George Braxton Pegram

Biography

Abstract

Nuclear physicist, Professor of Physics (1916-1958), and Dean of Graduate Faculties at Columbia University.

Important Dates

October 24, 1876Birth, Randolph County (N.C.).

1895Obtained AB, Trinity College, Durham (N.C.).

1895 – 1899Worked as high school teacher.

1899 – 1950Instructor (1899-1900; 1905-1909), Assistant in physics (1900-1902), Tutor (1902-1905), Adjunct Professor (1909-1913), Associate Professor (1913-1916), Professor of Physics (1916-1950), Chair of Physics Department (1911-1945), Dean of Faculty of Applied Science (1917-1930), Acting Dean of the Graduate School (1936), Dean of the Graduate School (1937-1949), and Vice President (1949-1950), Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1902 – 1906Magnetic observer, United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.

1903Obtained PhD, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1917Member, New York Committee on submarine detection, National Research Council.

1917 – 1949Treasurer (1917-1949) and President (1925), Sigma Xi.

1918Organized the Student Army Training Corps, Columbia University.

1918 – 1957Treasurer, American Physical Society (APS).

1929Awarded honorary Doctor of Science, Columbia University.

1930President, Association of University Presidents.

1938Vice President, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

1940 – 1941Vice Chair, Committee on Uranium, National Defense Research Committee.

1941President, American Physical Society (APS).

1941 – 1942Vice Chair, Section on Uranium, Office of Scientific Research and Development.

1941 – 1945Chair, Division of War Research, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1944 – 1954Chairman, Anglo-American-Hellenic Bureau of Education.

1948 – 1950Recording Secretary and Vice President, New York Academy of Sciences.

1949Elected member, National Academy of Sciences.

1950 – 1958Emeritus Vice President and special adviser to the President, Columbia University, New York (N.Y.).

1952President, New York Academy of Sciences.

October 26, 1956Awarded Gold Cross, Greece government.

1957Awarded Karl Taylor Compton Medal, American Institute of Physics (AIP).

August 12, 1958Death, Swarthmore (Pa.).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Birth

Randolph County (N.C.)

Undergraduate Education

Durham (N.C.)

Graduate Education

New York (N.Y.)

Employment

New York (N.Y.)

Death

Swarthmore (Pa.)

Subjects

Nuclear fission.

Citations

From the biographical memoir of George Braxton Pegram, written by Lee Anna Embrey for the National Academy of Sciences.

Relationships

People

Family

Craven, B. (Braxton), 1822-1882

Grandfather.

Pegram, Annie McKinnie

Sister.

Pegram, Emma

Mother.

Pegram, Florence Bement

Wife, married June 1909.

Pegram, John

Son.

Pegram, W. H. (William Howell), 1846-1928

Father.

Pegram, William

Son.

Advisors & Collaborators

Barton, Henry Askew, 1898-1983

Collaborated to found the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

Dunning, John R. (John Ray), 1907-1975

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Farwell, Hermon W.

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Klopsteg, Paul E. (Paul Ernest), 1889-

Collaborated in founding the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

Morecroft, John H. (John Harold), 1881-1934

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Pupin, Michael, 1858-1935

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Wills, A .P.

Collaborated on experiments at Columbia University.

Colleagues

Allison, Samuel King, 1900-1965

Both employed at the Office of Scientific Research and Development.

Anderson, Herbert Lawrence

Both employed at Columbia University.

Bacher, Robert F. (Robert Fox), 1905-2004

Both employed at Columbia University.

Booth, Eugene

Both employed at Columbia University.

Breit, Gregory, 1899-1981

Both worked on the Technical Subcommittee, Advisory Committee on Uranium.

Brown, Harold, 1927-2019

Both employed at Columbia University.

Davis, Bergen, 1869-1958

Both employed at Columbia University.

Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954

Both employed at Columbia University; Pegram helped bring Fermi to the school.

Fletcher, Harvey, 1884-1981

Both employed at Columbia University.

Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982

Both employed at Columbia University.

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at Columbia University.

Grosse, Aristid von, 1905-1985

Both employed at Columbia University.

Hayner, Lucy Julia, 1898-1971

Both employed at Columbia University.

Henley, Ernest M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Hughes, Vernon W.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Hutchisson, Elmer, 1902-

Both employed at the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

Javan, Ali, 1926-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kinoshita, T. (Toichiro)

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kraichnan, Robert H., 1928-2008

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kroll, Norman Myles, 1922-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Kusch, Polykarp, 1911-1993

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lamb, Willis E. (Willis Eugene), 1913-2008

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lederman, Leon M.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Low, Francis E. (Francis Eugene), 1921-2007

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mayer, Joseph Edward, 1904-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Mayer, Maria Goeppert, 1906-1972

Pegram arranged for Goeppert-Mayer to have an office at Columbia University even though she was not a paid employee.

Mindlin, Raymond D. (Raymond David), 1906-1987

Both employed at Columbia University.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at Columbia University.

Pekeris, C. L. (Chaim Leib), 1908-1993

Both employed at Columbia University.

Press, Frank, 1924-

Both employed at Columbia University.

Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988

Both employed at Columbia University.

