Menu ☰

Back to Top

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 Books

Collections

Emilio Segré Visual Archives Digital Collections Oral Histories Archival Finding Aids Physics History Network Member Society Portals Ethical Cataloging Statement

Preservation and Support

Donating Materials Suggest a Book Purchase Saving Archival Collections Grants to Archives Documentation Projects History Newsletters

Center for History of Physics

Scholarship & Outreach

Main Navigation

HomeAboutTopic GuidesFeedback

Table of Contents

Biography

AbstractImportant DatesOccupationPlacesSubjects

Relationships

PeopleInstitutions

Resources

Archival as AuthorArchival as SubjectPublished as Subject

Jerome Karle

Photo

Dates

June 18, 1918 – June 6, 2013

Authorized Form of Name

Karle, Jerome

Additional Forms of Names

Karle, Jerome, 1918-

Karle Karle, Jerome, 1918-2013

Biography

Abstract

Jerome Karle was a structural chemist at the US Naval Research Laboratory. He was awarded the 1985 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Herbert Hauptman "for their outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structures."

Important Dates

June 18, 1918Birth, New York (N.Y.).

1938Obtained MA in Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge (Mass.).

1943 – 1944Researcher, Manhattan Project, University of Chicago, Chicago (Ill.).

1944Obtained PhD in Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Mich.).

1944 – 2009Researcher, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington (D.C.).

1972President, American Crystallographic Association.

1976Member, National Academy of Sciences.

1981 – 1984President, International Union of Crystallography.

1985Awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Herbert Hauptman "for their outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structures".

1990Member, American Philosophical Society.

June 06, 2013Death, Annandale (Va.).

Occupation

Physical chemist.

Places

Birth

New York (N.Y.)

Graduate Education

Cambridge (Mass.)

Ann Arbor (Mich.)

Employment

Chicago (Ill.)

Washington (D.C.)

Death

Annandale (Va.)

Subjects

Crystallography.

Electromagnetic waves.

Molecular structure.

Physical chemistry.

Structural chemistry.

Relationships

People

Family

Karle, Isabella, 1921-

Wife.

Advisors & Collaborators

Brockway, L. O. (Lawrence Olin), 1907-

PhD advisor at University of Michigan.

Haas, David J.

Advised as a post-doc by Karle at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

Hauptman, Herbert A. (Herbert Aaron), 1917-2011

Shared 1985 Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for their outstanding achievements in the development of direct methods for the determination of crystal structures."

Hendrickson, Wayne A.

Advised as a post-doc by Karle at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.

Institutions

Major Positions

Manhattan Project (U.S.)

Researcher, University of Chicago.

Naval Research Laboratory (U.S.)

Researcher.

University of Chicago. Department of Physics

Researcher, Manhattan Project.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

American Crystallographic Association

President.

American Philosophical Society

Member.

Harvard University

Obtained MA in Biology (1938).

International Union of Crystallography

President.

National Academy of Sciences (U.S.)

Member.

University of Michigan. Department of Physics

Obtained PhD in Physics (1944).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Jerome and Isabella Karle papers.

Manuscript Division

Library of Congress

James Madison Memorial Building, First Street and Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540, USA

Oral history interview with Jerome Karle and Isabella Karle, 1987 February 26, June 15, and September 9.

The Beckman Center for History of Chemistry

Chemical Heritage Foundation

315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2702, USA

Subject

Herbert A. Hauptman papers, 1915-2014.

State University of New York at Buffalo

University Archives, 420 Capen Hall, Amherst Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA

Nobel Voices Videohistory Project collection, 2000-2001.

Archives Center

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History.

MRC 601, 12th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20560, USA

Published Resources

Subject

Jerome Karle Nobel Prize biography.

Jerome Karle Physics Today obituary.

Jerome Karle, Nobelist for Crystallography, Dies at 94 New York Times obituary.