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Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectHerbert F. York
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
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
York, Sybil Dunford
Wife.
Advisors & Collaborators
Lakoff, Sanford A.
Co-wrote "A shield in space?"
Colleagues
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
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).
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.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
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).
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Calvin, Melvin, 1911-1997
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
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.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
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).
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Fletcher, James Chipman, 1919-1991
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Gilliland, Edwin Richard, 1909-1973
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, San Diego and President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Hahn, E. L. (Erwin Louis), 1921-
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
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).
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).
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).
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Land, Edwin Herbert, 1909-1991
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Lawrence, Ernest Orlando, 1901-1958
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
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.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Marshak, Robert E. (Robert Eugene), 1916-1992
Both employed at University of Rochester.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
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.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Nierenberg, William Aaron, 1919-2000
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
O'Neil, T. M. (Thomas Michael), 1940-
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Oppenheimer, J. Robert, 1904-1967
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
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.
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).
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
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.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Robertson, H. P. (Howard Percy), 1903-1961
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Seaborg, Glenn T. (Glenn Theodore), 1912-1999
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Stephens, F. S. (Frank Samuel)
Both employed at Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Radiation Laboratory.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
Both worked on President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC).
Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981
Both employed at University of California, San Diego.
Both employed at University of California, Berkeley.
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.
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
Arnold, James, 1923-
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-
Wheeler, John Archibald, 1911-2008
Wigner, Eugene Paul, 1902-1995
Institutions
Major Positions
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
Arms and the physicist / Herbert F. York.
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