Home History Programs Niels Bohr Library & Archives Physics History Network People

Physics History Network

Over 1000 biographies of physicists and histories of institutions with information pertaining to their lives, careers, and research.

Tip: Search within this page by using Ctrl + F or ⌘ + F

Search Our Catalogs

Collections

Emilio Segré Visual Archives Digital Collections Oral Histories Archival Finding Aids Physics History Network Member Society Portals Ethical Cataloging Statement

Preservation and Support

Donating Materials Suggest a Book Purchase Saving Archival Collections Grants to Archives Documentation Projects History Newsletters

Center for History of Physics

Scholarship & Outreach

Main Navigation

Home About Topic Guides Feedback

Table of Contents

Biography

Abstract Important Dates Occupation Places Subjects

Relationships

Family
Colleagues

Major Positions
Professional Activites & Affiliations

Resources

Archival as Author Archival as Subject Published as Subject

D. A. Glaser

Dates

September 21, 1926 – February 28, 2013

Authorized Form of Name

Glaser, D. A.

Additional Forms of Names

Glaser, Donald Arthur

Biography

Abstract

Donald A. Glaser was Professor of Molecular Physics and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley (1959-2013). Other institutional affiliations included the University of Michigan. His research interests included the bubble chamber and molecular biology.

Important Dates

September 21, 1926Birth, Cleveland (Ohio).

1946Obtained BS, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland (Ohio).

1949 – 1959Instructor to Associate Professor of Physics (1949-1957) and Professor of Physics (1957-1959), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1950Obtained PhD in Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).

1959 – 2013Visiting Professor of Physics (1959-1960); Professor of Physics (1960-1964); Miller Research Biophysicist, Division of Neurobiology (1962-1964); Professor of Physics and Molecular Biology, Division of Neurobiology (1964-1989); and Professor of Molecular Physics and Cell Biology, Division of Neurobiology (1989-2013), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1960Awarded Nobel Prize in Physics "for the invention of the bubble chamber".

1962Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1983 – 1984Distinguished Research Fellow, Smith-Kettlewell Institute for Vision Research.

February 28, 2013Death, Berkeley (Calif.).

Occupation

Physicist and molecular biologist.

Places

Birth

Cleveland (Ohio)

Undergraduate Education

Cleveland (Ohio)

Graduate Education

Pasadena (Calif.)

Employment

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Berkeley (Calif.)

Death

Berkeley (Calif.)

Subjects

Bubble chambers.

Molecular biology.

Relationships

People

Family

Glaser, Louise Ferris

Daughter.

Glaser, Lynn Bercovitz

Second wife, married 1975.

Glaser, Ruth Bonnie Thompson

First wife.

Glaser, William Thompson

Son. Son.

Colleagues

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Appelbaum, J. A. (Joel A.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bardeen, James Maxwell, 1939-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Barish, B. C. (Barry Clark), 1936-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birge, Raymond T. (Raymond Thayer), 1887-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birgeneau, Robert J. (Robert Joseph), 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bradbury, Norris, 1909-1997

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Case, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Clarke, John, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Clauser, John F. (John Francis), 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Cohen, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Crane, H. R. (Horace Richard), 1907-2007

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Davis, J. C. Séamus

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Dennison, David M. (David Mathias), 1900-1976

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Dynes, Robert C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Edwards, David F. (David Franklin)

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Emery, V. J. (Victor J.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Falcone, Roger W.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Falicov, L. M. (Leopoldo Maximo), 1933-1995

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Fetter, Alexander L., 1937-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Freedman, Daniel Z.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Freedman, Stuart J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Gaillard, Mary K.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Glashow, Sheldon L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Haxton, Wick C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hellman, Frances

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Holdren, John P.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hopfield, John J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jackson, John David, 1925-2016

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kahn, Steven Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kittel, Charles

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Langenberg, D. N., 1932-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Laporte, Otto, 1902-1971

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Louie, Steven G., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Luttinger, Joaquin M.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

McKee, Christopher, 1942-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

McMillan, Edwin M. (Edwin Mattison), 1907-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of Michigan and University of California, Berkeley.

Perl, Martin L., 1927-2014

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Perlmutter, Saul

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Randall, Harrison M. (Harrison McAllister), 1870-

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Richards, Paul L. (Paul Linford)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Riess, Adam, 1969-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Satchler, G. R. (George Raymond)

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Seaborg, Glenn T. (Glenn Theodore), 1912-1999

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shank, C. V. (Charles V.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shapiro, Marjorie

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stubbs, Christopher

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Thomas, Gareth, 1932-2014

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Tinkham, Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Townes, Charles H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Trilling, George H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Uhlenbeck, George Eugène, 1900-1988

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Zumino, B. (Bruno), 1923-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Institutions

Major Positions

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Molecular & Cell Biology

Miller Research Biophysicist, Division of Neurobiology; Professor of Molecular Biology; and Professor of Molecular Physics and Cell Biology, Division of Neurobiology.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Visiting Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.

University of Michigan. Department of Physics

Instructor to Associate Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Brookhaven National Laboratory

California Institute of Technology. Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy

Obtained PhD in Physics (1950).

Case School of Applied Science

Obtained BS (1946).

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Smith-Kettlewell Institute

Distinguished Research Fellow.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

D. A. Glaser papers, circa 1947-1997.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

LBL Physics Division hydrogen bubble chamber logbooks, 1953-1957.

Pacific Sierra Region

National Archives and Records Administration

1000 Commodore Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA

Oral history interview with Donald A. Glaser, 2003 November 18 - 2 March 2004.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Oral history interview with George H. Trilling, 2006 March 1.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Donald Arthur Glaser Physics Today obituary

American Institute of Physics

1 Physics Ellipse

College Park, MD 20740

+1 301.209.3100

AIP Publishing

1305 Walt Whitman Blvd.

Suite 300

Melville, NY 11747

+1 516.576.2200

© American Institute of Physics

Contact | Staff Directory | Privacy policy

AIP Member Societies

Acoustical Society of America

American Association of Physicists in Medicine

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Astronomical Society

American Crystallographic Association

American Meteorological Society

American Physical Society

AVS: Science & Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing

Optica (formerly The Optical Society)

The Society of Rheology

The American Institute of Physics, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, advances, promotes and serves the physical sciences for the benefit of humanity.

We are committed to the preservation of physics for future generations, the success of physics students both in the classroom and professionally, and the promotion of a more scientifically literate society.