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Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as Subject

Herbert F. York

Photo

Dates

November 25, 1921 – May 19, 2009

Authorized Form of Name

York, Herbert F. (Herbert Frank)

Additional Forms of Names

York, Herbert Frank

Biography

Abstract

Herbert York was founding chancellor of the University of San Diego (1961-1964). Other institutional affiliations include University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the United States Department of Defense. York helped to develop the atomic bomb, and later championed for arms control..

Important Dates

November 25, 1921Birth, Rochester (N.Y.).

1942Obtained AB, University of Rochester, Rochester (N.Y.).

1942 – 1943Assistant in Physics, University of Rochester, Rochester (N.Y.).

1943 – 1958Physicist, Radiation Laboratory (1943-1954); Assistant Professor of Physics (1951-1954); and Associate Director, Radiation Laboratory (1954-1958), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1949Obtained PhD in Physics, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley (Calif.).

1952 – 1958Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore (Calif.).

1953 – 1957Member, Science Advisory Board, United States Air Force.

1956 – 1958Member, Science Advisory Panel, United States Army.

1957 – 1958Member, President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

1958 – 1961Chief Scientist, Advanced Research Projects Agency (1958) and Director, Defense Research and Engineering (1958-1961), United States Departmenet of Defense.

1961 – 1972Chancellor (1961-1964); Professor of Physics (1965-1988); Dean, Graduate Studies (1969-1970); and Acting Chancellor (1970-1972), University of California, San Diego, San Diego (Calif.).

1962 – 1969Member, General Committee for Arms Control and Disarmament, United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

1964 – 1967Member, President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

1977 – 1981Senior Consultant to the Secretary of Defense, United States, Department of Defense.

1978 – 1981Member, Defense Science Board.

1979 – 1981United States Ambassador, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Talks, United States Department of State.

1983 – 1988Director, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California.

1989 – 2009Emeritus Professor of Physics and Director Emeritus, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California, San Diego, San Diego (Calif.).

2000Awarded Enrico Fermi Award, United States Department of Energy.

May 19, 2009Death, San Diego (Calif.).

Occupation

Nuclear physicist.

Places

Birth

Rochester (N.Y.)

Undergraduate Education

Rochester (N.Y.)

Graduate Education

Berkeley (Calif.)

Employment

Berkeley (Calif.)

Livermore (Calif.)

San Diego (Calif.)

Death

San Diego (Calif.)

Subjects

Arms control.

Atomic bomb.

Nuclear physics.

Nuclear weapons.

Science and state.

Relationships

People

Family

York, Sybil Dunford

Wife.

Advisors & Collaborators

Lakoff, Sanford A.

Co-wrote "A shield in space?"

Colleagues

Abrahams, Elihu

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Agnew, Harold M.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Alder, B. J.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Alfvén, Hannes

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Alvarez, Luis W., 1911-1988

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Anderson, John D., 1930-

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Arnowitt, Richard

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Baker, William O. (William Oliver), 1915-2005

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Batzel, Roger Elwood

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Bennett, Ivan L., Jr.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Bethe, Hans A. (Hans Albrecht), 1906-2005

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Booker, Henry G.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Bradbury, Norris, 1909-1997

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Branscomb, Lewis M., 1926-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Bronk, Detlev W. (Detlev Wulf), 1897-1975

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Brown, Harold, 1927-2019

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Brueckner, Keith A.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Calvin, Melvin, 1911-1997

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Case, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chamberlain, O. (Owen)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Chandler, David, 1944-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Chew, Geoffrey F.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Coppi, B.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Dashen, Roger F.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Deser, S. (Stanley)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

DeWitt, Bryce S. (Bryce Seligman), 1923-2004

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Drell, Sidney D. (Sidney David), 1926-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

DuBridge, Lee A. (Lee Alvin), 1901-1994

Both employed at University of Rochester.

