Description of the Collection
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
Papers of Felix Ehrenhaft,1914-1981
(bulk 1939-1957).
AR 126
The bulk of the collection is in English.
5 linear feet
(5 records boxes)
Felix Ehrenhaft
The collection contains the papers of Felix Ehrenhaft, documenting his work in the field of physics. This collection includes media clippings, physics pamphlets, physics notes, manuscripts and personal correspondence.
See below for information on access and restrictions.
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.
Ehrenhaft, Johann L.
Ehrenhaft, Lilly Rona.
Alpert, Ann.
Universität Wien.
Electrons.
Magnetism.
Manuscripts.
Physicists.
Biography of Felix Ehrenhaft
Felix Ehrenhaft was born on April 24, 1879 in Vienna, Austria. He received his doctorate in physics from the University of Vienna in 1903. Early in his career, Ehrenhaft focused on the measurement of electronic charges. He later expanded his work to the area of photophoresis and other effects on the interaction of particles with light. In 1920, he was appointed professor of experimental physics at the University of Vienna where he became good friends with Albert Einstein. In 1938, following the rise of Nazi power in Germany and Austria, Ehrenhaft emigrated to England and then later to the United States where he became a citizen.
While in the United States, Ehrenhaft began to diverge from the mainstream of physics with his observations of unique and reproducible physical phenomenon. However, his explanations for these observations were seen by other physicists as bizarre and unsubstantiated. During the 1940s, his views became even more extreme and eventually leading to the end of his good friendship with Einstein. He found it difficult to receive funding and recognition for his work in the United States and in 1946, returned to the University of Vienna where he once again held his old position. While back in Austria, Ehrenhaft continued his work on physics in the area of magnetic monopoles. He died on March 4, 1952.
(Wikipedia, 4 December 2006)
Scope and Contents of Collection
This collection contains the personal papers of Felix Ehrenhaft including physics publications related to his work; newspaper and media clippings from popular and scholarly presses documenting his discoveries and the subject of science in general; his lecture notes on physics; and the creator's unpublished manuscript relating to his research in physics. The collection also includes correspondence primarily between the creator and his children, between his son and his daughter, and between his son to Ehrenhaft's physicians in Vienna.
Also included in the collection are biographical materials including a 30 page handwritten autobiography in German, journal entries by his wife Lilly Rona-Ehrenhaft, a photocopy of the guest book to the Ehrenhaft home in Vienna, and media clippings documenting his scientific discoveries.
Organization and Arrangement of Collection
Organized into the following series, with subseries where appropriate:
- Series I. Biographical materials
- Series II. Correspondence
- Series III. Publications and notes
The arrangement of the collection is by chronological order within each series.
Access to Collection
Open to approved 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 nbl@aip.org). The application can also be printed from our website.
Restrictions on Use of Collection
The scholar pledges not to quote from, cite, or reproduce by any means this material except with the written permission of the Institute.
Provenance and Acquisition Information
The materials were initially stored in large envelopes, and the contents were left in the orginal order in which they arrived. After removing the materials from the envelopes and placing them in acid-free folders, it was discovered that there had been some prior arrangement to the collection. Several folders were moved in order to make the arrangement more logical within the orginal order.
A gift from his son, Johann L. Ehrenhaft, in 1980 ; additional transfer from the Burndy Library in 1986.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Sean A. Mulligan in November 2006.
Preferred Citation of Collection
Cite as: Item and date, Folder __, Box __, Papers of Felix Ehrenhaft, 1914-1981, Niels Bohr Library, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD.
Container List
Series I: Biographical Material,
n.d.
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Box 1
Folder 1
Autobiography,
No date
Box 1
Folder 2
Copy of guest book,
1927-1938
Box 1
Folder 3
Journal entries – Lilly Rona,
February-December 1942
Box 1
Folder 4
Journal entries – Lilly Rona,
January 1943-January 1944
Box 1
Folder 5
Journal entries – Lilly Rona,
January-December 1944
Box 1
Folder 6
Journal entries – Lilly Rona,
February-December 1945
Series II: Correspondence ,
n.d.
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Box 1
Folder 7
Correspondence – physics notes,
1939-1947 [bulk 1940-1941]
Box 1
Folder 8
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [1 of 2],
1939-1945 [bulk 1942]
Box 1
Folder 9
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [2 of 2],
1939-1945 [bulk 1942]
Box 1
Folder 10
Correspondence – physics notes [1 of 3],
1939-1946 [bulk 1942-1946]
Box 1
Folder 11
Correspondence – physics notes [2 of 3],
1939-1946 [bulk 1942-1946]
Box 1
Folder 12
Correspondence – physics notes [3 of 3],
1939-1946 [bulk 1942-1946]
Box 1
Folder 13
Correspondence,
1940-1941
Box 1
Folder 14
Correspondence ,
1940-1942
Box 1
Folder 15
Correspondence – physics notes ,
1940-1944
Box 1
Folder 16
Correspondence [1 of 2],
1940-1947
Box 1
Folder 17
Correspondence [2 of 2],
1940-1947
Box 1
Folder 18
Correspondence – New Energy Concept notes – newspaper clippings ,
1940-1949
Box 1
Folder 19
Correspondence ,
January 1941-January 1942
Box 1
Folder 20
Correspondence – data of Ehrenhaft,
1941-1947
Box 1
Folder 21
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [1 of 2],
1941-1949 [bulk 1942]
Box 1
Folder 22
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [2 of 2],
1941-1949 [bulk 1942]
Box 1
Folder 23
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [1 of 2],
1941-1951 [bulk 1941]
Box 1
Folder 24
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [2 of 2],
1941-1951 [bulk 1941]
Box 1
Folder 25
Correspondence – physics notes – media clippings ,
1941-1954
Box 1
Folder 26
Correspondence – physics notes,
1942-1945 [bulk 1942-1943
Box 2
Folder 1
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings,
1942-1956 [bulk 1942-1947]
Box 2
Folder 2
Correspondence – physics notes [1 of 2],
April 1943-January 1944 [bulk 1943]
Box 2
Folder 3
Correspondence – physics notes [2 of 2],
April 1943-January 1944 [bulk 1943]
Box 2
Folder 4
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [1 of 2],
1943-1944 [bulk 1944]
Box 2
Folder 5
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings [2 of 2],
1943-1944 [bulk 1944]
Box 2
Folder 6
Correspondence – physics notes – media clippings [1 of 4],
1943-1956 [bulk 1943-1948]
Box 2
Folder 7
Correspondence – physics notes – media clippings [2 of 4],
1943-1956 [bulk 1943-1948]
Box 2
Folder 8
Correspondence – physics notes – media clippings [3 of 4],
1943-1956 [bulk 1943-1948]
Box 2
Folder 9
Correspondence – physics notes – media clippings [4 of 4],
1943-1956 [bulk 1943-1948]
Box 2
Folder 10
Correspondence – physics notes,
1944-1945
Box 2
Folder 11
Correspondence – newspaper clippings,
1944-1945 [bulk 1944]
Box 2
Folder 12
Correspondence – physics notes [1 of 2],
1944-1957 [bulk 1947]
Box 2
Folder 13
Correspondence – physics notes [2 of 2],
1944-1957 [bulk 1947]
Box 2
Folder 14
Letter envelopes – receipts – correspondence,
1944-1981 [bulk 1944- 1945]
Box 2
Folder 15
Correspondence – journal entries – Lilly Rona,
1945
Box 2
Folder 16
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper clippings,
May 1946-January 1947
Box 2
Folder 17
Correspondence – physics notes Lilly Rona,
1947-1952
Box 2
Folder 18
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper Lilly Rona [1 of 3],
1947-1957
Box 2
Folder 19
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper Lilly Rona [2 of 3],
1947-1957
Box 2
Folder 20
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper Lilly Rona [3 of 3],
1947-1957
Box 2
Folder 21
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper [1 of 2],
1948-1958
Box 2
Folder 22
Correspondence – physics notes – newspaper [2 of 2],
1948-1958
Box 2
Folder 23
Correspondence [1 of 2],
1948-1961 [bulk 1948-1952]
Box 2
Folder 24
Correspondence [2 of 2],
1948-1961 [bulk 1948-1952]
Box 2
Folder 25
Correspondence [1 of 2],
1950-1955
Box 2
Folder 26
Correspondence [2 of 2],
1950-1955
Box 2
Folder 27
Correspondence,
1950-1961
Box 3
Folder 1
Correspondence – Lilly Rona [1 of 3],
1955-1957
Box 3
Folder 2
Correspondence – Lilly Rona [2 of 3],
1955-1957
Box 3
Folder 3
Correspondence – Lilly Rona [3 of 3],
1955-1957
Series III: Publications and physics notes,
n.d.
