Finding Aids
Detailed inventories of archives collections in the history of physics from over 200 institutions worldwide.
Tip: Search within this page by using Ctrl + F or ⌘ + F
Search Our Catalogs
Archives BooksCollections
Emilio Segré Visual Archives Digital Collections Oral Histories Archival Finding Aids Physics History Network Member Society Portals Ethical Cataloging StatementPreservation and Support
Donating Materials Suggest a Book Purchase Saving Archival Collections Grants to Archives Documentation Projects History NewslettersCenter for History of Physics
Scholarship & OutreachTable of Contents
General Information
Description of Collection Biographical Note Scope and Contents of Collection Restrictions on Use and Access Selected Search Terms Organization and Arrangement of Collection Provenance and Acquisition Information Processing Information Preferred Citation of Collection Administrative InformationContainer List
Series I: Correspondence Series II: Diaries Series III: Employment contracts Series IV: Manuscripts Series V: Notes and notebooks Series VI: ApparatusNorman H. Ricker papers, 1914-1956
Description of Collection
Repository
American Institute of Physics. Niels Bohr Library & Archives.
Papers created by
Ricker, Norman Hurd
Size of collection
0.75 linear feet
1 manuscript box
1 half manuscript box
Short description of collection
Papers of physicsist and inventor, Norman Hurd Ricker.
Language(s) of collection
English
Collection number:
AR296
Biographical Note
Physicist (acoustics, geophysics) and inventor. Physicist, Hughes Tool Company, 1928-1933; senior research physicist, Carter Oil Company, 1938-1958; on physics faculty at University of Oklahoma from 1959.
Scope and Contents of Collection
The papers of Norman Hurd Ricker include correspondence, notes and notebooks and one apparatus (Hughes Plunger Lift). The earliest correspondence (1917-1918) is defense-related, concerning two devices developed by Ricker: a new submarine mine and a mirror sight to detect bombs. The correspondence between 1920 and 1922 documents Ricker's research plans for oil detection using subterranean sounding, and his efforts to interest the Texas Company in starting a research laboratory. There is also one folder of correspondence and other material on the paper cone loudspeaker pioneered by Ricker. Correspondents include: Karl K. Darrow, Robert A. Millikan, C. N. Scott, and Augustus Trowbridge.
The manuscripts (1919-1966) include articles and addresses concerning acoustical and geophysical research as well as the history of science.
The early diaries (1914-1916) were kept while Ricker was an undergraduate at Rice University and the entries consist of brief descriptions of both his academic and social activities. The 1927 diary has few entries. The remaining diaries (1928 and 1930-1932) record details of business negotiations and technical projects at Hughes Tool Company.
Ricker's research notebook includes notes, drawings, and data, primarily from 1919 to 1921. The seismic notes include seismograms and travel-time charts of observations made in Texas and Louisiana in 1925 and 1926.
Restrictions on Use and Access
Researchers must have an approved access application on file in order to access archival materials. https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/item-request.
Selected Search Terms
These papers have been indexed in the International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Sciences (ICOS) using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
Persons
Darrow, Karl K. (Karl Kelchner), 1891-
Millikan, Robert Andrews, 1868-1953.
Ricker, Norman Hurd.
Scott, C. N.
Trowbridge, Augustus, 1870-1934.
Institutions
Hughes Tool Company.
Rice University
Subject terms
Geophysics
Physical instruments
Seismology
Sound.
World War, 1914-1918.
Genre terms
Organization and Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into six series:
- Series I: Correspondence
- Series II: Diaries
- Series III: Employment contracts
- Series IV: Manuscripts
- Series V: Notes and notebooks
- Series VI: Apparatus
Each series is arranged chronologically.
Provenance and Acquisition Information
Received from Norman H. Ricker, 1965, 1972.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Melanie J. Mueller in 2014.
Preferred Citation of Collection
Box [number], Folder [number], Norman H. Ricker papers, 1914-1956. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
Administrative Information
Title
Finding Aid to the Norman H. Ricker papers, 1914-1956
Publisher
American Institute of Physics Niels Bohr Library & Archives
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
USA
nbl@aip.org
2014
Encoding Information
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Melanie J. Mueller in 2014. Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process.
Series I: Correspondence
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | General correspondence, 1917-1920 |
| Folder 2 | General correspondence, 1921-1922 |
| Folder 3 | Correspondence - Western Electric/paper cone loudspeaker, 1921-1956 |
Series II: Diaries
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Diaries, 1914, 1915, 1916 |
| Folder 5 | Diaries, 1927, 1928 |
| Folder 6 | Diaries, 1930, 1931, 1932 |
Series III: Employment contracts
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Contracts, 1924-1928 |
Series IV: Manuscripts
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | The theory of the thermionic modulator, containing an account of work done in the research laboratories of the Western Electric Company during the summer of 1919, undated |
| On the slow motion of a viscous incompressible fluid through a tube of triangular section, 1933 |
| Folder 9 | The birth of the paper cone loudspeaker, 1955 |
| Science, then and now - remarks made by Ricker during the Golden Anniversary of the class of 1916, Rice University, 1966 |
| The role of education in this changing world - presented before the Tulsa Sigma Xi Club, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1966 |
Series V: Notes and notebooks
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Research notebook, 1919-1931 |
| Folder 2 | Seismic notes, 1925-1626 |
Series VI: Apparatus
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Hughes Plunger Lift, undated |