Dynes, Robert C.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Eigler, Donald

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Elsasser, Walter M., 1904-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Feher, George, 1924-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Ference, Michael, 1911-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Fisk, James B. (James Brown), 1910-1981

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Fisk, Zachary

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Fletcher, James Chipman, 1919-1991

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Foster, John S., 1922-

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Furth, H. P.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Garwin, Richard L.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Gilliland, Edwin Richard, 1909-1973

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Goldberger, Marvin L.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego and President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Goldhaber, Gerson

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Haldane, F. Duncan M.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Handler, Philip, 1917-1981

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Haskins, Caryl P. (Caryl Parker), 1908-2001

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Hellman, Frances

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Helmholz, August Carl, 1915-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Hewlett, William R.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Hornig, Donald F., 1920-2013

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Jeffries, C. D., 1922-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Killian, James Rhyne, 1904-1988

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Kittel, Charles

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Kohn, Walter, 1923-2016

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Kroll, Norman Myles, 1922-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Land, Edwin Herbert, 1909-1991

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Lang, Norton D.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Lee, T. D., 1926-

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Long, Franklin A., 1910-1999

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

MacDonald, Gordon J. (Gordon James), 1929-2002

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Malmberg, J. H.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Mandelstam, Stanley

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Maple, M. Brian, 1939-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Marshak, Robert E. (Robert Eugene), 1916-1992

Both employed at University of Rochester.

Matthias, Bernd T., 1918-1980

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

May, Michael M., 1925-

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Mayer, Joseph Edward, 1904-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Mayer, Maria Goeppert, 1906-1972

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

McElroy, William David, 1917-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Mermin, N. David

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Moyer, Burton J., 1912-1973

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Nuckolls, John Hopkin

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

O'Neil, T. M. (Thomas Michael), 1940-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Onuchic, José

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Pake, G. E. (George Edward)

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

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

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Phillips, J. C.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Pierce, John R. (John Robinson), 1910-2002

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Pitzer, Kenneth S. (Kenneth Sanborn), 1914-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Post, Richard F.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Prager, William, 1903-1980

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Press, Frank, 1924-

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Purcell, Edward M.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Rabi, I. I. (Isidor Isaac), 1898-1988

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Reynolds, John Hamilton, 1923-2000

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Rice, Thomas Maurice, 1939-

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Robertson, H. P. (Howard Percy), 1903-1961

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Rosenbluth, M. N.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Rostoker, Norman

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Ruderman, Malvin A.

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Sandweiss, Jack H.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

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

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Segrè, Emilio

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Seitz, Frederick, 1911-2008

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Serber, R. (Robert)

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Sham, L. J.

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Slichter, Charles P.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Steiner, Herbert M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Stephens, F. S. (Frank Samuel)

Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Suhl, Harry

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Teller, Edward, 1908-2003

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.

Tinkham, Michael

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Townes, Charles H.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Watson, Kenneth M.

Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.

Weeks, John David

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Weiss, Paul S.

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Weisskopf, Victor Frederick, 1908-2002

Both employed at University of Rochester.

Wheatley, John Charles

Both employed at University of California, San Diego.

Wiesner, Jerome B. (Jerome Bert), 1915-1994

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Zacharias, Jerrold Reinach, 1905-1986

Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).

Additional

Alfvén, Hannes

Arnold, James, 1923-

Fermi, Enrico, 1901-1954

Frieman, E. A.

Havens, William W. (William Westerfield), 1920-2004

Hill, A. G. (Albert Gordon), 1910-1996

Leith, Cecil E., 1923-

Nordheim, Lothar, 1899-

Palevsky, Mary, 1949-

Reynolds, Wallace B.

Ruina, J. P. (Jack P.)

Stern, Marvin, 1923-

Von Neumann, John, 1903-1957

Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008

Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995

Institutions

Major Positions

Lawrence Radiation Laboratory

Physicist and Associate Director (Berkeley campus) and Director (Livermore campus).

United States. Department of Defense

Chief Scientist, Advanced Research Projects Agency; Director, Defense Research and Engineering; and Senior Consultant to the Secretary of Defense.

United States. Department of State

United States Ambassador, Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Talks.

University of California, Berkeley. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD (1949). Assistant Professor of Physics.

University of California, San Diego

Chancellor; Dean, Graduate Studies; Acting Chancellor; Director, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation; and Director Emeritus, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

University of California, San Diego. Department of Physics

Professor of Physics and Emeritus Professor of Physics.

University of Rochester. Department of Physics and Astronomy

Obtained AB (1942). Assistant in Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

United States. Air Force

Member, Science Advisory Board.

United States. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency

Member, General Committee for Arms Control and Disarmament.

United States. Army

Member, Science Advisory Panel.

United States. Defense Science Board

Member.

United States. Department of Energy

Received 2000 Enrico Fermi Award.

United States. President's Science Advisory Committee

Member.

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Audio and video interviews about the life and work of Richard Garwin, 2004-2012.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Hannes Alfvén papers, 1945-1991.

Mandeville Special Collections Library

University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

Harold Urey memorial symposium [sound recording] : Harold Urey, the scientist and Harold Urey, the man / 1981 February 7.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Herbert F. York papers, 1958-1999.

Mandeville Special Collections Library

University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

James Arnold papers, 1946-1998.

Mandeville Special Collections Library

University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

National Air and Space Museum Glennan-Webb-Seamans Project oral history interviews, 1985-1990.

Archives Division

Smithsonian Institution. National Air and Space Museum

MRC 322, Washington, DC, 20560, USA

Nuclear Pioneers: Conference on Nuclear Developments videotapes and papers, 1991.

Carol M. Newman Library. Special Collections Department

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

P. O. Box 90001, Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1975 September 9 and 1976 May 13.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1978 August 20.

The Bancroft Library

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA, 94720-6000, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1980 September 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 1986 February 7.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Herbert F. York, 2008 April 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

The effectiveness of scientific advice to government [sound recording] : a lecture series at the University of California, Santa Barbara / 1976.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Oral history interview with Albert G. Hill, 1991 August 5.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Cecil E. "Chuck" Leith, 1997 July 2.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with E. A. Frieman, 1986 June 26.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Jack P. Ruina, 1991 August 8.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with John Archibald Wheeler, 1988 May 4, May 23 and November 28.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Kenneth M. Watson, 1986 February 10.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Lothar Wolfgang Nordheim, 1977 July 24.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Marvin L. Goldberger, 1986 February 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Marvin Stern, 1987 May 1.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Norris Edwin Bradbury, 1976 February 11.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Wallace B. Reynolds, 1975 December 12.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with William W. Havens, 1991 February 21, July 17, 29, Augut 5, 12 and 14.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

President's Science Advisory Committee records, 1957-1961.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Library

Abilene, KS 67410, USA

University of California, San Diego, Institute of Geophysics and Planetry Physics records, 1959-1963.

Mandeville Special Collections Library

University of California, San Diego

9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA

Virginia Tech Video History on Nuclear Developments, 1945-1963, [videorecording] / recorded by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ; moderated by Albert E. Moyer and Paul E. Torgersen ; 1991 August 29, 30.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Published Resources

Author

A shield in space? : technology, politics, and the strategic defense initiative : how the Reagan Administration set out to make nuclear weapons "impotent and obsolete" and succumbed to the fallacy of the last move / Sanford Lakoff and Herbert F. York.

Arms and the physicist / Herbert F. York.

Does strategic defense breed offense? / by Herbert York ; with contributions by Ashton B. Carter ... [et al.].

Making weapons, talking peace : a physicist's odyssey from Hiroshima to Geneva / Herbert F. York.

Race to oblivion; a participant's view of the arms race [by] Herbert York.

The advisors : Oppenheimer, Teller, and the superbomb / Herbert F. York.

Subject

Atomic fragments : a daughter's questions / Mary Palevsky.

Conversations with History - Herbert York & Susan Shirk

Conversations with History: Herbert F. York

Herbert Frank York Physics Today obituary.