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PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectKarl F. Herzfeld
Dates
February 24, 1892 – June 3, 1978
Authorized Form of Name
Herzfeld, Karl F. (Karl Ferdinand), 1892-
Additional Forms of Names
Herzfeld, Karl Ferdinand, 1892-
Biography
Abstract
Karl Ferdinand Herzfeld was Emeritus Professor of Physics at Catholic University of America (1936-1978). Other institutional affiliations included Johns Hopkins University and the University of Munich. His research interests included theoretical physics and physical chemistry.
Important Dates
February 24, 1892Birth, Vienna (Austria).
1910 – 1912Studied physics and chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria).
1912 – 1913Studied physics, University of Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland).
1912 – 1913Studied physics, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Zurich, Zurich (Switzerland).
1913Studied physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen (Germany).
1914Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria).
1914 – 1918Officer, Austro-Hungarian Army.
1920 – 1923Privatdozent, University of Munich.
1923 – 1926Extraordinary Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Munich.
1926 – 1936Speyer Visiting Professor (1926) and Professor of Physics (1926-1936), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Md.).
1930 – 1931Lecturer, Cooper Union and Fordham University.
1936 – 1978Professor of Physics (1936-1968); Chair, Department of Physics (1936-1961); and Emeritus Professor of Physics (1968-1978) Catholic University of America, Washington (D.C.).
1941 – 1945Scientist, National Defense Research Committee, United States Navy.
1948Visiting Professor, University of Munich.
1951 – 1972Member, Mine Advisory Committee, National Research Council.
1958Visiting Professor, University of Munich.
1958Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1960Member, National Academy of Sciences.
June 3, 1978Death, Washington (D.C.).
Occupation
Theoretical physicist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Herzfeld, Camilla Herzog
Mother.
Herzog, R. O.
Uncle.
Advisors & Collaborators
Dooling, John Stuart
Advised by Herzfeld at Catholic University of America, "Influence of the Form of the Wave Function on the Energy Value."
Griffing, Virginia Frances
Advised by Herzfeld at Catholic University of America.
Hasenohrl, Friedrich
Advisor at University of Vienna.
Heitler, Walter, 1904-
Advised by Herzfeld at University of Munich, "Zwei Beiträge zur Theorie konzentrierter Lösungen."
Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008
Advised by Herzfeld at Johns Hopkins University.
Colleagues
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Mayer, Maria Goeppert, 1906-1972
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Wood, Robert Williams, 1868-1955
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Additional
Frank, Philipp, 1884-1966
Inglis, David Rittenhouse, 1905-1995
Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981
Von Kármán, Theodore, 1881-1963
Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995
Institutions
Major Positions
Catholic University of America. Department of Physics
Professor of Physics; Chair, Department of Physics; and Emeritus Professor of Physics.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
Lecturer.
Fordham University. Department of Physics
Lecturer.
Johns Hopkins University. Department of Physics
Speyer Visiting Professor and Professor of Physics.
United States. Navy
Scientist, National Defense Research Committee.
Universität München
Privatdozent; Extraordinary Professor of Theoretical Physics; and Visiting Professor.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow.
Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Departement Physik
Studied physics.
Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member.
National Research Council (U.S.)
Member.
Universität Göttingen
Studied physics.
Universität Wien
Studied physics and chemistry; Obtained PhD (Physics) in 1914.
Universitat Zurich
Studied physics.
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
An illustrated history of the Herzfeld family, 1972.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Karl Herzfeld papers, 1886-1974 (bulk 1948-1967).
The American Catholic History Research Center and University Archives.
Catholic University of America.
Washington, DC 20064, USA
Karl Herzfeld papers, 1914-1977.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1962 June 14.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Karl F. Herzfeld, 1978 May 11.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Subject
History of the Search for Gravitational Waves [sound recording], 2017 January 30.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
John A. Wheeler papers, 1880-2008.
Library
American Philosophical Society
105 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
Oral history interview with David Rittenhouse Inglis, 1977 May 9 and 10.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with John Archibald Wheeler, 1967 April 5.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Philipp Frank, 1962 July 16.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Oral history interview with Walter Heitler, 1963 March 18 and 19.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Author
Die Boltzmannsche statistik und ihre modifikation durch die quantentheorie,
Kinetische Theorie der Wärme / von Karl F. Herzfeld.
Müller-Pouillets Lehrbuch der physik.
Subject
"Karl Ferdinand Herzfeld: 1892-1978", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences