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Dates
1870 – present
Authorized Form of Name
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Department of Physics
Additional Forms of Names
Illinois. University at Urbana-Champaign. Dept. of Physics
University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign campus). Department of Physics
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dept. of Physics
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Illinois system. The university, then called the Illinois Industrial University, opened for classes on March 2, 1868, as a result of the 1862 Morrill Act. The name was officially changed to the University of Illinois in 1885, to reflect the broader scope of class offerings. The name of the Urbana location within the larger University of Illinois system was changed again in 1982, to The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The university department of physics is ranked among the top ten programs in the nation, and is the site of the Department of Energy's Center for the Simulation of Advanced Rockets, programs in materials science and condensed matter physics research, the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, the Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, and a national historic landmark astronomical observatory.
1929-57, Wheeler Loomis.
1957-64, Frederick Seitz.
1964-70, Gerald Almy.
1970-86, Ralph Simmons.
1986-92, Ansel Anderson.
1992-2000, David Campbell.
2000-06, Jeremiah Sullivan.
2006-2018, Dale Van Harlingen.
2018-present, Matthias Grosse Perdekamp.
1870Stillman Robinson introduces the first course in physics, Champaign (Ill.).
1875Laboratory practice is included in the physics curriculum.
1889The Department of Physics is created as part of the College of Engineering.
1901The Department of Physics establishes a graduate degree program.
1909The Physics Laboratory is completed and the Department moves into their new home.
1910First two Physics PhDs are awarded.
1922E. Frances Seiler becomes the first woman to earn a PhD in Physics from the Department.
1929 – 1976F. Wheeler Loomis was on faculty.
1930 – 1977Gerald Almy was on faculty.
1936P. Gerald Kruger and his students build the world's third cyclotron. It is the first outside of Berkeley, California and the first to have an external beam.
1938 – 1945Robert Serber was on faculty.
1938 – 1947Leland Haworth was on faculty.
1938 – 1950Maurice Goldhaber was on faculty.
1938 – 1957Donald Kerst was on faculty.
1939 – 1950Gertrude Goldhaber was on faculty.
1940 – 1942Norman Ramsey was on faculty.
1941 – 1942Philip Morrison was on faculty.
1944Plans are made to build a 250-MeV betatron.
1946 – 1950Gerald Tape was on faculty.
1949The Digital Computer Laboratory (DCL) is created and tasked with building the University's first computer system.
1949 – 1950Sidney Drell was on faculty.
1949 – 1965Frederick Seitz was on faculty.
1949 – presentDavid Lazarus has been on faculty.
1949 – presentCharles Slichter has been on faculty.
1950Erwin Hahn was on faculty.
1950 – 1957Geoffrey Chew was on faculty.
1951The Control Systems Laboratory (CSL) is created and focuses on radar and possible uses of new digital computers.
1951 – 1953Albert Overhauser was on faculty.
1951 – 1991John Bardeen was on faculty.
1952 – 1955David Pines was on faculty.
1952 – 1956Francis Low was on faculty.
1952 – 1966John Wheatley wa son faculty.
1952 – 1992Hans Frauenfelder was on faculty.
1953 – 1956Elihu Abrahams was on faculty.
1955 – 1957Leon Cooper was on faculty.
1957 – 1958Elliott Lieb was on faculty.
1957 – 1960Robert Novick was on faculty.
1957 – 1967J. David Jackson was on faculty.
1957 – presentRalph Simmons has been on faculty.
1959A new physics building is completed.
1959 – 1962J. Robert Schrieffer was on faculty.
1959 – 2007Donald Ginsberg was on faculty.
1961 – 2015Ansel Anderson was on faculty.
1962 – 1969Leo Kadanoff was on faculty.
1962 – presentMiles Klein has been on faculty.
1963 – presentGordon Baym has been on faculty.
1964 – 1967Anthony Leggett was on faculty.
1967 – 2016Jeremiah Sullivan was on faculty.
1969 – 1970Walter Massey was on faculty.
1969 – 1971Peter Feibelman was on faculty.
1969 – 1972Charles Duke was on faculty.
1970Lorella M. Jones becomes the first woman to receive tenure in the department.
1970 – 1972David Campbell was on faculty.
1972 – 1984William L. McMillan was on faculty.
1972 – 2006Vijay Pandharipande was on faculty.
1980The Physics Building is renamed the Loomis Laboratory of Physics.
1981 – presentDale Van Harlingen has been on faculty.
1982John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation established an endowed chair.
1983 – 2002Harry Drickamer was on faculty.
1983 – presentAnthony Leggett has been on faculty.
1985 – presentNibel Goldenfeld has been on faculty.
1987 – presentDavid Ceperley has been on faculty.
1989Sony Corporation gives gift to establish the John Bardeen Endowed Chair.
1990Centennial anniversary of the department.
1992 – presentLaura Greene has been on faculty.
1992 – presentDavid Campbell has been on faculty.
1993The Materials Research Laboratory is renamed in honor of Frederick Seitz.
1994 – 2000Roy Holt was on faculty.
1998Physics Advisory Board is created to provide advice and counsel on strategic issues for the department.
2007The Institute for Condensed Matter Theory is established.
Physics -- Study and teaching.
Historical information from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics's history website (http://physics.illinois.edu/history/).
Research Associate and Assistant Professor.
Instructor in Physics; Associate in Physics; Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Emeritus Professor of Physics; Acting Head, Department of Physics; Associate Head, Department of Physics; and Head, Department of Physics.
Anderson, A. C. (Ansel Cochran), 1933-
Received PhD in Physics in 1961; Research Associate; Assistant Professor to Professor of Physics; Head, Department of Physics; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics, Center for Advanced Study.
Professor of Physics and Head, Department of Physics.
Associate Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.
Cooper, Leon N. (Leon Neil), 1930-
Research Associate.
Drell, Sidney D. (Sidney David), 1926-
Obtained MA, PhD in 1949 (Physics), and Research Associate.
Drickamer, H. G. (Harry George), 1918-2002
Professor of Physics and Professor Emeritus of Physics.
Professor of Physics.
Research Assistant Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Member, Center for Advanced Study; Emeritus Professor of Physics, Chemistry, and Biophysics.
Research Associate; Associate Professor; Professor of Physics; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Professor of Physics; Swanlund Professor of Physics; Leader, Biocomplexity Theme, Institute for Genomic Biology.
Research Physicist and Special Research Assistant Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.
Professor of Physics and Swandlund Professor of Physics.
Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-
Received MS in 1947 and PhD in 1949. Research Associate.
Haworth, Leland J. (Leland John), 1904-
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.
Professor of Physics; Director and Co-Director, Nuclear Physics Laboratory; and Adjunct Professor.
Jackson, John David, 1925-2016
Associate Professor of Physics and Professor of Physics.
Jones, Lorella M., 1943-
First woman to receive tenure in the the department.
Josephson, B. D. (Brian David), 1940-
Research Assistant Professor.
Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.
Kerst, Donald William, 1911-1993
Instructor to Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor to Professor of Physics; Director, Science and Technology Center for Superconductivity; Professor of Physics, Center for Advanced Study; and Professor of Physics Emeritus, Center for Advanced Study.
Kruger, P. Gerald (Peter Gerald), 1902-
Along with his students build the world's third cyclotron.
Instructor; Assistant Professor; Associate Professor; Professor; and Professor Emeritus.
Research Associate and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Professor of Physics.
Research Associate.
Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976
Professor of Physics; Head of Department; Director, Control Systems Laboratory; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Low, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1921-2007
Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics.
Post-doctoral Research Associate.
Assistant Professor.
Received PhD in 1964. Professor of Physics.
Meyerhof, Walter E. (Walter Ernst), 1922-
Assistant Professor of Physics.
Instructor in Physics.
Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics.
Overhauser, Albert Warner, 1925-
Research Associate.
Research Associate; Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; and Professor of Physics.
Perdekamp, Matthias Grosse, 1963-
Department head.
Research Assistant Professor; Professor of Physics; Research Professor of Physics; and Professor Emeritus of Physics.
Associate in Physics.
Schrieffer, J. R. (John Robert), 1931-
Received MS (1954) and PhD (1957); and Assistant Professor to Associate Professor.
Visiting Professor.
Research Professor of Physics; Head, Department of Physics; Dean, Graduate College and Vice President, Research; Director, Control Systems Laboratory; and Technical Director, Control Systems Laboratory.
Assistant Professor and Associate Professor.
Received PhD (1957). Research Associate; Assistant Professor to Associate Professor; Professor of Physics; Department Chair; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Instructor; Assistant Professor; Associate Professor; Professor of Physics; and Professor Emeritus of Physics.
Acting Assistant Professor of Physics; Assistant Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Physics; Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, Loomis Laboratory of Physics; Professor of Physics; Department Head; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Tape, Gerald Frederick, 1915-2005
Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics.
Assistant Professor to Professor of Physics and Head, Department of Physics.
Instructor to Professor of Physics.
Received PhD in 1965.
Received MS in 1970 and PhD in 1975.
Received AM in 1949 and PhD in 1952.
Received BS, MS, and PhD (Physics) in 1969.
Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-
Received AM and PhD (Physics) in 1932.
Received MS and PhD (Physics) in 1936.
Received MS and PhD (Physics) in 1957.
Received PhD (1970) and Visitor.
