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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as Subject

David M. Dennison

Photo

Dates

April 26, 1900 – April 3, 1976

Authorized Form of Name

Dennison, David M. (David Mathias), 1900-1976

Additional Forms of Names

Dennison, David M.

Dennison, David Mathias

Biography

Abstract

David M. Dennison was a Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (1927-1976). His research interests included quantum theory, molecular theory, and infrared spectroscopy.

Important Dates

April 26, 1900Birth, Oberlin (Ohio).

1921Obtained AB, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore (Pa.).

1924Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1924 – 1926International Education Board Fellow, Institute for Theoretical Physics (Niels Bohr Institute).

1926 – 1927International Education Board Fellow, Cambridge University.

1926 – 1927International Education Board Fellow, University of Zurich.

1926 – 1927International Education Board Fellow, Institute for Theoretical Physics (Niels Bohr Institute).

1927 – 1976Instructor in Physics (1927-1928); Assistant Professor of Physics (1928-1930); Associate Professor of Physics (1930-1935); Professor of Physics (1935-1966); Chair, Department of Physics (1955-1965); Harrison M. Randall University Professor (1966-1970); and Professor Emeritus (1970-1976), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1940Guggenheim Fellow, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (Calif.).

1953Member, National Academy of Sciences.

April 3, 1976Death.

Occupation

Theoretical physicist.

Places

Birth

Oberlin (Ohio)

Undergraduate Education

Swarthmore (Pa.)

Graduate Education

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Employment

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Subjects

Atomic theory.

Infrared spectroscopy.

Molecular theory.

Nuclear physics.

Quantum theory.

Theoretical physics.

Relationships

People

Advisors & Collaborators

Foley, Henry Michael, 1917-1982

Advised by Dennison at University of Michigan.

Randall, Harrison M. (Harrison McAllister), 1870-

Ph.D. advisor at University of Michigan on The molecular structure and infra-red spectrum of methane. Both employed at University of Michigan.

Colleagues

Case, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Crane, H. R. (Horace Richard), 1907-2007

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Edwards, David F. (David Franklin)

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Ehrlich, Gert

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Glaser, D. A.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Goudsmit, Samuel A. (Samuel Abraham), 1902-1978

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Laporte, Otto, 1902-1971

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Luttinger, Joaquin M.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Perl, Martin L., 1927-2014

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Satchler, G. R. (George Raymond)

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Trilling, George H.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Uhlenbeck, George Eugène, 1900-1988

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Wilkinson, David T.

Both employed at University of Michigan.

Additional

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

Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

Colby, Walter F. (Walter Francis), 1880-

Dirac, P. A. M. (Paul Adrien Maurice), 1902-1984

Heisenberg, Werner, 1901-1976

Hull, Albert Wallace, 1880-1966

Hund, Friedrich, 1896-1997

Koehler, James Frederic

Langmuir, Irving, 1881-1957

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Lorentz, H. A. (Hendrik Antoon), 1853-1928

Pauli, Wolfgang, 1900-1958

Schrödinger, Erwin, 1887-1961

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

Thomas, Llewellyn Hilleth, 1903-1992

Van Vleck, J. H. (John Hasbrouck), 1899-1980

Institutions

Major Positions

University of Michigan. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (Physics); Instructor; Assistant Professor; Associate Professor; Professor; Department Chair; Harrison M. Randall University Professor; and Professor Emeritus.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

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

Guggenheim Fellow.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

National Research Council (U.S.)

Niels Bohr institutet

International Education Board Fellow.

Swarthmore College

Obtained AB.

Universitat Zurich

International Education Board Fellow.

University of Cambridge

International Education Board Fellow.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

David M. Dennison papers, circa 1927-1976.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Eulogies for Harrison McAllister Randall, 1969.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Informal moments, Summer Symposia at the University of Michigan [motion picture] / taken by David Dennison ; 1933-1937.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with David Mathias Dennison, 1964 January 27, 28 and 30.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Physics and the [University of Michigan] Department of Physics since 1900--Definitions and Reflections, 1967.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Reminiscences of H. R. Crane and David Dennison about the history of the VT fuze [sound recording], circa 1975.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

David M. Gates student notebooks, 1940-1946.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Harry E. Moses student notebooks, 1943-1947.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

International Congress for Physics [motion picture] / photographed by Heinrich Medicus.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Joint session of the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers [sound recording] : History of physics ; 1974 February 6.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Niels Bohr material collected elsewhere, 1912-1962.

Niels Bohr Archive

Blegdamsvej 17, Copenhagen, Denmark

Oral history interview with Friedrich Hund, 1963 June 25 and 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with H. R. Crane, 1973 March 28 and 1974 June 18.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Harrison M. Randall, 1964 February 19, 20 and 1965 June 21.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with J. H. Van Vleck, 1963 October 2 and 4.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with James Stark Koehler, 1981 March 6.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Llewellyn Hilleth Thomas, 1962 May 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Werner Heisenberg, 1962 November 30, 1963 February 7, 11, 13, 15, 19, 22, 25, 27, 28 and 1963 July 5, 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

The University of Michigan Department of Physics, 1843-1944, 1944.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Walter F. Colby papers, 1924-1970.

Bentley Historical Library

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2113, USA

Published Resources

Subject

"David Mathias Dennison: 1900-1976", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences

David M. Dennison Physics Today obituary.