American Association of Physics Teachers records,1929-2002
Repository
American Institute of Physics. Niels Bohr Library & Archives.
Papers created by
American Association of Physics Teachers
Size of collection
7.5 linear feet,
15 manuscript boxes
Short description of collection
This collection includes meeting materials, correspondence, committee reports, special project documents, and other administrative records from the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).
Language(s) of collection
English
Collection number:
AR2008841
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is a professional society of teachers of physics in colleges, universities, and secondary schools. It was established in 1930 to advance the teaching of physics and further the appreciation of the role of physics in society and culture, and was a founding Member Society of the American Institute of Physics.
This collection documents the activities of the American Association of Physics Teachers primarily from 1930 through the 1970s, with some documents as late as 2002. Significant topics include issues in the state of secondary and post-secondary education in the physical sciences; pedagogical methodologies in the physical sciences; academic publishing of AAPT’s journals such as the American Journal of Physics (known as The Physics Teacher from 1933-1940); the founding of AAPT and its role as a founding Member Society of the American Institute of Physics (AIP); and institutional responses to socio-political changes such as World War II and civil unrest during the Vietnam War. Materials are almost entirely textual, comprising meeting minutes and agendas, officer correspondence, committee reports, membership directories, and educational materials. Other limited formats include photographs, slides, and audio cassettes.
This collection contains language and materials that may be offensive, outdated, or harmful. See the Niels Bohr Library and Archives Ethical Cataloging Statement for more information about our current practices and commitment to ethical and reparative work in our descriptions of library and archival material. If you have comments, questions, or concerns about the language in this finding aid, please email us at nbl@aip.org or anonymously enter your feedback in the form at the bottom of the Ethical Cataloging Statement.
Permission of an officer of depositing organization required for access to records less than 25 years old. https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/access-application.
These papers have been indexed in theInternational 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
Buchta, J.W. (J. William), 1895-1966
Dodge, Homer L. (Homer Levi), 1887-1983
Klopsteg, Paul E. (Paul Ernest), 1889-
Palmer, Frederic, 1878-1967
Parker, Vincent Eveland.
Phillips, Melba, 1907-
Sutton, Richard Manliffe, 1900-1966.
Winch, Ralph P. (Ralph Philip), 1905-
Institutions
American Association of Physics Teachers
American Institute of Physics
American Physical Society
Subject terms
Education. Societies, etc.
Physics -- Publishing.
Physics -- Societies, etc.
Physics -- Study and teaching.
The records are arranged in 4 series: 1. Meeting Materials, 1930-1971. 2. Committees and Organizational Structure, 1930-2002. 3. Correspondence, 1950-1971. 4. Special Projects, 1929-1986.
Series 1 contains two subseries, each of which are arranged in chronological order. Please note that some materials in Subseries A contain language that may be offensive or harmful related to race and police violence.
Series 2 contains three subseries. Subseries A has been kept in the original order it was found in. Subseries B has been kept in the original order it was found in, with most committee reports having previously been arranged chronologically. Subseries C is arranged such that materials which were together in their original accessions have stayed together (e.g. Box 9 Folders 1-3); in this way, similar materials have been arranged chronologically, but the series as a whole has not.
Series 3 contains two subseries. Subseries A is arranged alphabetically by last name of primary correspondent. Subseries B has been kept in the original order it was found in.
Series 4 contains two subseries. Subseries A has been kept in the original order it was found in. Subseries B was originally an entire collection of its own (AR 283), and has been kept in the original order it was found in.
Acquired in 4 separate donations from AAPT officers between at least 1963 and 2008.
This collection was processed by Benjamin Henry in 2025.
Collection is a consolidation of four previous collections: AR 141, AR 283, and AR 2004-615, which have now been absorbed into the current collection AR 2008-841. Items were rearranged from previous collections to ensure usability of the new collection.
Box [number], Folder [number], American Association of Physics Teachers records, 1929-2002. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, College Park, MD 20740, USA.
Title
Finding Aid to the American Association of Physics Teachers records, 1929-2002
Publisher
American Institute of Physics Niels Bohr Library & Archives
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
USA
nbl@aip.org
2025
Encoding Information
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Benjamin Henry in 2025. Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process.
Subseries A: Meeting Documents
| Box 1 |
Folder 1 |
Minutes - annual meetings and executive committee, 1930-1939 |
|
Folder 2 |
Meeting minutes, 1930 |
|
Folder 3 |
Meeting minutes, 1931 |
|
Folder 4 |
Meeting minutes, 1932 |
|
Folder 5 |
Meeting minutes, 1933 |
|
Folder 6 |
Meeting minutes, 1934 |
|
Folder 7 |
Meeting minutes, 1935 |
|
Folder 8 |
Meeting minutes, 1936 |
|
Folder 9 |
Meeting minutes, 1937 |
|
Folder 10 |
Meeting minutes, 1938 |
|
Folder 11 |
Meeting minutes, 1939 |
|
Folder 12 |
Meeting minutes, 1940 |
|
Folder 13 |
Minutes and agendas (incomplete), 1940-1947 |
|
Folder 14 |
Meeting minutes, 1941 |
|
Folder 15 |
Meeting minutes, 1943 |
|
Folder 16 |
Meeting minutes, 1944 |
|
Folder 17 |
Meeting minutes, 1945 |
|
Folder 18 |
Meeting minutes, 1946 |
|
Folder 19 |
Meeting minutes, 1947 |
|
Folder 20 |
Meeting minutes, 1948 |
|
Folder 21 |
Meeting minutes, 1949 |
|
Folder 22 |
Meeting minutes, 1950 |
|
Folder 23 |
Meeting minutes, 1951 |
|
Folder 24 |
Meeting minutes, 1952 |
|
Folder 25 |
Meeting minutes, 1953 |
|
Folder 26 |
Meeting minutes, 1954 |
|
Folder 27 |
Meeting minutes, 1955 |
|
Folder 28 |
Meeting minutes, 1956 |
|
Folder 29 |
Meeting minutes, 1957 |
|
Folder 30 |
1958 annual meeting, 1957-1958 |
|
Folder 31 |
1958 summer meeting, 1956-1958 |
|
Folder 32 |
Meeting minutes, 1958 |
|
Folder 33 |
1959 annual meeting, 1958-1959 |
|
Folder 34 |
1959 summer meeting (1 of 2), 1959 |
|
Folder 35 |
1959 summer meeting (2 of 2), 1959 |
|
Folder 36 |
Meeting minutes, 1959 |
| Box 2 |
Folder 1 |
1960 annual meeting, 1959-1960 |
|
Folder 2 |
1960 summer meeting, 1959-1960 |
|
Folder 3 |
Meeting minutes, 1960 |
|
Folder 4 |
1961 annual meeting, 1961-1962 |
|
Folder 5 |
1961 summer meeting, 1961 |
|
Folder 6 |
Meeting minutes, 1961 |
|
Folder 7 |
Explanation and table of contents for the 1930-1961 meeting minutes, 1961 |
|
Folder 8 |
1962 annual meeting, 1961-1962 |
|
Folder 9 |
1962 annual meeting minutes, 1962 |
|
Folder 10 |
Executive Board meeting minutes, 1962 |
|
Folder 11 |
1962 summer meeting, 1962 |
|
Folder 12 |
1962 summer meeting minutes, 1962 |
|
Folder 13 |
Memorandums to the Executive Board, 1962 |
|
Folder 14 |
1963 annual meeting, 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 15 |
1963 annual meeting minutes, 1963 |
|
Folder 16 |
1963 summer meeting, 1963 |
|
Folder 17 |
1963 summer meeting minutes, 1963 |
|
Folder 18 |
Executive Board meeting minutes, 1963 |
|
Folder 19 |
Executive Board meeting, October 3, 1963 |
|
Folder 20 |
1964 annual meeting, 1963-1964 |
|
Folder 21 |
1964 annual meeting minutes, 1964 |
| Box 3 |
Folder 1 |
Results of vote for revision of the constitution, 1964 |
