1 Folder 23 Executive Committee, 1939 Box 1 Folder 24 American Physics Teacher, 1939 Box 1 Folder 25 June 1939 Box 1 Folder 26 Lemon, Harvey B., 1939 Box 2 Folder 27 Committee on Award, 1938 Box 2 Folder 28 San Diego Meeting, June 24, 1938 Box 2 Folder 29 Medal Design, 1938 Box 2 Folder 30 Annual Meeting, December, 1938 Box 2 Folder 31 Executive Committee, 1938 Box 2 Folder 32 Richtmyer, 1938 Box 2 Folder 33 Award Recommendation for Alexander W. Duff, 1938 Box 2 Folder 34 Committee on Units, 1938 Box 2 Folder 35 Richtmyer, F.K., 1937 Box 2 Folder 36 Roller, D., 1937 Box 2 Folder 37 Executive Committee, 1937 Box 2 Folder 38 Dodge, Homer L., 1937 Box 2 Folder 39 Meeting, February 1937 Box 2 Folder 40 Meeting, June 1937 Box 2 Folder 41 Committee on Units, 1937 Box 2 Folder 42 Committee on Pre-Medical Physics, 1933-1937 Box 2 Folder 43 December meeting, 1937 Box 2 Folder 44 Committee on Award for notable contributions to the teaching of physics, 1937 Box 2 Folder 45 Trip East; itinerary, costs, etc. December 1937 Box 2 Folder 46 Committee on Physics for Engineers, 1937 Box 3 Folder 47 Committee on Award, 1937: Notes and letters to be used in preparing the speech Box 3 Folder 48 Committee on Tests, 1937 Box 3 Folder 49 Committee on Training of Physicists for Industry, 1936 Box 3 Folder 50 Committee on Films, 1936 Box 3 Folder 51 Committee on Examinations for the Profession of Physicists, 1936 Box 3 Folder 52 Committee on Terminology, 1936 Box 3 Folder 53 Richtmyer, F.K., 1936 Box 3 Folder 54 AAPT stationary, 1936 Box 3 Folder 55 Speech on the notable contributions award, 1936 Box 3 Folder 56 Programs, December 1936 Box 3 Folder 57 Executive Committee, 1936 Box 3 Folder 58 Meeting, December 1936 Box 3 Folder 59 Meeting with American Institute of Physics, October 1936 Box 3 Folder 60 Committee on Units (includes reports), 1936 Box 3 Folder 61 Committee on Units, 1936 Box 3 Folder 62 American Institute of Physics, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 63 Palmer, F., 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 64 Committee on Awards for meritorious service to teaching, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 65 Dodge, H., and Roller, D., 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 66 American Physics Teacher, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 67 Klopsteg, P., 1936-1936 Box 3 Folder 68 Committee on Ideal Curriculum in Liberal Arts Colleges, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 69 Committee on Geometrical Optics, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 70 Committee on Nominations, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 71 Webb, W.S., 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 72 Plans for the December meeting, 1935 Box 3 Folder 73 Committee on Papers, 1935 Box 3 Folder 74 Taylor, L.W., 1935 Box 3 Folder 75 Executive Committee, 1935 Box 3 Folder 76 American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1935 Box 3 Folder 77 AAPT conferences, April and May, 1935 Box 3 Folder 78 Committee on preparation in Math, 1935 Box 3 Folder 79 Lists of members of AAPT, Who's Who, and History and Constitution, 1934-1935 Box 3 Folder 80 Committee on Physics in a liberal arts education, 1935 Box 3 Folder 81 Films and the American Films Institute, 1935 Box 3 Folder 82 Executive Committee and related papers, 1934 Box 3 Folder 83 Circulars, 1933-1936 Box 3 Folder 84 Committee on membership, 1935-1936 Box 3 Folder 85 Executive Committee meeting, letters and minutes, December 1935 Box 3 Folder 86 Committee on tests (first year physics), 1933-1937 Box 3 Folder 87 Sutton, R.M., book on demonstration experiments, 1935-1936 Binders of materials on the organization of the AAPT, 1930-1936. (These materials were especially prepared for the Center by David Webster.) Box 5 Binder 1 AAPT 1930-1933, organization, plans for the journals, Webster's work as associate editor of the American Physics Teacher, 1933 and correspondence with the Committee on Tests, 1933-1934. Box 5 Binder 2 AAPT Pre-Medical Physics Committee, 1933 and 1934. Afterthoughts on the report published in 1934. Box 5 Binder 3 Teaching on magnetism, papers and letters, 1932-1933, including correspondence with Warburton and Birge; Barnett's reprints, 1933; Warburton and Cleveland on Ampere's Law and Newton's 3rd, 1933-1936. Box 6 Binder 4 "Unscrambling the Dielectric Constant", and correspondence as an associate editor of the American Physics Teacher, 1934. Box 6 Binder 5 Committee on Units, 1934-1935.