Physicists Meeting World Leaders

Photos of the Month - September 2017

Guest curated this month by Sean McEnroe, Photograph Collections Assistant, Emilio Segrè Visual Archives

This month, we’re highlighting photographs of physicists meeting with world leaders after we were inspired by finding a photo of Prince Philip at the dedication of one of AIP’s former locations in Manhattan . In this photo, George Pegram is being presented with the first Compton Award by Prince Philip at AIP headquarters in New York City in 1957 for high statesmanship in the field of physics. George Pegram helped establish cooperation between America and Britain on development of the atomic bomb during the Second World War. The act by the AIP governing board can be read here .

Prince Philip was in New York with Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who was on a state visit to the United States at the time of the photograph in 1957. They had visited the site of Jamestown colony, Virginia for its 350th anniversary commemoration, been hosted by President Eisenhower at a state dinner at the White House, attended a University of Maryland football game, and finally journeyed to New York City where the Elizabeth II addressed the United Nations and Prince Philip visited AIP.

See other archival photos of world leaders and physicists in this month’s selection.