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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsCitations

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

Frederic Palmer

Photo

Dates

October 17, 1878 – April 19, 1967

Authorized Form of Name

Palmer, Frederic, 1878-1967

Biography

Abstract

Physicist (spectroscopy). On physics faculty at Haverford College from 1904; physicist, Franklin Institute, 1945-1958; and president, American Association of Physics Teachers, 1933-1935.

Important Dates

October 17, 1878Birth, Andover (Mass.).

1900Mathematics teacher, Asheville School (Asheville, N. C.).

1900Obtained BA, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1901 – 1903Mathematics and physics teacher, Worcester Academy, Worcester (Mass.).

1904Obtained MS, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1904 – 1945Instructor in Physics, Associate Professor and Dean (1908) and full Professor (1916), Haverford College, Haverford (Pa. : Township).

1905Member, expedition from Lick Observatory to oberserve total eclipse of the sun in Spain.

1913Obtained PhD, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1930Participated in luncheon to form the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).

1931 – 1935Vice President (1931-1933) and President (1933-1935), American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).

1932 – 1941Member, American Institute of Physics (AIP) Governing Board.

1945 – 1946Employed by National Defense Research Committee.

1945 – 1967Physicist, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia (Pa.).

April 19, 1967Death, Bryn Mawr (Pa.).

Occupation

Physics educator.

Places

Birth

Andover (Mass.)

Undergraduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Employment

Worcester (Mass.)

Haverford (Pa. : Township)

Philadelphia (Pa.)

Death

Bryn Mawr (Pa.)

Subjects

Physics -- Societies, etc.

Physics -- Study and teaching.

Physics -- Teaching demonstrations.

Teaching -- Methodology.

Citations

Frederic Palmer autobiography, Niels Bohr Library & Archives.

Relationships

People

Family

Fox, Mary Clark

Second wife, married in 1950.

Palmer, Frederic, D. D.

Father.

Palmer, Frederic, III

Son.

Palmer, Helen Wallace

Daughter.

Wallace, Helen, -1949

First wife, married in 1907. She passed away in 1949.

Advisors & Collaborators

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

States, M. N. (Marshall Ney)

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

Webb, William S. (William Snyder), 1882-1964

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

Weld, Le Roy D. (Le Roy Dougherty), 1880-

Co-wrote "A Textbook of Modern Physics."

Colleagues

Sutton, Richard Manliffe, 1900-1966

Both employed at Haverford College.

Additional

Cope, Thomas D. (Thomas Darlington)

Farwell, Hermon W.

Ives, Herbert Eugene, 1882-1953

Lapp, C. J. (Claude Jerome), 1892-

Roller, Duane E. (Duane Emerson), 1894-1965

Webster, David Locke, 1888-1976

Attended Harvard together and both held office in the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT).

Zeleny, Anthony, 1870-1947

Institutions

Major Positions

Asheville School (Asheville, N.C.).

Mathematics teacher.

Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Physicist.

Haverford College

Instructor in Physics, Associate Professor, Dean, and full Professor.

United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. National Defense Research Committee

Worcester Academy (Worcester, Mass.).

Mathematics and physics teacher.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Association of Physics Teachers

Founding member, Vice President and President.

American Institute of Physics

Member, Governing Board and signed Certificate of Incorporation.

American Physical Society

Fellow.

Harvard University. Department of Physics

Obtained B.A. (1900), M.S. (1904), and Ph.D. (1913).

Physics Club of Philadelphia.

President.

Wellfleet Historical Society (Wellfleet, Mass.)

President.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Frederic Palmer autobiography, circa 1965.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Frederic Palmer lecture notebooks, 1940-1941.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Frederic Palmer, Jr., 1963 January 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Reminiscences of Frederic Palmer : oral history, 1963.

Oral History Research Office

Columbia University

Box 20, Room 801 Butler Library, New York, NY 10027, USA

Subject

American Association of Physics Teachers records of David Locke Webster, 1930-1958.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with David Locke Webster, 1963 January 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Marshall Ney States, 1963 January 27.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

A textbook of modern physics

Subject

Frederick Palmer Jr. Physics Today obituary