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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

J. A. Fleming

Photo

Dates

January 28, 1877 – July 29, 1956

Authorized Form of Name

Fleming, J. A. (John Adam), 1877-1956

Additional Forms of Names

Fleming, John Adam, 1877-1956

Biography

Abstract

John Adam Fleming was Adviser in International Relations and Director of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution of Washington (1904-1954). Other institutional affiliations included the United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey and the Vulcan Copper Works Company. His research interests included terrestrial magnetism and atmospheric electricity.

Important Dates

January 28, 1877Birth, Cincinnati (Ohio).

1899Obtained BS, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati (Ohio).

1899 – 1903Aide, United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey.

1903 – 1904Superintendant of Design and Construction, Vulcan Copper Works Company.

1904 – 1910Magnetic Observer, United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey.

1904 – 1954Chief Magnetician (1904-1946); Assistant Director (1922-1929); Acting Director (1930-1934); Director (1935-1946), Department of Terrestrial Magnetism; and Adviser in International Relations (1946-1954), Carnegie Institute of Washington, Washington (D.C.).

1925 – 1947Editor, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, American Geophysical Union.

1928 – 1948Editor, Journal of Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity, American Geophysical Union.

1930 – 1953Member, Board of Trustees, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

1933Obtained Honorary DSc, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati (Ohio).

1934Obtained Honorary DSc, Dartmouth College, Hanover (N.H.).

1938Member, National Academy of Sciences.

July 29, 1956Death, San Mateo (Calif.).

Occupation

Geophysicist.

Places

Birth

Cincinnati (Ohio)

Employment

Washington (D.C.)

Undergraduate Education

Cincinnati (Ohio)

Graduate Education

Cincinnati (Ohio)

Hanover (N.H.)

Death

San Mateo (Calif.)

Subjects

Atmospheric electricity.

Geomagnetism.

Geophysics.

Relationships

People

Colleagues

Berkner, Lloyd V. (Lloyd Viel), 1905-1967

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Breit, Gregory, 1899-1981

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Fano, Ugo

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Forbush, Scott E., 1904-1984

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Hafstad, Lawrence, 1904-

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Swann, W. F. G. (William Francis Gray), 1884-1962

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Tuve, Merle Antony, 1901-1982

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Van Allen, James A. (James Alfred), 1914-2006

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Vestine, E. H. (Ernest Harry), 1906-1968

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Wetherill, George West

Both employed at Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Additional

Millikan, Robert Andrews, 1868-1953

Olivier, Charles P. (Charles Pollard)

Thomson, Elihu, 1853-1937

Institutions

Major Positions

American Geophysical Union

Editor, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union and Editor, Journal of Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric Electricity.

Carnegie Institution of Washington

Adviser in International Relations.

Carnegie Institution of Washington. Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

Chief Magnetician; Assistant Director; Acting Director; and Director.

U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey

Aide and Magnetic Observer.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Dartmouth College. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Obtained Honorary DSc.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

University of Cincinnati. Department of Civil Engineering

Obtained BS and Honorary DSc.

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Member, Board of Trustees.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Origin and development of the American Geophysical Union, 1919-1952, 1954.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Papers of physicists and astronomers in Hoover Library, 1918-1965.

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

West Branch, IA 52358, USA

Washington Conference on Theoretical Physics records, 1933-1947.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Charles P. Olivier correspondence, 1915-1962.

Library

American Philosophical Society

105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Elihu Thomson papers, 1853-1955.

Library

American Philosophical Society

105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Oral history interview with Merle Antony Tuve, 1967 March 30.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Merle Antony Tuve, 1967 May 6.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Robert Millikan papers [microform], 1821-1953 (bulk 1921-1953).

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

Terrestrial magnetism and electricity / edited by J.A. Fleming, contributors: J. Bartels, L.V. Berkner, J.A. Fleming [and others].

Subject

"John Adam Fleming: 1877-1956", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences

John A. Fleming Physic Today obituary.