Henry Askew Barton

Biography

Abstract

Henry A. Barton (1898-1983) received his BS, EE, MA, and PhD from Princeton University. Barton served as the first Director of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) from 1931-1957 and as Associate Director from 1957-1963. Under Barton's direction AIP became an influential scientific organization that promotes physics and publishes numerous journals.

Important Dates

June 27, 1898Birth, Pittsburgh (Pa.).

1915 – 1916Studied electrical engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1916 – 1921Obtained BS (1919) and EE (1921), Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1921 – 1923Employed at American Telephone and Telegraph Company.

1923 – 1925Obtained MA (1924) and PhD (1925) in physics, Princeton University, Princeton (N.J.).

1925 – 1927Fellow, National Research Council, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1927 – 1929Fellow, Bartol Research Foundation.

1929 – 1931Assistant Professor of Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1931 – 1957Founding Director, American Institute of Physics, New York (N.Y.).

1942 – 1945Consultant, National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, War Manpower Commission.

1957 – 1963Associate Director, American Institute of Physics, New York (N.Y.).

1958President, Scientific Manpower Commission.

1964Awarded Karl Taylor Compton Medal, American Institute of Physics (AIP).

October 11, 1983Death, Greensboro (Vt. : Town).

Occupation

Ionization and radiation physicist.

Places

Birth

Pittsburgh (Pa.)

Undergraduate Education

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Princeton (N.J.)

Graduate Education

Princeton (N.J.)

Employment

Cambridge (Mass.)

Ithaca (N.Y.)

New York (N.Y.)

Death

Greensboro (Vt. : Town)

Subjects

Atoms.

Electrical engineering.

Ionization of gases.

Physics -- Public relations.

Physics -- Societies, etc.

X-rays.

Citations

From the Oral History Interview with Henry A. Barton, Niels Bohr Library & Archives.

Relationships

People

Family

Barton, Caroline Askew.

Mother.

Barton, Henry L.

Father.

Barton, Jenneke

Daughter.

Barton, Joan

Daughter.

Barton, May Vreeland.

Wife, married May 25, 1933.

Thomas, Catherine Barton

Sister.

Advisors & Collaborators

Buffum, William W.

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

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

PhD Advisor at Princeton University and collaborated to found the American Institute of Physics (AIP).

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

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

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

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

Harnwell, G. P. (Gaylord Probasco), 1903-1982

Co-wrote the article "Analysis of Positive Ions Emitted by a New Source."

Jenkins, Francis A. (Francis Arthur), 1899-1960

Co-wrote the article "The Beta Bands of Nitric Oxide. I. Measurements and Quantum Analysis."

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

Collaborated in founding of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).

Kunsman, C. H. (Charles Henry), 1890-

Co-wrote the article "Analysis of Positive Ions Emitted by a New Source."

Mueller, Donald D., 1933-

Collaborated on various experiments.

Mulliken, Robert Sanderson

Co-wrote the article "The Beta Bands of Nitric Oxide. I. Measurements and Quantum Analysis."

Pegram, George Braxton, 1876-1958

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

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

Collaborated on experiments in x-rays and both taught at Cornell University.

Smyth, Henry De Wolf, 1898-1986

PhD advisor at Princeton University in physics.

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

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

Van Atta, Lester C. (Lester Clare), 1905-

Co-wrote the article "A New Design for a High-Voltage Discharge Tube."

Van de Graaf, Robert Jemison, 1901-1967

Co-wrote the article "A New Design for a High-Voltage Discharge Tube."

Colleagues

Bainbridge, Kenneth T. (Kenneth Tompkins), 1904-1996

Both employed at Bartol Research Foundation.

Gibbs, R. C. (Roswell Clifton), 1878-

Both employed at Cornell University.

Hutchisson, Elmer, 1902-

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

Kelly, William C.

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

Kemble, Edwin C. (Edwin Crawford), 1889-

Both employed at Harvard University (NRC fellowship).

Lyman, Theodore, 1874-1954

Both employed at Harvard University (NRC fellowship).

Merritt, Ernest, 1865-1948

Both employed at Cornell University.

Mitchell, Madeline

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

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

Both employed at Harvard University (NRC fellowship).

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

Both employed at Bartol Research Foundation.

Vorburger, T. V. (Theodore V.)

Both employed at American Institute of Physics (AIP).

Waterfall, Wallace, 1900-1974

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

Additional

Adams, Edwin P. (Edwin Plimpton), 1878-

Aston, Francis William, 1877-1945

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

Condon, Edward Uhler, 1902-1974

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

Ellis, C. D. (Charles Drummond), 1895-1980

Harrison, George Russell, 1898-1979

Kaempffert, Waldemar, 1877-1956

Loomis, Alfred L. (Alfred Lee), 1887-1975

Magie, William Francis, 1858-1943

Millikan, Robert Andrews, 1868-1953

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Planck, Max, 1858-1947

Russell, Henry Norris, 1877-1957

Sawyer, Ralph A. (Ralph Alanson), 1895-1978

Seitz, Frederick, 1911-2008

Wente, Edward Christopher

Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995

Institutions

Major Positions

American Institute of Physics

Founding Director and Associate Director.

American Telephone and Telegraph Company

Engineer.

Bartol Research Foundation

Fellow.

Cornell University. Department of Physics

Assistant Professor of Physics.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

National Research Council fellow.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Acoustical Society of America

American Association of Physics Teachers

Founding member.

American Physical Society

Cosmos Club (Washington, D.C.)

International Union of Pure and Applied Physics

Secretary to the U.S. National Committee.

Nassau Club (Princeton, N.J.)

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

National Research Council (U.S.)

Founder and Director, Office of Scientific Personnel. Vice-Chairman, Division of Physical Sciences.

Optical Society of America

Phi Beta Kappa

Princeton Bank and Trust Company

Princeton University. Department of Physics

Obtained BS, EE, MA, and PhD

Scientific Manpower Commission

President.

Society of Rheology (U.S.)

Society of the Sigma Xi

University Club (New York, N.Y.)

University of Michigan. Department of Physics

Transferred after one year of study.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

AIP Education Division records of William Kelly and Henry Barton, 1958-1965.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

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

Henry Barton letter to William Kelly, 1965.

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

Sessions from 5th annual meeting of Corporate Associates [sound recording], 1962 September.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Acoustical Society of America Office of the President records of Edward Christopher Wente, 1929-1946.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

AIP Office of the Director records of Elmer Hutchisson, 1948-1966, (bulk 1957-1964).

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

AIP Office of the Secretary records, circa 1950-1990.

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

Homer L. Dodge papers, 1852-1994 (bulk 1910-1960).

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Journal of Chemical Physics records, 1938-1957.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Max Planck correspondence, 1919-1948.

Library

American Philosophical Society

105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA

Oral history interview with Paul E. Klopsteg, 1970 March 31.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Henry A. Barton Physics Today obituary