Rainwater, L. James (Leo James), 1917-1986

Both employed at Columbia University.

Ramsey, Norman, 1915-2011

Both employed at Columbia University.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Sachs, Allan M. (Allan Maxwell), 1921-1989

Both employed at Columbia University.

Samios, Nicholas P.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Schawlow, Arthur L., 1921-1999

Both employed at Columbia University.

Serber, R. (Robert)

Both employed at Columbia University.

Steinberger, J.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at Columbia University.

Thomas, Llewellyn Hilleth, 1903-1992

Both employed at Columbia University.

Townes, Charles H.

Both employed at Columbia University.

Wu, C. S. (Chien-shiung), 1912-1997

Both employed at Columbia University.

Additional

Alexander, Jerome, 1876-1959

Bethe, Hans A. (Hans Albrecht), 1906-2005

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

Cockcroft, John, Sir, 1897-1967

Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962

Compton, K. T. (Karl Taylor), 1887-1954

Both members of the American Physical Society (APS) and present at the founding of the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

Condon, Edward Uhler, 1902-1974

Curie, Marie, 1867-1934

Darrow, Karl K. (Karl Kelchner), 1891-

Dodge, Homer L. (Homer Levi), 1887-1983

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955

Ewald, Paul Peter, 1888-1985

Foote, Paul D. (Paul Darwin), 1888-1971

Fortas, Abe

Fowler, R. H. (Ralph Howard), 1889-1994

Havens, William W. (William Westerfield), 1920-2004

Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976

Joliot-Curie, Frédéric

Kowarski, Lew

Ladd-Franklin, Christine, 1847-1930

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Marshak, Robert E. (Robert Eugene), 1916-1992

Student at Columbia University.

Meloney, Marie Mattingly

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Prezzolini, Giuseppe, 1882-1982

Richtmyer, F. K. (Floyd Karker), 1881-1939

Sheean, Vincent, 1899-1975

Shotwell, James T., 1874-1965

Slater, John C. (John Clarke), 1900-1976

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Tate, John T. (John Torrence), 1889-1950

Thomson, J. J. (Joseph John), 1856-1940

Urey, Frieda

Von Neumann, John, 1903-1957

Webb, Harold Worthington, 1884-1974

Institutions

Major Positions

Columbia University

Dean of Faculty of Applied Science, Acting Dean of the Graduate School, Dean of the Graduate School, Vice President, Emeritus Vice President, and special adviser to the President.

Columbia University. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD, Assistant in physics, Tutor, Instructor, Adjunct Professor, Associate Professor, Professor of Physics, and Chair of Physics Department,.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Academy of Political Sciences

Acoustical Society of America

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Vice President.

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Association of University Professors

President.

American Institute of Physics

Secretary, first Governing Board and Treasurer.

American Institute of Radio Engineers

American Philosophical Society

American Physical Society

Treasurer and President.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Anglo-American-Hellenic Bureau of Education

Chairman.

Associated Universities, Inc.

Member, Board of Trustees.

Federation of American Scientists

Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences (U.S.)

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

National Education Association of the United States

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, New York Committee on submarine detection.

New York Academy of Sciences

Recording Secretary, Vice President, and President.

Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies

Member, Board of Trustees.

Society of the Sigma Xi

Treasurer and President.

Trinity College (Durham, N.C.)

Obtained AB

United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development

Vice Chair, Section on Uranium.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

APS Office of the Treasurer records of George B. Pegram, 1926-1957.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

George Braxton Pegram papers, 1903-1958.

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Columbia University

Butler Library, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10027, USA

Sigma Xi correspondence of the treasurer, George B. Pegram, 1940-1942.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

AIP Office of the Director records of Henry A. Barton, 1931-1964.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

AIP Office of the Secretary records, 1931-1994.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

American Physical Society Ohio Section records of the Central Ohio Physics Club, 1926-1946.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Columbia University Department of Physics records, 1870-1983 (bulk 1940-1970).

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Columbia University

Butler Library, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10027, USA

Craven-Pegram family papers, 1785-1966 (bulk 1892-1958).

Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library

Duke University

P.O. Box 90185, Durham, North Carolina, 27708, USA

Hans Bethe papers, circa 1931-1992.

Carl A. Kroch Library. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections

Cornell University

2B Carl A Kroch Library, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA

Harold W. Webb autobiography, circa 1962.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Jerome Alexander correspondence, 1908-1953.

Rare Books and Manuscripts Division

New York Public Library

Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018, USA

John Clarke Slater papers, 1908-1976.

Library

American Philosophical Society

105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Karl Darrow correspondence relating to history of physics, 1943-1968.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Aristid Victor Grosse, 1974 January 11 and April 5.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Elmer Hutchisson, 1970 October 22.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Harold Worthington Webb, 1970 April 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Henry A. Barton, 1970 March 3 and 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Karl K. Darrow, 1964 April 2 and 10 June.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Lew Kowarski, 1974 November 20 and 2 August 1976.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Robert Marshak, 1970 June 15, 16, September 19, and October 4.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with William W. Havens, 1991 February 21, July 17, 29, Augut 5, 12 and 14.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Twenty-fifth anniversary celebration [motion picture].

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

George B. Pegram Physics Today obituary