Robert H. Dicke Papers, 1939-1996 (mostly 1953-1990)

Contents and Arrangement

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Collection Overview

Creator:

Dicke, Robert H. (Robert Henry)

Title:

Robert H. Dicke Papers

Repository:

Manuscripts Division

Permanent URL:

http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/9019s2489

Dates:

1939-1996 (mostly 1953-1990)

Size:

33 boxes and 17.5 linear feet

Storage Note:

ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1-33

Language:

English

Abstract: Robert H. Dicke, born in 1916, was a Princeton physicist, educator, and author. The collection includes Dicke's professional correspondence, files from his work with the Office of Naval Research, NASA, and the National Science Board, and the National Science Foundation, and assorted other documents.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

Consists for the most part of professional correspondence and working papers of Dicke, Princeton physicist, educator, and author. In addition, there are his research/subject files concerning the Office of Naval Research, NASA, the National Science Board, and the National Science Foundation, as well as many other topics, arranged alphabetically.

Arrangement

The collection has been organized by form of material.

Material has been foldered and boxed as it was maintained by Dr. Dicke.

Collection Creator Biography:

Dicke, Robert H. (Robert Henry)

Physicist, educator, and author, Robert H. Dicke (pronounced Dick-ee) was born May 6, 1916 in St. Louis, MO. Highly respected for his contributions to the study of physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, Dicke was an early believer in the Big Bang theory of the creation of the universe and postulated that an echo of that event could still be detected through radio waves. However, before he could confirm his theory, the echo was verified by two other scientists working in a related area, and Dicke was excluded--unfairly in the view of some commentators--from sharing in the Nobel Prize that they were awarded in 1978 as a result of the finding. A longtime professor at Princeton University, Dicke conducted numerous experiments in gravity and in his unsuccessful challenge of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. Dicke held approximately fifty patents for his discoveries, many of them pertaining to the development of radar. He was named the Albert Einstein University Professor of Science at Princeton University in 1975, becoming emeritus in 1984. His books include An Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (1960), The Theoretical Significance of Experimental Relativity (1964), and Gravitation and the Universe (1970). Dicke died of complications from Parkinson's disease, March 4, 1997, in Princeton, NJ.

Collection History

Acquisition:: Gift of Annie C. Dicke.
Appraisal: No appraisal information is available.
Processing Information: This collection was processed in 2001. Finding aid written in 2001.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

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