Received MS (1974) and PhD in Physics (1978).
Received B.Sc. in physics.
Axel, Peter, 1923-1983
Bassani, G. F. (Giuseppe Franco), 1929-
Carruthers, George R.
Chiarotti, Gianfranco
Coltman, John Wesley, 1915-2010
Compton, W. Dale
Emery, K. O. (Kenneth Orvis), 1914-1998
Fumi, F.
Geesaman, Donald F.
Goldstein, Ladislas
Handler, Paul
Hellwarth, Robert Willis, 1930-2021
Hill, R. D. (Robert Dickson), 1913-
Koch, Herman William, 1920-
Kunz, Jacob, 1874-1938
Lavatelli, Leo Silvio
Received MS in 1959.
Lyman, Ernest McIntosh, 1910-1990
Maurer, Robert Joseph, 1913-
Ohkawa, Tihiro
Oppenheimer, Frank, 1912-1985
Sard, R. D., 1915-
Welton, Theodore Allen, 1918-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Established and endowed chair position at the department.
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics
Participated the the study of multi-institutional collaborations.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
General Electric Company. Research Laboratory
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
Faculty skits, 1963-1973.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Frontiers in Condensed Matter Physics symposium [sound recording], 1976.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Highlights in the History of the Physics Department in the University of Illinois (1868-1968), 1967.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
New horizons in physics: a celebration on the occasion of John Bardeen's 80th birthday [sound recording], 1988.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Pages from catalog listing faculty of Physics Department, 1946-1947.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Bardeen Quadrangle dedication ceremony [videorecording], 2004 October 14.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics centennial history file, 1990-1991.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics course notebooks, 1935-1946.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics records, 1907-1992.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Physics Department reading files, 1925-2006.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Physics Department subject file, 1925-2006.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Charles B. Duke career highlights [autobiographical materials], 1959-2006.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Color Centers in Alkali Halides Symposium records, 1965 October 11-13.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
David Lazarus papers, 1945-1987.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Donald M. Ginsberg papers, 1959-1997.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
F. W. Loomis papers, 1920-1976.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Frederick Seitz biographical notes for London meeting, 1979.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Frederick Seitz papers, 1935-1965.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Harry G. Drickamer response to History of Geophysics Survey, 1997.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
John David Jackson papers, 1949-2000.
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA
Kenneth O. Emery response to History of Geophysics Survey, 1997.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Ladislas Goldstein papers, 1947-1972.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Leo S. Lavatelli papers, 1940-1978.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Oral history interview with Albert Warner Overhauser, 1982 February 22.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Charles B. Duke, 2007 January 23.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Charles P. Slichter, 1977 April 29.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Charles Pence Slichter, 1982 January 29.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Charles Slichter, 2005 March 26.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with David Lazarus, 1981 December 4.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Donald F. Geesaman, 2013 July 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Ernest Lyman, 1982 November 18.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Erwin Louis Hahn, 1986 August 21.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Fausto Gherardo Fumi, 1982 November 27.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Frank Oppenheimer, 1973 February 9 and May 21.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Frederick Seitz, 1981 January 26, 27, March 24 and 1982 March 16.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Frederick Seitz, 1982 October 6 and 7.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with George Carruthers, 1992 August 18.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Gianfranco Chiarotti, 1983 January 20.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Giuseppe Bassani, 1982 December 9.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Herman William Koch, 1986 September 16 to 11 October 1987.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with John Coltman, 2004 June 30.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Maurice Goldhaber, 1967 January 10.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Murray Gell-Mann, 1997 July 17 and 18.
Institute Archives
California Institute of Technology
1201 East California Blvd. (Mail Code 015A-74), Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Oral history interview with Norman Ramsey, 1978 December 19, 1979 January 5 and 18.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Philip Morrison, 1967 February 7.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Philip Morrison, 2003 February 22 and August 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with R. J. Holt, 2013 July 16.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Dickson Hill, 2000 July 3.
Manuscripts Section
National Library of Australia
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia
Oral history interview with Robert Joseph Maurer, 1981 March 10 and 15.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Serber, 1967 February 10.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Robert Willis Hellwarth, 1985 May 28.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Sidney D. Drell, 1986 July 1.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Tihiro Ohkawa, 2006 May 23.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Walter Dale Compton, 1982 April 20.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Paul Handler papers, 1955-1995.
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
University Archives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Robert D. Sard scientific memoirs (1946-1972), 1993.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Student notes from Kunz's lectures on electron theory given at the University of Illinois, circa 1913.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Theodore Welton memories, circa 1984.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Wendell Hinkle Furry papers, circa 1927-1985.
Archives. Pusey Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
A collection of Professor John Bardeen's publications on semiconductors and superconductivity.