March 15, 1941

Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics

Minutes of Meeting

I. The Governing Board of the American Institute of Physics Incorporated met in response to call of the Chairman, at ten-ten a.m., Saturday, March 15, 1941, at the office of the Institute, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y.

Present: Chairman Klopsteg, Messrs. Compton, Pegram, Tate, Gibbs, Hardy, Rayton, Firestone, Fletcher, Waterfall, Hunter, Harrison and Worthing.

Absent: Messrs. Davey and Lillie.

Present by invitation: Mr. H. A. Barton, Miss M. M. Mitchell and Editors Harnwell, Hutchisson and Mayer.

II. Minutes of Meeting of March 8, 1940:

The Minutes of the last previous meeting of the Board were read and on motion approved.

III. Mail Ballot:

The Secretary reported that a mail vote of the Board had been taken on the question of recommending deferment of the proposed 1941 meeting of the Founder Societies with the Institute, and that the vote was 13 in favor of postponement, none against.

IV. Report of Chairman:

The Chairman made brief remarks: on the fact that the national emergency has caused especial recognition to be given to physics and physicists; that the Institute itself has exceeded expectations on clearing off its deficit, through its own operations and through the strong support given by the Founder Societies.

V. Report of Secretary:

The Secretary reported that the Annual Report of the Board, presented to the Annual Meeting of the Institute at Cambridge on February 22, 1941, consisted of two parts:

  1. A report on the year’s operations prepared by the Director and approved by the Executive Committee; and
  2. The Report of Auditors for 1940;

Also that elections of new members of the Governing Board had been made as follows:

On nomination of:

American Physical Society John T. Tate to succeed himself – term to 1944
Optical Society of America Arthur C. Hardy to succeed himself – term until 1944
Acoustical Society of America Harvey Fletcher to succeed himself – term until 1944
American Association of Physics Teachers A.G. Worthing to succeed Frederic Palmer – term until 1944

The Chairman introduced the new member of the Board.

These elections made the membership of the Board for 1941 as follows:

  Term to
American Physical Society Karl T. Compton 1942
George B. Pegram 1943
John T. Tate 1944
Optical Society of America W. B. Rayton 1942
R. C. Gibbs 1943
Arthur C. Hardy 1944
Acoustical Society of America Floyd A. Firestone 1942
Wallace Waterfall 1943
Harvey Fletcher 1944
Society of Rheology Wheeler P. Davey 1942
A. Stuart Hunter 1942
H. R. Lillie 1942
American Association of Physics Teachers Paul E. Klopsteg 1942
George R. Harrison 1943
A. G. Worthing 1944

VI. Report of Treasurer:

  1. The Treasurer presented the “Auditors’ Report” for the year ended December 31, 1940, by Pasley & Conroy, Certified Public Accountants.

  2. The Treasurer discussed payment of the note for $5,000 given to the Research Corporation, which had been running several years, and the fact that a generous gift of $5,000 had been assured the Institute and was listed by the Auditors as an accountant receivable in the 1940.

VII. Report of Director:

The Director discussed in detail the financial operations of the year and also the financial progress of the Institute since its foundation. As an aid in the discussion he made use of the following sheets of information:

    1. Comparative Balance Sheet for the Institute, years 1938, 1939 and 1940
    2. Table I of Funds Used for Journal Publication by years, 1934-1940
    3. Table III – Income and Expense for the General Work of the Institute by years, 1932-1940
    4. Record of Accumulated Deficit, 1932-1940
    5. New Funds for Physics, 1932-1940

Copies of these memoranda are appended to these Minutes.

  1. The Director discussed the employment service on which Professor Burnham of Hofstra College had been assisting. He stated that in general the demand was much above the supply of physicists at the present time and that it appeared that largely on account of the needs of national defense research the country would be faced with a serious shortage of physicists very soon. A news release on this subject was distributed to the members of the Board. This memorandum indicated that the number of physicists now engaged on national defense research is approximately fourteen hundred. Emphasis was also laid on the fact that not only is the supply of physicists already trained likely to be exhausted but the number of graduate students in training is likely to be considerably decreased rather than increased to meet the needs of national defense.

  2. The Director discussed cooperation with those in charge of the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, possible further cooperation with the National Defense Research Council, and possible cooperation with the State Department Committee on Cultural Relations with South America.

  3. The Director raised the question of whether it would be advisable to attempt to get universities to become Associates of the Institute

  4. The Director discussed the plan approved by the Executive Committee of preparing and printing a report on the operations of the Institute since its foundation and the decision of the Executive Committee to authorize two reports (1) a comparatively brief printed report to be sent to each member of the Founder Societies and to be given such other distribution as may seem desirable, and (2) a report to be prepared in mimeograph form to contain rather detailed information about the financial operations of the Institute, the actual costs of services in connection with publications and activities of the Institute other than those relating to publication. The second report is to be prepared with a view to sending it to any member of the Founder Societies who is sufficiently interested in studying the operations of the Institute to write in for a copy of this longer report.

