These papers have been indexed in the
A native of New York City, Paul Rosenberg was born there March 31, 1910, and educated at Columbia University, from which he received his B.A, M.A., and Ph.D. degrees. While completing his graduate study, Rosenberg was a lecturer in physics at Columbia, and a physics instructor at Hunter College in New York City.
In 1941, Rosenberg was summoned to be part of the National Defense Research Committee, working in their Radiation Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology until V-J day in 1945. After this appointment ended, Rosenberg established Paul Rosenberg Associates, a consulting firm specializing in industrial applications of science and technology.
In 1943 Rosenberg married Marjorie S. Hillson, of Newton, Massachusetts, and together they had one daughter, Gale. He passed away in 1999.
During his life, Rosenberg accumulated many honors and distinctions in his field. Among them: election to the National Academy of Engineering; Honorary Member and past President of the Institute of Navigation; Vice President and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Talbert Award of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing; Fellow, Institute of Electronics Engineers; Fellow, American Institute of Chemists; Associate Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; Cogswell Award, United States Department of Defense. Rosenberg published over 75 articles, technical and government reports, and also received thirteen U.S. patents.
Throughout his life, Rosenberg had a continuing interest in several aspects of science. His research focused on such wide-ranging topics as electronics, physics, aeronautics, radar, photogrammetry, engineering, remote sensing, molecular beams, ultrasonics, and automation.
These materials primarily reflect Rosenberg's career and his various pursuits within the sciences. There is little personal material, only limited correspondence and elementary school records. Included with the professional documents is material published by Paul Rosenberg Associates, such as promotional pamphlets and a report. There are also copies of two of his patents, the Sine Wave Potentiometer (1951) and the Method, Material and Apparatus for Increasing and Decreasing the Transmission of Radiation (1973). There are reprints from articles printed in various journals and magazines; correspondence with various people via Paul Rosenberg Associates and his various affiliations; notices in several magazines and newsletters of his receipt of the U.S. Department of Defense's Cogswell Award (1987).
In addition to these professional materials, there are several folders of promotional materials, newsletters, bulletins, and correspondence from organizations with which Rosenberg was affiliated.
Organized into the following series: I. Personal/Biographical; II. Career Activities; III. Affiliations; IV. Correspondence.
These papers were arranged according to their content. The small quantity and circumstances of acquisition evidenced little of their original order.
This collection is open to researchers without restrictions.
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
This collection was a gift from Mrs. Paul Rosenberg and her daughter, Gale, to the American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library in
This collection was processed by
Deteriorating or damaged materials were photocopied onto acid-free paper.
Photographs have been removed to the Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, and some books have been added to the Niels Bohr Library collection.
This series consists of copies of Rosenberg's curriculum vitae from various years, a clipping of the biographical entry from
This series includes copies of two of Rosenberg's thirteen patents, several reprints from various publications, promotional materials from Paul Rosenberg Associates; the 1957 Directory of Independent Commercial Laboratories Performing Research and Development, which includes Paul Rosenberg Associates. Also among the Paul Rosenberg Associates material is a report to ABTO dated June 1971. In addition, these career materials include a collection of magazines, journals, and newsletters citing Rosenberg as the 1987 recipient of the U.S. Department of Defense's Cogswell Award.
This series includes documentation from fourteen of Rosenberg's many affiliations, some of which include certificates and letters congratulating Rosenberg on fifty years membership or awarding him life membership. It also includes material from Rosenberg's trip to the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping's 1983 convention. Much of these materials are correspondence, membership cards/certificates, directories, meeting programs, newsletters and promotional material.
This series is organized into three sections: Personal, Professional, and Hunter College.
The Professional correspondence includes letters to and from Rosenberg primarily regarding Paul Rosenberg Associates' operations, with some others related to his activities with other organizations.
The Hunter College correspondence is from Rosenberg, the head of Hunter College's physics department and the college president regarding Rosenberg's leaving there in 1941 to be a part of the National Defense Research Committee, working in their Radiation Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Rosenberg requested a leave of absence for the duration of this appointment, which was denied because he was not a permanent staff member. Rosenberg left safely, however, reassured that he would be rehired when available.
The Personal correspondence includes two Christmas cards, and a few other personal notes, but the bulk are letters written to Rosenberg on official stationary from personal friends he had made through his work.