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Finding Aid to the J. Barton Hoag Papers, 1914-1963 (bulk 1917-1962)

Sponsor:

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.

Publisher:

American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
nbl@aip.org

Published in 2001

Encoding Information:

Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD v.1.0 by Clay Redding on January 24, 2001 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. Reviewed by K. Hayes on January 24, 2001 .

Finding aid written in English.

Description of the Collection

Location of collection:

American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740

Title and dates of collection:

J. Barton Hoag Papers, 1914-1963 (bulk 1917-1962)

Papers/Records created by:

Hoag, J. Barton, 1898-

Size of collection:

6.5 linear feet (10 manuscript boxes, 2 half manuscript boxes, 1 flat box)

Short description of collection:

This collection consists of the papers of J. Barton Hoag, spanning from 1914 to 1963 (bulk 1917-1962). The collection contains materials from Hoag's days as a student at Colorado College and the University of Chicago, teaching at the University of Chicago, as a administrator at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and teaching at the University of Florida. There is also information regarding his writings and correspondence.

Languages Represented:

English

Biography of J. Barton Hoag

J. Barton Hoag was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on September 22, 1898. He received his A.B. from Colorado College in 1920. Hoag was an instructor of physics at Colorado College from 1920 until 1921. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1927. Hoag was on the physics faculty at the University of Chicago from 1922 to 1940. He went on to be part of the science faculty and the head of the Science Department at the United States Coast Guard Academy from 1940 until 1960. After he retired from the Academy, he spent two years teaching at the University of Florida. Throughout his career, Hoag studied extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy and electron and nuclear physics. He was also a prolific creator of demonstration lectures in physics. Hoag died in 1962.

Scope and Contents of Collection

The papers of J. Barton Hoag span from 1914-1962, with the bulk of the collection between 1917 and 1962. The collection contains student notebooks (1917-1924) from his years at Colorado College and the University of Chicago. Some of the courses were taught by Arthur J. Dempster, Albert A Michelson and Robert A. Millikan. Hoag's undergraduate and Ph.D. theses are also included. The lecture notes (1926-1962) are from courses Hoag taught at the University of Chicago, University of Florida and the Coast Guard Academy. There are copies of the theses Hoag directed while teaching at the University of Chicago. The manuscript materials consist of drafts of books and articles. The subject files consist of notes, reference notes and typescripts of various topics. The reprints (1927-1948) are of articles by Hoag. The other reprints (1914-1963) are by colleagues. The correspondence (1929-1962) concerns apparatus, the Michelson Museum at China Lake, and two books by Hoag: Electron Physics and Basic Radio. According to Mrs. Patricia Hoag, many of the notes and data that originally accompanied these papers were destroyed in 1963. Mrs. Hoag went through the papers with two physicists and was told that "no one could read, much less use another man's notes." What remained after this process is what is contained in this collection. Correspondents include: Adrian N. Clark, Edward M. Crane, Glenn M. Hobbs, Julian E. Mack, Robert A. Millikan, Thomas C. Poulter, and Morton H. Teller.

Organization of Collection

The collection is organized into 13 series: I. Correspondence, 1929-1962; II. Student Notebooks, 1917-1924; III. Theses, 1921-1927; IV. Lecture Notes, 1926-1962; V. Theses Directed by Hoag, 1929-1939; VI. Manuscripts of books, articles, essays and addresses; VII. Hoag reprints, 1927-1948; VIII. Reprints, magazines, etc., 1914-1963; IX. Biographic and bibliographic materials; X. Photographs; XI. Phonograph records and tape recordings; XII. Books, 1940, 1942, 1956; XIII. Miscellaneous.

Some series have been divided. Note the division of Lecture Notes, 1926-1962 and of Books, 1940, 1942, 1956.

Arrangement of Collection

This collection has not been fully arranged at the file level. The container list reflects what is in each box, but not the order of the materials in the boxes.

Access to Collection

No 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

Received from Patricia Hoag in 1966.

Materials Separated from Collection

  • All photographs from box 10 in the Emilio Segrè Visual Archives.
  • 5 Polaroid slides of group portraits, University of Chicago, 1929. (Current location unknown)
  • Phonograph records entitled "The quality of musical sounds" stored with phonograph records.

Container List

Series I. Correspondence, 1929-1962
Box 1 Correspondence on "Electron Physics", 1929-1934.
Correspondence with Welch Manufacturing Company about apparatus, 1930-1931.
Letter from Paul C. Hodges to JBH about X-Ray Equipment, Dec. 30, 1935.
Letter from JBH to Arnold N. Lowen about A.N. Lowen's project for the Computation of Mathematical Tables, July 15, 1940.
Correspondence on "Basic Radio", 1942-1946.
Letter from LeRoy Collins to JBH concerning the Work Conference on Nuclear Energy, St. Petersburg, FL, August 1-4, 1956.
Letter from JBH to Morton Teller concerning U.S. Coast Guard Academy, January 17, 1960.
File of Correspondence on Michelson Museum, 1962.
 
