Physics History Network
Over 1000 biographies of physicists and histories of institutions with information pertaining to their lives, careers, and research.
Tip: Search within this page by using Ctrl + F or ⌘ + F
Search Our Catalogs
Archives BooksCollections
Emilio Segré Visual Archives Digital Collections Oral Histories Archival Finding Aids Physics History Network Member Society Portals Ethical Cataloging StatementPreservation and Support
Donating Materials Suggest a Book Purchase Saving Archival Collections Grants to Archives Documentation Projects History NewslettersCenter for History of Physics
Scholarship & OutreachMain Navigation
HomeAboutTopic GuidesFeedbackTable of Contents
Biography
AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjectsRelationships
PeopleInstitutionsResources
Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as AuthorPublished as SubjectLars Onsager
Dates
November 27, 1903 – October 5, 1976
Authorized Form of Name
Onsager, Lars, 1903-1976
Biography
Abstract
Lars Onsager was Distinguished University Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, University of Miami, Center for Theoretical Studies (1972-1976). Other institutional affiliations include Yale University, Brown University, and Johns Hopkins University. His research interests included the theory of electrolytes, colloids, dielectrics, order-disorder transitions, metals and superfluids, hydrodynamics and fractionation theory. In 1968 he won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Important Dates
November 27, 1903Birth, Oslo (Norway).
1925Obtained ChE, Technical University of Norway, Trondheim (Norway).
1928Associate in Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University.
1928 – 1933Research Instructor, Brown University, Providence (R.I.).
1934 – 1972Assistant Professor to Associate Professor (1934-1945) and Gibbs Professor of Theoretical Chemistry (1945-1972), Yale University, New Haven (Conn.).
1935Obtained PhD in Theoretical Chemistry. Yale University, New Haven (Conn.).
1946Member, National Academy of Sciences.
1951 – 1952Fulbright Scholar, Cambridge University.
1961Visiting Professor, University of California, San Diego.
1967Visiting Professor, Rockefeller University.
1968Visiting Gauss Professor, University of Göttingen.
1968Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for the discovery of the reciprocal relations bearing his name, which are fundamental for the thermodynamics of irreversible processes".
1968Awarded National Medal of Science.
1970Visiting Lorentz Professor, State University of Leiden.
1972 – 1976Distinguished University Professor of Theoretical Chemistry, Center for Theoretical Studies, University of Miami.
October 5, 1976Death, Miami (Fla.).
Occupation
Theoretical chemist.
Places
Birth
Undergraduate Education
Graduate Education
Employment
Death
Subjects
Relationships
People
Family
Arledter, Margarethe
Wife. Married 1933.
Oldham, Inger Marie
Daughter.
Onsager, Christian Carl
Son.
Onsager, Erling
Father.
Onsager, Erling Frederick
Son.
Onsager, Hans Tanberg
Son.
Onsager, Ingrid Kirkeby
Mother.
Advisors & Collaborators
Debye, Peter J. W. (Peter Josef William), 1884-1966
Researcg advisor at ETH Zurich.
Donnelly, Russell J.
Advised by Onsager at Yale University.
Advised by Onsager at Yale University.
Shoenberg, D. (David)
Research advisor at Cambridge University.
Colleagues
Kirkwood, John Gamble, 1907-1959
Both employed at Yale University.
Urey, Harold Clayton, 1893-1981
Both employed at Johns Hopkins University.
Additional
Margenau, Henry, 1901-1997
Saperstein, Alvin M.
Zimmerman, George O.
Institutions
Major Positions
Brown University. Department of Chemistry
Research Instructor.
Johns Hopkins University. Department of Chemistry
Associate in Chemistry.
University of Miami. Center for Theoretical Studies
Distinguished University Professor of Theoretical Chemistry.
Yale University. Department of Chemistry
Obtained PhD in Theoretical Chemistry (1935). Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and Gibbs Professor of Theoretical Chemistry.
Professional Activities & Affiliations
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)
Member.
Norges tekniske høgskole
Obtained ChE (1925).
Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden
Visiting Lorentz Professor.
Rockefeller University
Visiting Professor.
Universität Göttingen
Visiting Gauss Professor.
University of California, San Diego. Department of Chemistry
Visiting Professor.
University of Cambridge. Department of Chemistry
Fulbright Scholar.
Resources
Archival Resources
Author
Alvin M. Saperstein student notes on lectures by Lars Onsager and Cecil T. Lane, 1952-1953.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
George O. Zimmerman collection of lecture notes by Gregory Breit and Lars Onsager, circa 1960-1961.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Lars Onsager letter to Mr. Pilloff concerning viscosity of particles, 1967.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Lars Onsager papers [microform], 1926-1977.
Manuscripts and Archives
Yale University Library
Box 208240, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Lars Onsager papers, 1926-1977.
Library.
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Trondheim, Norway
Subject
Henry Margenau papers, 1927-1990.
Manuscripts and Archives
Yale University Library
Box 208240, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
Oral history interview with Morrel H. Cohen, 1981 March 31 and June 5.
Niels Bohr Library & Archives
American Institute of Physics
One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Published Resources
Author
Subject
"Lars Onsager: 1903-1976", Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences