Finding Aid to the Melba Phillips Papers, 1922-1999 (bulk 1950-1985).Publisher:American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics. Encoding Information:Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Melanie J. Brown in March, 2007. Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process. Finding aid written in English. Description of the CollectionLocation of collection:American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics. Title and dates of collection:Melba Phillips Papers, 1922-1999(bulk 1950-1985). Papers created by:Melba Phillips, physicist and professor Size of collection:1.0 linear feet Short description of collection:This collection consists mostly of correspondence from Phillips' professional and family life, but also includes one file on magnetic rotation, and a scrapbook from her travels in China. Language(s) of material:English. Selected Search TermsThese 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. Biographical noteMelba Phillips was born February 1, 1907, in Hazleton, Indiana. She graduated from high school at the age of 15, and by 1926 had already earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics from Oakland City College of Indiana. She received her master's degree in physics in 1928 from Battle Creek College of Michigan, and she became one of the first doctoral students of J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the effort to build the first atomic bomb. She received her doctoral degree in physics under Oppenheimer's supervision in 1933 at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1935, Phillips and Oppenheimer offered an explanation for what was at the time unexpected behavior of accelerated deuterons (nuclei of deuterium, or "heavy hydrogen" atoms) in reactions with other nuclei. This explanation became known as the Oppenheimer-Phillips effect. "It's considered one of the classics of early nuclear physics," said Stuart Rice, Professor in Chemistry, University of Chicago. After leaving Berkeley in 1935, Phillips held a series of temporary positions at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., and the Connecticut College for Women. In 1938, Phillips obtained a long-term faculty position at Brooklyn College. She also began working part-time in 1944 at the Columbia University Radiation Laboratory. She lost both jobs in 1952 for refusing to testify before the U.S. Senate's Internal Security subcommittee formed to investigate alleged communist activities. After losing her jobs, Phillips remained unemployed for several years. During that time she wrote two textbooks, Principles of Physical Science, with Bonner, and Classical Electricity and Magnetism, with W.K.H. Panofsky, which became widely used for undergraduate and graduate physics training. In 1957, Edward Condon at Washington University appointed Phillips associate director of the university's Academic Year Institute, a teacher-training institute. Phillips left Washington University to join the University of Chicago faculty in 1962, and retired as a Professor Emerita in 1972. Under her influence the University began teaching physical science courses for non-science majors, a tradition that continues today. She continued to work after leaving Chicago, serving as a visiting professor at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, until 1975, and as a visiting professor at the Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, in 1980. Honors include: the American Physical Society Joseph Burton Forum Award, 2003; the Guy and Rebecca Forman Award for Outstanding Teaching in Undergraduate Physics from Vanderbilt University, 1988; the Karl Taylor Compton Award of the American Institute of Physics for distinguished statesmanship in science, 1981; the Oersted Medal of the American Association of Physics Teachers, for notable contributions to the teaching of physics, 1974; an honorary degree from Oakland City College, 1964; and a Distinguished Service Citation, American Association of Physics Teachers, 1963. She also was a fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. (Condensed from the University of Chicago News Office press release, 11/16/2004) Scope and Contents of CollectionThe papers of Melba Phillips are comprised mostly of correspondence, both professional and personal. The professional correspondence includes letters from fellow physicists and associates discussing upcoming events and research, offering congratulations for awards and honors, and support after her loss of employment. Her personal correspondence contains outgoing letters written by Phillips, addressed to her family members. These letters were saved and donated by her family, and contain candid observations about her own work and her daily life. The collection also includes Phillips' report cards from the Oakland City College of Indiana; a file containing speeches, papers and correspondence relating to her research on magnetic rotation; and a scrapbook of photos, correspondence and clippings from her travels in China. Organization and Arrangement of CollectionThe collection is organized into the following series:
This collection is arranged chronologically within each series. Access to CollectionOpen 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 CollectionThe 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 InformationThe bulk of this collection was donated to the Niels Bohr Library and Archives by Ellen Vinson, relative of Melba Phillips, in February 2007. One folder of correspondence was provided by Leon Heller in December 2006. Processing InformationThis collection was processed in February 2007. Preferred Citation of CollectionCite as: Box [number], Folder [number], Melba Phillips Papers, 1922-1999 (bulk 1950-1985). American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD 20740, USA. Other Related MaterialsOral history interview with Melba Newell Phillips, 1977 December 5. Container List
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