|
Folder 2 |
1964 summer meeting, 1962-1964 |
|
Folder 3 |
1964 summer meeting minutes, 1964 |
|
Folder 4 |
Executive board meeting, October 1, 1964 |
|
Folder 5 |
Ballot results, AIP correspondence regarding cost allocation for editorial mechanics, 1964 |
|
Folder 6 |
1965 annual meeting, 1962-1965 |
|
Folder 7 |
1965 annual meeting minutes, 1965 |
|
Folder 8 |
1965 summer meeting, 1965 |
|
Folder 9 |
1965 summer meeting minutes, 1965 |
|
Folder 10 |
1966 annual meeting, 1963-1966 |
|
Folder 11 |
1966 annual meeting minutes, 1966 |
|
Folder 12 |
Treasurer's report for 1962-1966, 1966 |
|
Folder 13 |
1966 summer meeting, 1966 |
|
Folder 14 |
1966 summer meeting minutes, 1966 |
|
Folder 15 |
Memorandum to the President and President-Elect from the Secretary, 1966 |
|
Folder 16 |
1967 annual meeting, 1966-1967 |
|
Folder 17 |
1967 annual meeting minutes, 1967 |
|
Folder 18 |
1967 summer meeting, 1967 |
|
Folder 19 |
1967 summer meeting minutes, 1967 |
|
Folder 20 |
Miscellaneous meeting correspondence; election results, 1967 |
|
Folder 21 |
Meeting notices and fliers, 1968-1971 |
| Box 4 |
Folder 1 |
Executive board, 1966-1968 |
|
Folder 2 |
1968 annual meeting, 1965-1968 |
|
Folder 3 |
1968 annual meeting minutes, 1968 |
|
Folder 4 |
1969 annual meeting, 1968-1969 |
|
Folder 5 |
1969 summer meeting, 1966-1969 |
|
Folder 6 |
1970 summer meeting (1 of 2), 1970 |
|
Folder 7 |
1970 summer meeting (2 of 2), 1966-1970 |
|
Folder 8 |
Council on Physics in Education (CPE), 1970 |
|
Folder 9 |
1970 annual meeting, 1969-1970 |
|
Folder 10 |
Ballot - 1970 Chicago meeting, 1969-1970 |
|
Folder 11 |
Responses to AAPT ballot regarding moving conference location following 1968 Chicago riots, 1969 |
|
Folder 12 |
Executive board meeting November 13-14 concurrent with CCP meeting, 1970 |
|
Folder 13 |
Las Cruces meeting, October 16, 1970 |
|
Folder 14 |
Executive board documents, New York meeting, 1971 |
|
Folder 15 |
1971 summer meeting planning materials, 1968-1969 |
|
Folder 16 |
1972 summer meeting planning materials, 1969 |
|
Folder 17 |
1973 summer meeting planning materials, 1969 |
|
Folder 18 |
1974 summer meeting planning materials, 1969-1971 |
|
Folder 19 |
1975 summer meeting planning materials, 1970 |
Subseries B: Programs and Miscellaneous
| Box 5 |
Folder 1 |
Miscellaneous meeting material, 1966-1969 |
|
Folder 2 |
Programs (incomplete), 1931-1965 |
|
Folder 3 |
Programs of meetings, 1946-1955 |
|
Folder 4 |
Programs of meetings, 1956-1960 |
|
Folder 5 |
Programs of meetings, 1961-1964 |
|
Folder 6 |
Programs of meetings, 1965-1971 |
Subseries A: Awards Committee
| Box 5 |
Folder 7 |
Honorary membership certificates (blank), undated |
|
Folder 8 |
Correspondence with Edward Lugenbeel, Prentice Hall, Inc., 1966-1968 |
|
Folder 9 |
Francis Friedman memorial plaque, 1962-1964 |
|
Folder 10 |
Robert A. Millikan lecture award, 1963-1968 |
|
Folder 11 |
Oersted medal, 1949-1968 |
| Box 6 |
Folder 1 |
Awards, miscellaneous, 1968-1970 |
|
Folder 2 |
Awards committee, 1961-1962 |
|
Folder 3 |
Richtmyer lecture committee, 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 4 |
Committee on high school awards (teacher recognition), 1963-1969 |
|
Folder 5 |
Committee on awards an Oersted medal, 1951-1960 |
|
Folder 6 |
Awards correspondence, 1969 |
|
Folder 7 |
Awards committee, 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 8 |
Awards committee, 1963-1964 |
|
Folder 9 |
Awards committee, 1963-1964 |
|
Folder 10 |
Awards committee, 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 11 |
Awards committee, 1967 |
|
Folder 12 |
Millikan award, 1967 |
|
Folder 13 |
Awards committee, 1965-1966 |
Subseries B: Committee Reports
| Box 6 |
Folder 14 |
Committee on Apparatus for Educational Institutions, 1957-1969 |
| Box 7 |
Folder 1 |
Committee on Apparatus for Educational Institutions, 1966-1971 |
|
Folder 2 |
Committee on Visual Aids, 1962-1969 |
|
Folder 3 |
International education in physics, 1968-1970 |
|
Folder 4 |
Committee on testing, 1965, undated |
|
Folder 5 |
Committees, 1961 |
|
Folder 6 |
Committee structures, 1957-1960 |
|
Folder 7 |
1961 committee reports, 1961-1962 |
|
Folder 8 |
1961 committee reports, Ralph P. Winch, 1961-1962 |
|
Folder 9 |
Committees, 1961-1965 |
|
Folder 10 |
1962 committee reports (1 of 2), 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 11 |
1962 committee reports (2 of 2), 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 12 |
1963 committee reports (1 of 2), 1963-1964 |
| Box 8 |
Folder 1 |
1963 committee reports (2 of 2), 1963-1964 |
|
Folder 2 |
1964 committee reports (1 of 2), 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 3 |
1964 committee reports (2 of 2), 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 4 |
1965 committee reports (1 of 2), 1965-1966 |
|
Folder 5 |
1965 committee reports (2 of 2), 1965-1966 |
|
Folder 6 |
1966 committee reports, 1966-1967 |
|
Folder 7 |
1967 committee reports (office copies), 1967-1968 |
|
Folder 8 |
1968 committee reports, 1968-1969 |
|
Folder 9 |
1969 committee reports, 1969-1970 |
|
Folder 10 |
Committee on Resource Letters report, 1970 |
|
Folder 11 |
Committee report on physics in the two-year colleges (CRPTYC), 1971-1978 |
|
Folder 12 |
Committee report on physics in the two-year colleges (CRPTYC), 1979-1984 |
Subseries C: Organizational Structure
| Box 9 |
Folder 1 |
History and activities, constitution and by-laws, directory of members, 1940, 1946, 1948, 1951, 1955 |
|
Folder 2 |
History and activities, constitution and by-laws, directory of members, 1958, 1960 |
|
Folder 3 |
History and activities, constitution and by-laws, directory of members, 1964, 1966 |
|
Folder 4 |
Membership directory correspondence, 1961-1966 |
|
Folder 5 |
Membership directory, 1934 |
|
Folder 6 |
Constitution, by-laws, membership lists, 1936-1948 |
|
Folder 7 |
Regional chapters, membership applications, 1930-1966 |
|
Folder 8 |
Documentation of incorporation, 1957-2002 |
Subseries A: Personal Correspondence
| Box 10 |
Folder 1 |
Arons, Arnold B., 1966-1968 |
|
Folder 2 |
Ballard, Stanley S., 1966-1968 |
|
Folder 3 |
Buchta, J.W.; Parker, Vincent E.; Romer, Alfred, 1962-1967 |
|
Folder 4 |
Buchta, J.W., 1965-1966 |
|
Folder 5 |
Buchta, J.W. re: membership directory, 1964 |
|
Folder 6 |
Buchta, J.W. letter of appointment, 1962 |
|
Folder 7 |
Buchta, J.W. new member duties; transfer from Secretary to Executive Secretary's office, 1965-1966 |
|
Folder 8 |
Buchta, J.W. procedure manual for job of officers, 1964 |
|
Folder 9 |
Buchta, J.W. and Waterfall, Wallace. Foreign mailing surcharge, increase in non-member subscription charge, 1965 |
|
Folder 10 |
Correll, Malcom, 1961-1966 |
|
Folder 11 |
Darrow, Karl K., 1961-1963 |
|
Folder 12 |
Darrow, Karl K., 1955-1962 |
|
Folder 13 |
Darrow, Karl K.; Havens, W.W., 1963-1965 |
|
Folder 14 |
Geballe, Ronald, 1967-1969 |
|
Folder 15 |
Gerhart, James B., 1970 |
|
Folder 16 |
Dillinger, Joseph, 1963-1966 |
|
Folder 17 |
Dillinger, Joseph, 1962-1966 |
| Box 11 |
Folder 1 |
Dillinger, Joseph; Brown, Sanborn C. re: budget, 1960-1965 |
|
Folder 2 |
Donnelly, Bailey L., 1966-1969 |
|
Folder 3 |
Dayton, Irving, 1966-1967 |
|
Folder 4 |
Dayton, Irving, 1968-1971 |
|
Folder 5 |
Dayton, Irving, 1963-1966 |
|
Folder 6 |
Kelly, William C., 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 7 |
Kelly, William C., 1962-1964 |
|
Folder 8 |
King, Allen L., 1961 |
|
Folder 9 |
Lefler, Glenn Q., 1962 |
|
Folder 10 |
Little, Robert N., 1968 |
|
Folder 11 |
Martin, Donald C., 1964 |
|
Folder 12 |
Olsen, Leonard O., 1961-1966 |
|
Folder 13 |
Parker, Vincent E., 1962-1965 |
|
Folder 14 |
Phillips, Melba, 1965-1969 |
|
Folder 15 |
Romer, Alfred, 1965-1970 |
|
Folder 16 |
Alfred Romer miscellaneous correspondence, 1966-1970 |
|
Folder 17 |
Wallace Waterfall, meeting of secretaries and treasurers, 1963-1965 |
|
Folder 18 |
Winch, Ralph P., 1965-1967 |
|
Folder 19 |
White, Marsh W., committee on institutes, conferences, and symposia, 1961-1964 |
|
Folder 20 |
Zemansky, Mark, 1966-1970 |
Subseries B: Institutional Correspondence
| Box 12 |
Folder 1 |
Momentum book series bank account correspondence, 1964 |
|
Folder 2 |
Letterheads, 1961-1968 |
|
Folder 3 |
Metric system commemorative postage stamp, 1965 |
|
Folder 4 |
Michigan scholars in college teaching program, 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 5 |
Michigan Employment Security Commission, 1962-1963 |
|
Folder 6 |
Momentum book series, 1964-1970 |
|
Folder 7 |
National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, 1962-1964 |
|
Folder 8 |
National Science Foundation, 1964 |
|
Folder 9 |
National Science Teachers Association, 1961-1967 |
|
Folder 10 |
Optics Technology Ic., 1967 |
|
Folder 11 |
Optical Society of America, 1960-1968 |
|
Folder 12 |
AIP-AAPT area meetings, 1968 |
|
Folder 13 |
Kent State University inauguration of Robert I. White, 1963 |
|
Folder 14 |
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1965-1966 |
|
Folder 16 |
Inter-University Community on the Superior Student, 1963 |
|
Folder 17 |
Kansas State Teacher's College, 1961 |
|
Folder 18 |