On motion it was voted:

That the general plan of such reports for distribution be approved.

VIII. Report of Editor of Journal of Applied Physics:

Mr. Hutchisson reported that the Journal has a large backlog of papers some of which will have to wait six months for publication; that special issues for 1941 are to be:

  • January – Rubber
  • April – Applied Nuclear Physics
  • May – X-Rays, Medical and Industrial
  • June – Photoelasticity

 

On motion it was voted:

 

To approve the Report of the Editor of Journal of Applied Physics.

IX. Report of Editor of Journal of Chemical Physics:

Mr. Mayer stated that the budget had been about balanced for 1940; that a symposium on physical chemistry had been held at Columbia University; the papers from which would be published, about half in the Journal of Chemical Physics and about half in the Journal of the American Chemical Society; that discontinuance of the Zeit. der Crystallographie would probably mean that more papers would be offered to the Journal of Chemical Physics; that there has been discussion of a new journal of a new society for x-rays and electron diffraction.

On motion it was voted:

To approve the report of the Editor of Journal of Chemical Physics.

X. Report of Editor of Review of Scientific Instruments:

Mr. Harnwell reported that there had been a slight drop in the rate of papers received but the rate seems to have gone up again; that there appeared to be room for increase of the Review of Scientific Instruments circulation within the membership of the Societies of the Institute but that also there should be a large increase outside of the Societies; that the journal probably should be enlarged to include articles on geophysics, biophysics and medical physics; that the journal seemed now to be in a favorable position to increase its circulation but that an enlargement would raise at once the question of an increase in subscription rates.

On motion it was voted:

That a sub-committee be appointed to consider the question of the increase of the subscription rates and other urgent subjects relating to Review of Scientific Instruments.

The Chairman appointed as this Committee the following:

Messrs. Harnwell, Chairman, Barton, Kelly and Tate.

XI. Report of Executive Committee:

The several formal actions of the Executive Committee since the last meeting of the Governing Board were presented by the Secretary and on motion it was voted:

That the Board ratifies these actions of the Executive Committee.

XII. Budget for 1941:

The Director presented a tentative draft of a budget for 1941 showing comparison with the 1940 budget and the actual items for 1940 as taken from the Auditors’ Report. This draft had been presented to the Executive Committee at its meeting on February 20, 1941 and approved by the Executive Committee with such slight modifications as might appear necessary to the Director before presenting it to the Board.

After discussion on motion it was voted:

To adopt as the budget for 1941 the schedules as presented by the Director.

Copy of these schedules are appended to these Minutes.

The schedules are as follows:

  • Journal of Chemical Physics
  • Review of Scientific Instruments
  • Journal of Applied Physics
  • Advertising Department
  • Organization and Education

 

XIII. Report of Nominating Committee and Elections:

 

The Nominating Committee, Messrs. Harrison, Davey and Fletcher, presented nominations as follows:

  • Mr. Klopsteg to succeed himself as Chairman
  • Mr. Pegram to succeed himself as Secretary, also to succeed himself as Treasurer
  • Mr. Barton to succeed himself as Assistant Treasurer
  • Mr. Tate to succeed himself as Adviser on Publications

 

There being no other nominations on motion it was voted:

 

That the several nominees are elected to the offices for which they were nominated.

XIV. Appointment of Committees:

On motion it was voted:

To authorize the appointment by the Chairman of the following Committees to serve until the next Annual Meeting of the Board: (to these Committees the Chairman has appointed members as listed)

  1. Executive Committee: Paul E. Klopsteg, Chairman, John T. Tate, Harvey Fletcher, A. C. Hardy, A. Stuart Hunter and George R. Harrison.

  1. Employment of Physicists: R. C. Gibbs, Chairman, George H. Burnham, E. U. Condon, M. J. Kelly, D. C. Roller and H. H. Sheldon.

  2. Advertising Committee: M. J. Kelly, Chairman, Elmer Hutchisson and Gaylord P. Harnwell.

  3. Cooperation with Scientific Apparatus Makers of America: H. A. Barton, Chairman, J. A. Becker, G. P Harnwell, G. B. Pegram, W. B. Rayton and Wallace Waterfall.

  4. Mathematical Typography: J. H. Van Vleck, Chairman, Raymond T. Birge, Gregory Breit, Philip M. Morse, John T. Tate, ex-officio as Adviser on Publications, and Madeline M. Mitchell, ex-officio as Publications Manager.

  5. Physics In National Defense: Paul E. Klopsteg, Chairman, John T. Tate, Harvey Fletcher, A. C. Hardy, A. Stuart Hunter, George R. Harrison, George B. Pegram and Henry A. Barton.

