Robert B. Brode

Biography

Abstract

Robert Bigham Brode was a Professor of Physics and the Director of the University of California at Berkeley's Space Science Laboratory (1927-1967). During World War II, he led the Manhattan Project's Fuse Development Group at Los Alamos that developed the fuses used in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Important Dates

June 12, 1900Birth, Walla Walla (Wash.).

1921Obtained BSc, Whitman College, Walla Walla (Wash.).

1924Obtained PhD in Physics, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).

1924Associate Physicist, National Bureau of Standards.

1924 – 1925Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University.

1925 – 1926National Research Fellow in Physics, University of Göttingen.

1926 – 1927National Research Fellow in Physics, Princeton University.

1927 – 1986Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics (1927-1932); Professor of Physics (1932-1967); Acting Director, Space Science Laboratory (1964-1965); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1967-1986), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1932Visiting Associate Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1934 – 1935Guggenheim Fellow, University of London.

1934 – 1935Guggenheim Fellow, Cambridge University.

1941 – 1943Unit Supervisor, Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University.

1943 – 1946Leader, Fuse Development Group, Manhattan Project, Los Alamos Laboratory, Los Alamos (N.M.).

1948 – 1955Chair, Advisory Board, Naval Ordnance Test Station, United States Navy.

1949Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1951 – 1952Fulbright Fellow, University of Manchester.

1951 – 1957Member, US National Committee, Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA), National Research Council.

1954 – 1960Vice President, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.

1958 – 1959Associate Director of Research, National Science Foundation.

1962 – 1965Chair, Committee on Physics Faculties in Colleges, American Association of Physics Teachers.

February 19, 1986Death, Berkeley (Calif.).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Birth

Walla Walla (Wash.)

Undergraduate Education

Walla Walla (Wash.)

Graduate Education

Pasadena (Calif.)

Employment

Berkeley (Calif.)

Los Alamos (N.M.)

Death

Berkeley (Calif.)

Subjects

Cloud chamber.

Cosmic rays.

Electrons.

Muons.

Nuclear physics.

Proximity fuzes.

Relationships

People

Family

Brode, Bernice Hedley Bidwell

Wife.

Brode, Wallace R. (Wallace Reed), 1900-1974

Brother.

Colleagues

Abrahams, Elihu

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Allison, Samuel King, 1900-1965

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Appelbaum, J. A. (Joel A.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Bardeen, James Maxwell, 1939-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Baym, Gordon

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bialek, William S.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Birch, Francis, 1903-1992

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Bonbrake, Lawrence

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Bradbury, Norris, 1909-1997

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Briggs, Lyman J. (Lyman James), 1874-1963

Both employed at National Bureau of Standards.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Coblentz, William W. (William Weber), 1873-1962

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Cohen, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Commins, Eugene D.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at Princeton University.

Cornog, Robert A.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Corson, Dale R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Critchfield, Charles Louis, 1910-

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Davidson, Ronald C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Deser, S. (Stanley)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Dryden, Hugh L. (Hugh Latimer), 1898-1965

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Eisenhart, Luther Pfahler, 1876-1965

Both employed at Princeton University.

Emery, V. J. (Victor J.)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Esterline, P.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Falcone, Roger W.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Fetter, Alexander L., 1937-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Freedman, Daniel Z.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Gaillard, Mary K.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Glaser, D. A.

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.

Heeger, Alan J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hirschfelder, Joseph Oakland, 1911-

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Hittell, J. L.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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.

Kistiakowsky, George B. (George Bogdan), 1900-1982

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Kittel, Charles

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 the National Bureau of Standards.

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Livingston, M. Stanley (Milton Stanley)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Lockridge, R. W.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Louie, Steven G., 1949-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project and University of California, Berkeley.

Meggers, William F. (William Frederick), 1888-1966

Both employed at National Bureau of Standards.

Morse, Philip M. (Philip McCord), 1903-1985

Both employed at Princeton University.

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Neddermeyer, Seth H. (Seth Henry), 1907-1988

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Panofsky, Wolfgang K. H. (Wolfgang Kurt Hermann), 1919-2007

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Parratt, Lyman G. (Lyman George)

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Price, Paul Buford

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ramsey, Norman, 1915-2011

Both employed at Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Richards, Paul L. (Paul Linford)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Sachs, Robert Green, 1916-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Schiff, Leonard I. (Leonard Isaac), 1915-1971

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Schwinger, Julian, 1918-1994

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Serber, R. (Robert)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Shapiro, Maurice M. (Maurice Mandel), 1915-

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

Shen, Y. R.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Smyth, Henry De Wolf, 1898-1986

Both employed at Princeton University.

Steinberger, J.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stevens, W. A.

Both employed at the Los Alamos Laboratory, Manhattan Project.

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.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Weinberg, Steven, 1933-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Wick, G. C. (Gian Carlo)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Zumino, B. (Bruno), 1923-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Additional

Fretter, William B.

Judd, David L.

Livingood, John J. (John Jacob), 1903-

Loomis, F. W. (Francis Wheeler), 1889-1976

Institutions

Major Positions

Johns Hopkins University. Applied Physics Laboratory

Unit Supervisor.

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Leader, Fuse Development Group, Manhattan Project.

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Leader, Fuse Development Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics

Visiting Associate Professor.

United States. National Bureau of Standards

Associate Physicist.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Assistant Professor to Associate Professor of Physics, Professor of Physics, and Emeritus Professor of Physics.

University of California, Berkeley. Space Sciences Laboratory

Acting Director.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Academy of Arts and Sciences

American Association of Physics Teachers

Chair, Committee on Physics Faculties in Colleges.

American Association of University Professors

Vice president.

American Physical Society

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

Obtained PhD in Physics (1924).

International Union of Pure and Applied Physics

Vice President.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

National Research Council (U.S.)

Member, US National Committee, Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA).

National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Associate Director of Research.

Naval Ordnance Test Station (Inyokern, Calif.)

Chair, Advisory Board.

Princeton University. Department of Physics

National Research Fellow in Physics.

Universität Göttingen

National Research Fellow in Physics.

University of Cambridge

Guggenheim Fellow.

University of London

Guggenheim Fellow.

University of Manchester

Fulbright Fellow.

University of Oxford

Rhodes Scholar.

Whitman College

Obtained BSc (1921).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy records, 1953-1974.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Robert Bigham Brode papers, circa 1930-1959.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Subject

F. W. Loomis papers, 1920-1976.

University Archives

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1408 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA

Oral history interview with John J. Livingood, 1977 May 16.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with John J. Livingood, 1977 May 16. Big machine physics at Berkeley, Harvard and Argonne: oral history transcript / John J. Livingood; tape recorded interview conducted by Arthur Norberg on May 16, 1977. History of Science and Technology Program, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, California, 1982.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Wallace R. Brode papers, 1901-1974 (bulk 1928-1969).

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Robert Bigham Brode Physics Today obituary.

Robert Bigham Brode: 1900-1986, Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences