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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

William W. Coblentz

Photo

Dates

November 20, 1873 – September 15, 1962

Authorized Form of Name

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

Additional Forms of Names

Coblentz, William W.

Coblentz, William Weber, 1873-1962

Biography

Abstract

William W. Coblentz is known for his pioneering work in the field of infrared spectroscopy and his application of radiometry to astronomical problems. His institutional affiliations include Cornell University and the National Bureau of Standards.

Important Dates

November 20, 1873Birth, Mahoning County (Ohio).

1900Obtained BS, Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland (Ohio).

1901Obtained AM, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1903Obtained PhD, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1903 – 1905Carnegie Fellow, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1905 – 1962Physicist (1905-1945) and Consulting Physicist (1945-1962), National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg (Md.).

1930Member, National Academy of Sciences.

September 15, 1962Death, Washington (D.C.).

Occupation

Spectroscopist.

Places

Birth

Mahoning County (Ohio)

Undergraduate Education

Cleveland (Ohio)

Graduate Education

Ithaca (N.Y.)

Employment

Gaithersburg (Md.)

Death

Washington (D.C.)

Subjects

Absorption spectra.

Infrared spectroscopy.

Radiation.

Radio astronomy.

Solar eclipses.

Relationships

People

Family

Coblentz, Catherine Cate

Wife.

Coblentz, Oscar

Brother.

Colleagues

Berkner, Lloyd V. (Lloyd Viel), 1905-1967

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Branscomb, Lewis M., 1926-

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Brattain, Walter H. (Walter Houser), 1902-1987

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Brode, Robert B. (Robert Bigham), 1900-1986

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Condon, Edward Uhler, 1902-1974

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

DuMond, Jesse W. M. (Jesse William Monroe), 1892-1976

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Dunn, G. H. (Gordon H.), 1932-

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Fano, Ugo

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Forbush, Scott E., 1904-1984

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Hall, J. L. (John L.), 1934-

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Hofstadter, Robert, 1915-1990

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Ives, Herbert Eugene, 1882-1953

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Klebanoff, P. S.

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Laporte, Otto, 1902-1971

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Lauritsen, Thomas, 1915-1973

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

McLean, William B. (William Burdette), 1914-1976

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Merritt, Ernest, 1865-1948

Both employed at Cornell University.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Schriesheim, Alan

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Schubauer, Galen B. (Galen Brandt), 1904-

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

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

Both employed at the National Bureau of Standards.

Additional

Pettit, Edison, 1889-1962

Plyler, Earle Keith, 1897-1976

Institutions

Major Positions

United States. National Bureau of Standards

Physicist and Consulting Physicist.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Physical Society

Case School of Applied Science

Obtained BS in 1900.

Cornell University. Department of Physics

Obtained AM in 1901 and PhD in 1903 and Carnegie Fellow.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

Optical Society of America

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

William W. Coblentz papers, 1884-1960.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

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

Subject

Edison Pettit papers, 1920-1946.

Henry E. Huntington Library

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108, USA

Material collected on William W. Coblentz for article to commemorate the centenary of his birth, 1944-1973.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Earle Plyler, 1964 April 7.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Papers of physicists and astronomers in Hoover Library, 1918-1965.

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

West Branch, IA 52358, USA

William F. Meggers addition to papers, 1870-1973 (bulk 1906-1966).

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

From the life of a researcher.

Investigations of infra-red spectra.

Man's place in a superphysical world.

Subject

William W. Coblentz Physics Today obituary.

William Weber Coblentz: 1873-1962, Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences.