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Swann, W. F. G. (William Francis Gray), 1884-1962.
William Francis Gray Swann papers, 1903-1962.
The Swann Papers consist of 41 linear feet of correspondence, class notes, lectures, and photographs documenting Swann's career at the Bartol Research Foundation from 1927 until the end of his life. The collection is wide ranging, touching on atmospheric electricity, particle acceleration, atomic bomb defense, atomic energy, electrets, electrodynamics, magnetism, music, quantum theory, radiation, relativity and Einstein, science and civilization, stratospheric flights (by balloon and airplane), thermodynamics, psychic science, and wave mechanics. It is particularly rich for study of the history of cosmic ray research and the Bartol Institute, and for study of the popularization of modern physical sciences. Swann's varied and shifting interests also include Civil defense in Philadelphia, with a number of items regarding the potential impact of a nuclear bomb on the city of Philadelphia, and plans for evacuation for 1950 and 1952. Although this collection begins with materials that date from Swann's undergraduate days at Brighton Technical College in 1903, the collection is fullest for the period after his arrival as Director pf the Bartol in 1927.
There is personal correspondence relating to his studies, teaching, travels, lectures, and music (as cellist and conductor of the Swarthmore, Pa., Symphony Orchestra). There are 56 notebooks, work books, books of lectures, 5 scrapbooks, diplomas and certificates, manuscripts of the books "Electrodynamics" (unpublished) and "The Architecture of the Universe" (1934). There are about 600 articles on atmospheric electricity, acceleration of particles, atomic bomb defense, atomic energy, cosmic rays and energy, electrets, electrodymanics, magnetism, music, physics, quantum theory, radiation, relativity and Einstein, science and civilization, stratospheric flights (by balloon and airplane), thermodynamics, and wave mechanics. There is also a Kodachrome film, "Hunting cosmic rays in a B-29" (1947, 1 reel), and a film of the stratospheic balloon flight of Jean Picard (1 reel).
Physicist W.F.G. Swann was a pioneer in high energy physics and the study of cosmic rays. Climbing the academic ranks from the University of Sheffield to the Universities of Minnesota, Chicago, and Yale, Swann was selected as the first director of the Bartol Research Foundation of the Franklin Institute in 1927, and remained there until his retirement in 1959. He was best known for his popular work on the new physics, The Architecture of the Universe (1934) and for his research on cosmic rays. Avocationally, he was an accomplished cellist and in addition to performing, he helped organize and support the Swarthmore Symphony Orchestra and other local groups.
Gibbs, J. Willard (Josiah Willard), 1839-1903.
Alexanian, Diran, 1881-1954.
Bainbridge, Kenneth T. (Kenneth Tompkins), 1904-1996.
Bauer, L. A. (Louis Agricola), 1865-1932.
Beams, Jesse W. (Jesse Wakefield), 1898-1977.
Briggs, Lyman J. (Lyman James), 1874-1963.
Casals, Pablo, 1876-1973.
Cattell, Jacques, 1904-1960.
Cattell, James McKeen, 1860-1944.
Chatterjee, S.
Danforth, William E.
Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954.
Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962.
Darrow, Karl K. (Karl Kelchner), 1891-
Ehrenhaft, Felix, 1879-1952.
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.
Eisenberg, Maurice, 1900-1972.
Eisenhart, Luther Pfahler, b. 1876.
Erikson, Henry A. (Henry Anton), 1869-
Federer, Charles, 1909-
Hess, Victor Francis, 1883-1964.
Korff, Serge A. (Serge Alexander), 1906-1989
Lark-Horovitz, K. (Karl), 1892-1958.
Liddel, Urner, 1905-
McDonald, Ellice, b. 1876.
Pepinsky, Abe.
Piccard, Jean Felix, 1884-1963
Polnauer, Frederick F.
Shapley, Harlow, 1885-1972.
Strm̲berg, Gustaf, 1882-1962.
Tate, John T. (John Torrence), 1889-1950.
Tutwiler, C. C.
Zanstra, H. (Herman)
American Philosophical Society.
Bartol Research Foundation.
Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Swarthmore College.
Temple University. Dept. of Physics.
Trinity College of Music.
Atomic bomb.
Cosmic rays.
Civil defense -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Music.
Particles (Nuclear physics).
Physics -- Study and teaching.
Symphony orchestras -- Pennsylvania -- Swarthmore.
World War, 1914-1918.
Motion pictures (visual work) ftaat
Notebooks. aat
Photographic prints. ftamc
Scrapbooks. aat
Slides (photographs). aat
Sound recordings lcgft
Violoncellists.
AIP-ICOS
American Philosophical Society. Library. 105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
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