  6. Defense Projects and Personnel: Henry A. Barton, Chairman, Harvey Fletcher, M. J. Kelly, G. B. Pegram, I. I. Rabi, H. D. Smyth and L. P. Eisenhart

    This advisory sub-committee to Committee on Physics in National Defense is to cooperate also with the Division of Physical Sciences of the National Research Council.

  7. Editorial Committee (same as Publications Board and its Chairman and Secretary are to be appointed annually by the Publications Board as designated in the journal contracts): F. A. Firestone, G. P. Harnwell, G. R. Harrison, Elmer Hutchisson, Joseph E. Mayer, Duane Roller, John T. Tate, Madeline M. Mitchell and Henry A. Barton.

  8. Sub-Committee on Review of Scientific Instruments Subscription Price: G. P. Harnwell, Chairman, John T. Tate, M. J. Kelly and H. A. Barton.

  1. Advisory Council on Applied Physics:

    • Carl L. Bausch, Bausch & Lomb Optical Company
    • R. R. Beal, Radio Corporation of America
    • Carl Breer, Research Laboratories, Chrysler Corporation
    • Detlev W. Bronk, Cornell University Medical College, N.Y.
    • O. E. Buckley, Executive Vice President, Bell Telephone Laboratories
    • L. W. Chubb, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
    • Karl T. Compton, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • E. U. Condon, Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co.
    • W. D. Coolidge, Director of the Laboratory, General Electric Company
    • E. C. Crittenden, Ass’t. Director, Research & Test, National Bureau of Standards
    • George O. Curme Jr., Vice President, Carbide & Carbon Chemicals Corp.
    • Wheeler P. Davey, Research Professor of Physics & Chemistry, Pennsylvania State College
    • W. F. Davidson, Director, Research & Test. Consolidated Edison Co., Inc.
    • Donald W. Dunipace, Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company
    • Marion Eppley, Eppley Laboratories, Inc.
    • Paul D. Foote, Executive Vice President, Gulf Research & Development Co.
    • Henry P. Gage, Corning Glass Works
    • John J. Grebe, Director of Physical Research, The Dow Chemical Co.
    • L. O. Grondahl, Director of Research, Union Switch & Signal Company
    • George R. Harrison, Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • J. C. Hostetter, Hartford-Empire Company
    • A. W. Hull, General Electric Company
    • Norris Johnston, General Petroleum Corporation of California
    • Loyd A. Jones, Physics Dept., Research Lab., Eastman Kodak Company
    • M. J. Kelly, Director of Research, Bell Telephone Laboratories
    • A. W. Kenney, E.I. duPont de Nemours & Company, Inc.
    • Paul E. Klopsteg, Central Scientific Company
    • W. E. Kuhn, The Texas Company
    • C. H. Kunsman, Western Reg. Res. Lab., Bureau of Ag. Chem. And Engineering
    • Alfred L. Loomis, The Loomis Laboratory
    • John P. Magos, Testing Engineer, Research Test. Lab., Crane Company
    • E. J. Martin, General Motors Corporation
    • Archibald P. Meston, Research Corporation
    • George B. Pegram, Dean of Graduate School, Columbia University
    • Harvey C. Rentschler, Westinghouse Lamp Company
    • E. W. Ritter, Director of Research & Engineering, R.C.A. Mfg. Co.
    • Charles A. Scharschu, Director of Research, Allegheny Steel Corp.
    • W. Schmidt, General Aniline & Film Corp., Agfa Ansco Division
    • Robert B. Sosman, United States Steel Corporation
    • John T. Tate, Dean of the College of Science, Literature and the Arts, University of Minnesota
    • Wallace Waterfall, The Celotex Corporation
    • Glenn M. Webb, Universal Oil Products Company
    • E. C. Williams, Vice President in Charge of Research, Shell Development Co.
    • H. Hugh Willis, Sperry-Gyroscope Co., Inc.
    • Henry A. Barton, Director, American Institute of Physics

Guest List

  • Maurice Holland, National Research Council
  • Raymond Stevens, National Research Council (Arthur D. Little, Inc.)
  • J. C. Patterson, National Association of Manufacturers

 

XV. New Business:

 

There was discussion of the effect of the selective service draft on physicists. Mr. Barton also informed the Board of the interest being taken by the Office of Education in Washington in the possibility of doing something to maintain a continued supply of well trained young physicists.

XVI. Resolution of Thanks:

On motion the Board adopted the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED: That the Board record the indebtedness of the American Institute of Physics to Mr. C. O. Fairchild for the very great amount of time and effort which he expended in the organization of the Symposium on Temperature, its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry which was held by the Institute with the cooperation of a number of other institutions and societies in November of 1939, and also for the subsequent painstaking work which Mr. Fairchild did in connection with the assembling of manuscripts, editing and publication of the book, “Temperature, Its Measurement and Control in Science and Industry” through the Reinhold Publishing Corporation.

XVI. The Governing board adjourned at 3:55 p.m.