Collection Summary
William W. Coblentz
Papers
1883-1960
1883-1960
MSS16279
Coblentz, William W.
(William Weber), 1873-1962
350 items
10 containers
3 linear feet
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Author and physicist.
Correspondence, diary, writings, bibliography, notes, notebooks, biographical
material, awards, photographs, newspaper clippings, printed matter, and other
material relating chiefly to Coblentz's work in the fields of infrared
spectroscopy and to the application of radiometry to astronomical
problems.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Abbe, Cleveland, 1838-1916--Correspondence.
Abbot, C. G. (Charles Greeley), 1872-1973--Correspondence.
Coblentz, William W. (William Weber), 1873-1962.
Hale, George Ellery, 1868-1938--Correspondence.
Miller, Dayton Clarence, 1866-1941--Correspondence.
Pfund, A. H. (August Herman), 1879-1949--Correspondence.
Whitney, Willis Rodney, 1868-1958--Correspondence.
Organizations
United States. National Bureau of Standards.
Subjects
Astronomy.
Infrared spectroscopy.
Parapsychology.
Planets--Research.
Radiation--Measurement.
Radio astronomy.
Scientific expeditions--Sumatra (Indonesia)
Solar eclipses.
Stars--Radiation.
Places
Europe--Description and travel.
Occupations
Authors.
Physicists.
Provenance
The papers of William W. Coblentz, author and physicist, were given
to the Library of Congress by Coblentz, 1952-1962.
Processing History
The William W. Coblentz Papers were processed in 1962. A finding aid
was created in 2005.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of William W.
Coblentz is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of William W. Coblentz are open to research. Researchers
are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, William W. Coblentz Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of William Weber Coblentz (1873-1962) span the years
1883-1960 and include correspondence, a diary, writings, a bibliography, notes,
notebooks, biographical material, awards, photographs, newspaper clippings, and
printed matter.
The collection relates chiefly to Coblentz's service as a physicist at
the National Bureau of Standards and reflects his contributions in the fields
of infrared spectroscopy and the application of radiometry to astronomical
problems.
The correspondence relates principally to Coblentz's publications and
his work as a physicist, but also includes items from family members and
genealogical material. The diary was written during a solar eclipse expedition
to Sumatra and Coblentz’s return through Europe. The writings file includes
annotated copies of Coblentz’s
Man's Place in a Superphysical World
(1954) and
From the Life of a Researcher
(1951) as well as annotated
copies of his other works. Also included are biographical material,
memorabilia, financial records, scientific notebooks concerning stellar and
planetary radiation and psychic phenomena, and photographs.
Correspondents include Cleveland Abbe, C. G. Abbot, George Ellery
Hale, Dayton Clarence Miller, A. H. Pfund, and Willis Rodney Whitney.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of material or
topic.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Awards,
1906-1953
1906-1953
1
Biographical file,
1951-1954
1951-1954
1
Case Institute of Technology,
Cleveland, Ohio,
1896-1900, 1910, 1924-1960
1896-1900, 1910, 1924-1960
(2 folders)
1
Diary,
1925-1926
1925-1926
1
Family history,
1937
1937
1
Financial papers,
1884-1905
1884-1905
1
General correspondence
1
1893-1907
1893-1907
(2 folders)
2
1908-1959
1908-1959
(8 folders)
2
National Bureau of Standards,
1905-1944
1905-1944
2
Notebooks
2
Planetary radiation,
1926
1926
2
Psychic phenomena,
1910-1915, 1947
1910-1915, 1947
(2 folders)
3
Stellar radiometry,
1908-1914, 1921-1924
1908-1914, 1921-1924
(2 folders)
3
Notes on plant growth,
1921, 1935, 1947
1921, 1935, 1947
3
Photographs,
1883-1886, undated
1883-1886, undated
3
Writings
3
Autobiography,
1949
1949
3
Bibliography,
1954
1954
4
General
4
1903-1906
1903-1906
5
1907-1914
1907-1914
(3 folders)
6
1915-1918
1915-1918
(3 folders)
7
1919-1925
1919-1925
(3 folders)
8
1926-1929
1926-1929
(2 folders)
9
1930-1940
1930-1940
(3 folders)
10
1941-1954
1941-1954
(3 folders)