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Subseries A: Publications and reprint articles,
n.d.
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Box 3
Folder 4
Ehrenhaft – Schuler [article reprints],
1914-1921
Box 3
Folder 5
Ehrenhaft – Abhandlunger [article reprints],
1915-1926
Box 3
Folder 6
Ehrenhaft – Schnler [article reprints],
1922-1926
Box 3
Folder 7
Ehrenhaft – [article reprints],
1927-1930
Box 3
Folder 8
Ehrenhaft – Schuler – Abhandlunger [article reprints],
1927-1930
Box 3
Folder 9
Physics publications [1 of 3],
1939-1956
Box 3
Folder 10
Physics publications [2 of 3],
1939-1956
Box 3
Folder 11
Physics publications [3 of 3],
1939-1956
Box 3
Folder 12
Annals of Physics – publication ,
March-April 1940
Box 3
Folder 13
The Microcoulomb Experiment,
Jul-41
Box 4
Folder 1
Ehrenhaft – [article reprints],
1940-1950
Box 4
Folder 2
Ehrenhaft – [article reprints],
1940-1951
Box 4
Folder 3
Physics publications – notes,
n.d.
Box 4
Folder 4
Media clippings – physics papers ,
1940-1945
Box 4
Folder 5
Media clippings – correspondence,
1944-1969 [bulk 1944-1945]
Box 4
Folder 6
Miscellaneous papers – newspaper clippings,
1944-1979
Box 4
Folder 7
Physics notes,
1946-1948
Box 4
Folder 8
Media clippings – correspondence,
1946-1955
Box 4
Folder 9
Various physics pamphlets [1 of 2],
1947-1950
Box 4
Folder 10
Various physics pamphlets [2 of 2],
1947-1950
Subseries B: Lecture Notes about Physics,
n.d.
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Box 4
Folder 11
Lecture notes [1 of 2],
No date
Box 4
Folder 12
Lecture notes [2 of 2],
No date
Box 4
Folder 13
Notes on physics,
1941-1949 [bulk 1946-1948]
Box 4
Folder 14
Notes on physics [1 of 3],
1941-1956
Box 4
Folder 15
Notes on physics [2 of 3],
1941-1956
Box 4
Folder 16
Notes on physics [3 of 3],
1941-1956
Box 5
Folder 1
Physics notes,
1943
Box 5
Folder 2
Newspapers – physics notes – rough draft of play,
1944
Box 5
Folder 3
Notes on physics,
1945-1949
Box 5
Folder 4
Notes on physics – Lilly Rona,
1945-1946
Box 5
Folder 5
Physics notes [bulk] – correspondence [1 of 2] ,
1946-1950
Box 5
Folder 6
Physics notes [bulk] – correspondence [2 of 2],
1946-1950
Box 5
Folder 7
Physics notes – New Energy Concept – Lilly Rona,
January-November 1947
Box 5
Folder 8
Notes by Lilly Rona – Ehrenhaft,
1957
Subseries C: Unpublished manuscripts and drafts,
n.d.
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Box 5
Folder 9
Part of unpublished book,
No date
Box 5
Folder 10
Manuscript of book – unpublished [1 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 11
Manuscript of book – unpublished [2 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 12
Manuscript of book – unpublished [3 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 13
Manuscript of book – unpublished [4 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 14
Manuscript of book – unpublished [5 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 15
Manuscript of book – unpublished [6 of 6],
No date
Box 5
Folder 16
Part unpublished book,
1952