Series II. Student Notebooks, 1917-1924
Box 1 Electricity and magnetism, A.J. Dempster, University of Chicago, 1922.
Electricity and magnetism, R.A. Millikan, University of Chicago, Summer 1924.
Box 2 Physics 1 & 2, Colorado College, 1917-1918.
Laboratory Reports, Colorado College, 1919.
Physics 5 & 6, Colorado College, n.d.
Optics, Colorado College, n.d.
Physical optics, A.A. Michelson, University of Chicago, 1924.
Electricity and magnetism, A.A. Michelson, University of Chicago, 1924.
Electromagnetic Theory, A.A. Michelson, University of Chicago, 1924.
Wave Motion, A.A. Michelson, University of Chicago, n.d.
Box 3 Michelson's examination questions on the electromagnetic theory of light, n.d.
 
Series III. Theses, 1921-1927
Box 3 On radioactivity, Colorado College, 1921 (2 copies).
Wavelengths of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen in the extreme ultra violet with a concave grating at the grazing incidence. Submitted for the Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1927.
 
Series IV. Lecture Notes, 1926-1962
Box 4 Demonstration lectures, addresses, radio programs, University of Chicago, 1926-1927.
Tables of physical constants 1939-1945.
Nucleonics Public Lectures, 1940.
Cosmic Rays 1940-1945.
Electron Theory, notes and examinations, ca. 1945.
General lectures on Greek science, 1945.
Electrophysical Laboratory, list of experiments and examinations, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1947.
Problems, quizzes in nucleonics, 1947-1953.
Electrophysics, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1950.
Nucleonics Public Lectures 1950-1951.
Box 5 Letter and index cards describing Hoag's classroom demonstrations in physics, 1960.
Exponentials and mechanical analog of radioactive decay for physics 207 laboratory, University of Florida, 1960-1962.
Box 6 Physics 109, University of Florida, 1961-1962.
Physics 206, University of Florida, Spring 1962.
Box 11 Physics 205, University of Florida, 1960-1961
Box 12 Reactor Physics I, School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Argonne National Laboratory, 1955.
Demonstration Lectures in General College Physics, 1959.
 
Series V. Theses directed by Hoag, 1929-1939
Box 6 Radioactivity and discharge through gases by B. Halpern, University of Chicago, 1929.
Diffraction of electrons, by J.A. Longman, University of Chicago, 1929.
Low voltage apparatus for the determination of e/m by direct velocity measurements, by W.C. Thoburn, University of Chicago, 1931.
Investigation of a new type of audio frequency vacuum tube oscillator, by C. McG. Shanks, University of Chicago, 1934.
Thr production of Barkhausen- Kurz oscillations by means of a two electrode vacuum tube, by Elliot, 1935.
Photoelectric investigation of the "Allison magnets optic effect" and measurements at high frequencies of the diamagentic Faraday effect in liquids, by G.C. Comstock, University of Chicago, 1937.
Box 7 A study of multiple acceleration of electrons by a linear accelerator, by N.L. Luster, University of Chicago, 1937.
The magnetic permeability of iron and nickel at ultra-high radio frequencies, by Glathart, University of Chicago, 1939.
 
Series VI. Manuscripts of books, articles, essays and addresses
Box 7 Electron and nuclear physics, 4th ed. (Manuscript, front and back material and chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. Text is annotated and includes hand-written notes and portions of text.), n.d.
Electron theory of solids, with reference notes, n.d.
Greek science -- General lecture, 1944.
Laboratory manual in radioactivity and discharge through gases, by A. Dempster and JBH, n.d.
Latest developments in radio; an address, November 1, 1929.
Measurement of the earth's potential gradient, n.d.
Satellites, July 1959.
The scientific method -- General lecture, 1945.
Static -- What it is and how it is produced. (Published in The Refiner, 1, 84, 1928.)
Artificial disintegration
Cosmic rays
Box 8 e/m Miscellaneous methods.
e/m Welch apparatus.
Instructor training course, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1958.
Ionization gauge.
Lectures delivered.
Molecular physics.
Publications.
Scattering of alphas.
Trouble shooters and specialists (material for an article).
Wavelength and charge of electrons.
 
Series VII. Hoag reprints, 1927-1948
Box 9 Wave-lengths of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen in the extreme ultra-violet with a concave grating at the grazing incidence. Reprinted from The Astrophysical Journal, LXVI, 4, 1927.
Methods of Television. Reprinted from International Blue Printer, February 1931.
Permeability of iron at ultra-radio frequencies, by J. Barton Hoag and Haydn Jones. Reprinted from Physical Review, 42, 4, 1932.
Trouble shooters and specialists. The University of Chicago Magazine, XXV, 2. 1932.
Filter for an x-ray power supply, by J. Barton Hoag and Victor J. Andrew. Reprinted from The Review of Scientific Instruments, 3, 12, 1932.
Measurement of the frequency of ultra-radio waves. Reprinted from the Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers, 21,1,1933.
A thyratron-controlled ionization gauge, by J.B. Hoag and Nicholas M. Smith, 1936.
Heights of reflection of radio waves in the ionosphere, by F.H. Murray and J. Barton Hoag. Reprinted from Physical Review, 51, 1937.
The production of half-life chlorine 33, by J. Barton Hoag. Reprinted from Physical Review, 57, 1940.
Should physics or chemistry come first? Reprinted form Journal of Chemical Education, 22, 3, 1945.
Book review of "Vacuum Tubes", by Karl R. Spangenberg. Reprinted from Science, 107, 2785, 1948.
Notes on photography, n.d.
The double heterodyne. Reprinted from the June issue of Radio Industries.
 