Library of Congress, 1961-1963 |
|
Folder 19 |
Long Island University, 1964 |
|
Folder 20 |
Exhibits Schedule, 1966 |
|
Folder 21 |
Nomination of Albert A. Michelson to Hall of Fame of Great Americans, 1965 |
|
Folder 22 |
Physics buildings, 1961-1965 |
|
Folder 23 |
Salem College, 1963 |
|
Folder 24 |
Scandanavian Documentation Center, 1963 |
|
Folder 25 |
Scholarships, 1963-1965 |
|
Folder 26 |
Scientific Manpower Commission, 1964 |
|
Folder 27 |
TMIS (Technical Meetings Information Service), 1964-1967 |
|
Folder 28 |
International Cooperation Administration, IRS, National Bureau of Standards, 1961-1963 |
|
Folder 29 |
U.S.A.I.D., 1966 |
|
Folder 30 |
Visiting scientists program, 1961 |
|
Folder 31 |
Commission on College Physics revision of Momentum Books contract, 1967-1970 |
|
Folder 32 |
NSF Committee on Physics Facilities in Colleges, 1963-1966 |
| Box 13 |
Folder 1 |
Tax reform, 1970 |
|
Folder 2 |
Charles A. Compton re: high school teacher awards program, 1969 |
|
Folder 3 |
Tax revision, 1969-1970 |
|
Folder 4 |
Tax revision, correspondence with Congress members, 1964-1965 |
|
Folder 5 |
Agreements for publications - various, 1950-1964 |
|
Folder 6 |
Agreements for publications - D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1961-1962 |
Subseries A: Project Binders
| Box 13 |
Folder 7 |
Physics Teaching Resource Agents participant sharing, 1986 |
|
Folder 8 |
Doug Jenkins demonstration book, undated [likely 1986] |
|
Folder 9 |
Doug Jenkins demonstration book, undated [likely 1986] |
|
Folder 10 |
Binder: women in science illustrated interviews, 1975 |
|
Folder 11 |
Binder: AAPT Institute - Physics Teacher Resource Agents (1 of 3), 1985 |
|
Folder 12 |
Binder: AAPT Institute - Physics Teacher Resource Agents (2 of 3), 1985 |
|
Folder 13 |
Binder: AAPT Institute - Physics Teacher Resource Agents (3 of 3), 1985 |
| Box 14 |
Folder 1 |
Binder: The Mechanical Universe high school adaptation (1 of 2), 1984 |
|
Folder 2 |
Binder: The Mechanical Universe high school adaptation (2 of 2), 1984 |
|
Folder 3 |
Binder: The Mechanical Universe high school adaptation, quad I, 1985 |
|
Folder 4 |
Binder: The Mechanical Universe high school adaptation, quad II and III, 1985 |
|
Folder 5 |
Binder: developing student confidence in physics, 1985 |
|
Folder 6 |
Binder: Intermod executive file vol. 1 (1 of 2), 1974-1976 |
|
Folder 7 |
Binder: Intermod executive file vol. 1 (2 of 2), 1974-1975 |
|
Folder 8 |
Binder: Intermod executive file vol. 2 (1 of 2), 1974-1976 |
| Box 15 |
Folder 1 |
Binder: Intermod executive file vol. 2 (2 of 2), 1974-1976 |
Subseries B: AAPT Early History Project
| Box 15 |
Folder 2 |
AAPT early history - Webb, 1931-1932 |
|
Folder 3 |
AAPT history material used in 1963 by D. Shaughnessy, 1930-1963 |
|
Folder 4 |
AAPT early history - Klopsteg, 1962-1971 |
|
Folder 5 |
AAPT records of early history, 1966 history and drafts, 1966 |
|
Folder 6 |
1967 history project correspondence between Zemansky and States; 1929-1930 correspondence between Webb and States, 1929-1967 |
