#40084 RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY University Archives and Records Service University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill CB# 3926 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-8890 May 1992 Comments on items # 1-8 from the Department of Physics and Astronomy as presented to the University Archivist, Sept. 6, 1978 (Prepared by P. E. Shearin and E. D. Palmatier, Sept. 5, 1978): Item #1 - History of the Physics Department (1944) This was written in 1944 by P. E. Shearin, chairman of the Physics Department. The Chancellor had requested that all chairmen prepare a short history of their respective departments as material for the Sesquicentennial celebration of the University. As noted in the document, in 1965 W. E. Haisley added the names of those who had earned the Ph.D. in the department. Item #2 - The Whyburn Report (1950 ?) Sometime during the years 1949-1950 the University administration appointed a committee (Prof. W. Whyburn of Mathematics, Prof. D. Costello of Zoology, and Prof. Crockford of Chemistry with Prof. Whyburn as Chairman) to study the needs and goals of the Physics Department. This study led to a special appropriation to the department ($40,000) for the purchase of teaching and research equipment. This committee is referred to briefly near the bottom of the first page of the following report (at this later date Arthur Roe, chairman of chemistry, replaced H. Crockford). Item #3 - The Wheeler Report (1954) Owing to continuing pressure from the Physics Department, President Gordon Gray in 1953 appointed an outside committee of distinguished physicists to make an independent study of the state of the department. This committee was composed of Professor Lloyd P. Smith of Cornell, Professor J. C. Street of Harvard, and Professor John A. Wheeler of Princeton (chairman). Their report, which became known as the Wheeler report, was submitted to President Gray during January 1954 and a special presentation by all three members of the committee was also made directly to Governor Luther Hodges in Raleigh. In fact, their first two recommendations out of a total of eleven (see page 26 of their report) bear directly on the foundation of what is now known as our present day Research Triangle. It should be noted that this presentation had the full blessing of the university administration as the committee when it visited the Governor was accompanied by Mr. W. D. Carmichael, Vice President of the university. A special legislative appropriation of $15,000 per year for 2 years was made shortly after this for further equipment to tide the department over until the university administration could launch a major effort to implement the recommendations of the Wheeler committee. Item #4 - (June 13, 1957) This summary of data pertaining to the status of the department relative to physics departments in surrounding universities of the southeastern U.S.A. was prepared by the chairman of the department and submitted to the Chancellor. Item #5 - Michael Saphier Report (April 15, 1957) This study was performed, at the instigation of Governor Luther Hodges, by an independent consulting firm from New York. Its major purpose was to determine the space requirements of the department (both in amount and type of space). This study (which definitely assisted in the obtaining of legislative approval for funds for a new building and equipment) cost $25,000. This amount was taken from the money approved by the legislature for the new building! Note - 1) Sometime in mid-1957, the legislature approved the construction and equipping of a Physics Building (75,000 sq. ft. at a cost of $900,000 plus an additional $300,000 for equipment). The reference for this authorization is: State of North Carolina - The Budget - Vol. III Capital Improvements 1957-59 (II-IV) pages 24 and 25 (On file in the North Carolina Collection as C336 N87gl) Note - 2) Although the above approval strictly refers to a new building for the Physics Department--as it was the desire of all concerned to: (a) not split the mathematics and physics library (b) keep the physics and mathematics departments in close proximity (c) have a university wide computer facility in the physics building, it was agreed to add a new wing to Phillips Hall and have the various departments simply spread out horizontally, staying on the floors which they already occupied. Item #6 - (March 1958) This is a study of the elementary physics courses made for the department by an outside consultant, Professor G. E. Grantham of Cornell. Item #7 - (1958) This is a commentary on Professor Grantham's report and on the state of our elementary physics teaching. It was prepared by Professor J. W. Straley of the Physics Department who at the time was beginning an extensive development program for the elementary classes. Item #8 - (January 1963) This was a departmental self-study, prepared at the request of Chancellor Aycock National Science Foundation Science Development Program, files of Professor E. D. Palmatier, Chairman of the Development Program Committee, ITEMS #9 - 17: Item #9 - NSF Development Program Study Committee, Correspondence, 1964 Item #10 - NSF Science Development Proposal - Physics Department Program, 1964-1973 Item #11 - NSF Science Development Program - Proposal #1 (July 30, 1966) Item #12 - NSF Science Development Program - Proposal #2 (November 15, 1966, includes letter from NSF approving funding for 3-year program, May 10, 1967) Item #13 - NSF Science Development Program - First Annual Report, May 10, 1968 Item #14 - NSF Science Development Program - Second Annual Report, May 10, 1969 Item #15 - NSF Science Development Program - Third Annual Report, May 10, 1970 Item #16 - NSF Science Development Program, Proposal for two-year extension, June 1, 1970 (with separate appendix) Item #17 - NSF Science Development Program - Final Report, July 1, 1974 Item #18 - April 24, 1883, letter from J.E. Hilgard, Superintendent of the Coast & Geodectic Survey, to Kemp P. Battle, President of UNC, enclosing copy of January 27, 1883 letter to Governor of North Carolina concerning delivery of NC's set of standard weights and measures Item #19 - "Physics Instrument Shop Study for Dr. E.D. Palmatier, Chairman of the Physics Department" by Lewis W. Pifer, P.E., March 1960 Item #20 - "Research Program and Facilities, Department of Physics, UNC," Arthur Ruark, December 1938 Item #21 - Notes and background material for Physics and Astronomy at Chapel Hill (1795-1946) by Waldo E. Haisley Manuscript (1989) Sources: Rose McAllister's Scrapbook Paul Shearin's History of the Physics Department (1944) Paul Shearin's History: Notes Arthur Ruark's: "Research Program and Facilities, Department of Physics" (1938) Everett Palmatier's: "History of the Physics Department, 1949-1986": Notes and Drafts A. H. Patterson Biographical Materials E. K. Plyler Interview Staff Biographies and Obituaries Haisley's Notes/Copies from UNC Archives Copies from UNC Catalogues, 1823-1918 Publications Haisley's History: Correspondence, 1986-1988 Haisley's History: Notes