Series VIII. Reprints, magazines, etc., 1914-1963
Box 9 Argonne National Laboratory. News-bulletin international, 5, 2, 1963.
Breit, G. et al. Laboratory method of producing high potential. Application of high potentials to vacuum-tubes. Reprinted from Physical Review, 35, 1, 1930.
Breit, G. and Tuve, M.A. The production and application of high voltages in the laboratory. Reprinted from Nature, April 7, 1928.
Cockcroft, J.D. et al. A permanent magnet for beta ray spectroscopy. From the Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 135, 1932.
Curie, Marie et Rosenblum, M.S. Spectre magnétique des rayons alpha du dépot actif de l'actinium. Extrait de Le Journal de Physique et Le Radium, Octobre 1931.
Curie, Marie et Rosenblum, M.S. Sur la structure fine du spectre magnétique des rayons alpha du radioactinium. Extrait des Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, séance du 11 avril 1932.
Hafstad, O. Dahl and Tuve, M.A. On the Techniques and Design of Wilson Cloud-Chambers. Reprinted from The Review of Scientific Instruments, 4, 7, July 1933.
Link, George K.K. Arthur Jeffrey Dempster as man, colleague and friend an address delivered by George K.K. Link on June 1, 1950 at Bond Chapel, University of Chicago.
Michelson, A.A. Preliminary results of measurements of the rigidity of the earth. Reprinted from The Astrophysical Journal, XXXIX, 2, 1914.
National Geographic Society. The national geographic society- U.S. Army Air Corps stratosphere flight of 1935 in the balloon "Explorer II." Washington, 1936.
Department of the Navy. Office of Naval Research. Research Reviews. February 1956.
Ohio State University, 1935. Sigma Xi Symposium. The nucleus of the atom and its structure. Reprinted from The Ohio Journal of Science, XXXV, 5, 1935.
Rosenblum et Dupouy, G. Mesures absolues des vitesses des principaux groupes de rayons alpha. Extrait des Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, séance du 30 mai 1932.
Rosenblum, M.S. Structure fine du spectre magnétique des rayons alpha du radium. Extrait des Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, séance du 25 juillet 1932.
Rutherford, Sir Ernest et al. A new method of analysis of groups of alpha-rays. 1. The Alpha-rays form Radium c, Thorium C, and Actinium C. From the Proceedings of the Royal Society, A, 129, 1930.
Scientific American, December 1935.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Alumni Association Bulletin, V, 2, May 1943.
Wollan, E.O. and Compton, A.H. The Appearance of Atoms as Determined by X-Ray Scattering. Reprint from J.O.S.A., 24, September 1934.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Surf and Storm, n.d.
 
Series IX. Biographic and bibliographic materials.
Box 10 Personal record of JBH giving resumé of his activities 1918-1955.
Bibliography of JBH. Publications prepared September 1952, list for years 1920-1950.
Ph.D. diploma in physics and mathematics, University of Chicago, 1927.
Certificate of promotion to rank of Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Certificate appointing Hoag to professorship in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, 1940, 1942, 1948.
Certificate presented to Hoag by friends and colleagues at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, n.d.
 
Series X. Photographs
Box 10 Photographs of physics department of University of Chicago, 1928-1940. (Copies - Originals in Emilio Segrè Visual Archives)
Photographs of personnel at Ryerson Physical Laboratories, 1908-1940. (Copies - Originals in Emilio Segrè Visual Archives)
Portraits of JBH, some with apparatus. (Copies - Originals in Emilio Segrè Visual Archives)
5 negatives of electrical, demonstration, and astronomical apparatus.
Box 13 3 glass slides of electrical discharges - Lichtenberg figures with accompanying documentation.
2 glass negatives of Hoag with apparatus.
 
Series XI. Tape recordings
Box 10 Tape recording entitled "The quality of musical sounds."
Tape recording entitled "Fish talk."
Tape recording of students' remarks at the School of Nuclear Science, Argonne National Laboratories.
 
Series XII. Books, 1940, 1942, 1956
Box 10 A syllabus of electrical and magnetic measurements for junior and senior college students, by JBH 1940.
Box 11 "Electron Physics", by JBH with margin notes. New York, D. Van Nostrand, 1942.
"Satellite", by Erik Bergaust and William Beller N.Y. Bantam Books, 1956. Margin notes by JBH.
 
Series XIII. Miscellaneous
Box 10 Folder labeled Berkeley 1940 containing letter form Luis Alvarez, drawings, reprints, notes and other materials.