American Association of Physics Teachers. New England Section
AAPT New England Section records of Allen L. King, 1956-1961.
This collection contains letters from Allen L. King proposing to have a meeting to organize the New England Section, a list of names to whom the letter was sent to and their responses. Among the documents are reports of the first organizational meeting, the constitution, programs of meetings, and membership lists. The correspondence concerns the relationship of the section with the AAPT, the New England Section of the American Physical Society, and the Eastern Association of the Eastern Association of Physics Teachers (the last affiliated with the section in 1960). The collection also includes an account of the origin of the section by King. Correspondents include Vernet E. Eaton and Frank Verbrugge.
The New England Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) was founded in 1957 to advance and integrate the teaching of physics at all educational levels and further the appreciation for the role of physics in society. Representatives of the regional sections served on the Council of the AAPT. The first chairman of the section was Allen L. King. Allen L. King was born in Rochester, New York on March 27, 1910. He attended the University of Rochester with a major in chemistry and a minor in physics. In 1932, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and received a Master of Arts degree in physics a year later. In 1937, he received his PhD in physics and began his career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1942, Allen was called to help establish a program at Dartmouth that would train naval officers. During his first year at Dartmouth, Allen found a variety of early scientific instruments in the Wilder Laboratory. After finding these scientific instruments, Allen did further research on the instruments history and grew to appreciate their value and began to look for better ways to protect Dartmouths legacy. He proposed that making the instrument collection the centerpiece of the science divisions contribution to the Dartmouth bicentennial celebration with a major exhibition in the art gallery on campus. After convincing the artist on the committee, the exhibit was held and became a huge success. The exhibit attracted more visitors per week than any previous exhibit in the gallery. After his retirement in 1975, Allen remained active as curator of Dartmouths collection of historical scientific apparatus. For his many years of service to advance the quality of life in the community, Allen was named Hanover Citizen of the Year in 1997. Allen died in Lebanon, New Hampshire on December 11, 2003.
Eaton, Vernet E.
King, Allen L.
Verbrugge, Frank.
American Physical Society.
Physical Science Study Committee.
Education -- Societies, etc.
Physics -- Societies, etc.
Physics -- Study and teaching
Eastern Association of Physics Teachers.
AIP-ICOS
American Institute of Physics. Niels Bohr Library & Archives. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA