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COLLECTION Identifier: HUGFP 105

Papers of Wendell Hinkle Furry

Overview

Wendell Hinkle Furry (1907-1984) was Professor of Physics at Harvard from 1934 to 1977. His areas of research included quantum mechanics, kinetic theory, molecular energies, positron theory, and microwave propagation. The Papers of Wendell Hinkle Furry contain notes, manuscripts, translations, reports, correspondence, and other papers relating to Furry's teaching and research career, including his graduate studies at the University of Illinois (1928-1932), his post-graduate work at the University of California at Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology (1932-1934), his wartime research at MIT's Radiation Laboratory (1943-1945), and his own research and teaching at Harvard (1934-1977). The Papers also include materials relating to the McCarthy Era investigations of Furry's past political connections with the Communist Party.

Dates

  • Creation: circa 1927-1985

Creator

Researcher Access

Open for research with the following exceptions: Harvard University records are restricted for 50 years. Personnel and student records are closed for 80 years. Specific restrictions are noted at the series level. Requires review by archivist.

Extent

12.14 cubic feet (33 document boxes, 3 half document boxes, 1 flat box, and 2 folders)

The Papers of Wendell Hinkle Furry primarily document Furry’s teaching and research career. The collection includes materials from his graduate studies at the University of Illinois (1928-1932), his post-graduate work at University of California, Berkeley (1932-1934), his wartime research at MIT’s Radiation Laboratory (1943-1945), and his teaching and research activities at Harvard (1934-1977). The materials include correspondence with students, scientific colleagues, academic officers, editors, professional societies, and foundations, as well as newspaper clippings, minutes, notebooks, and photographs. Research materials include notes, data, manuscripts of publications and speeches, calculations, bibliographies, and translations of Russian scientific articles. Teaching materials include lecture notes, tests, syllabi, assignments, and grade books. The collection also contains letters of recommendation for students and colleagues and materials from the Physics Department at Harvard. Also found in the collection are papers relating to the McCarthy Era, including congressional investigations of Furry’s past political connections with the Communist Party.

Biographical Note on Wendell Hinkle Furry

Wendell Hinkle Furry was Professor of Physics at Harvard from 1934 to 1977. Furry was born on February 18, 1907 in Prairieton, Indiana and died on December 15, 1984. He attended DePauw University (A.B., 1928) and pursued graduate studies at the University of Illinois (M.A., 1930, Ph.D., 1932). From 1932 to 1934, Furry was a National Research Council Fellow at the University of California at Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology. Under the direction of J. Robert Oppenheimer, he conducted fundamental research on the theory of electrons, positrons, and quantum electrodynamics. He joined the Harvard faculty in 1934 and continued as an active member of the Department of Physics until his retirement in 1977. During World War II, Furry worked as a research associate at MIT’s Radiation Laboratory (1943-1945). While analyzing radar problems, he developed a theoretical model that continues to serve as a basis for research on radio wave propagation. In his research, Furry focused on problems associated with relativistic quantum theory, cosmic rays, kinetic theory, and the quantum theory of measurement. He published numerous articles and collaborated with E. M. Purcell and J. C. Street on a textbook, Physics for Science and Engineering Students (1952, reissued 1960). Furry received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1950 and spent the year in Copenhagen at the Institute of Theoretical Physics (now the Niels Bohr Institute). He became a full professor at Harvard in 1962 and served as the chairman of the Department of Physics from 1965 to 1968. Furry was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Physics Society.

Furry’s scientific career and personal life were disrupted during the McCarthy Era, when congressional committees investigated his previous affiliations with the Communist Party. In 1953, Furry was subpoenaed several times as a suspected communist by the House Un-American Activities Committee and by U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy. Furry denied current involvement with the Communist Party, but invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege in refusing to answer questions about his past involvement. Furry was one of three Harvard teachers to invoke the Fifth Amendment in the McCarthy investigations along with Leon J. Kamin, a teaching fellow, and Helen Deane Markham, Assistant Professor of Anatomy. McCarthy wrote to Harvard President Nathan M. Pusey, asserting that Furry’s use on the Fifth Amendment was proof of his guilt and criticizing Harvard for not dismissing Furry. Pusey responded by disagreeing that the use of the Fifth Amendment was an admission of guilt, and Furry was not subject to any disciplinary sanction at Harvard. He was indicted in 1954 for contempt of Congress, but the charges were later dismissed. Throughout the ordeal, Furry received support from some members of the Harvard community, including members of the Physics Department who established the Furry Legal Aid Committee to give Furry legal aid and support.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in nine series. The collection follows the arrangement of call numbers given to series upon receipt at the Harvard University Archives.

  1. General correspondence, circa 1928-1985 (HUGFP 105.8)
  2. Correspondence and other papers relating to Harvard Physics Department, circa 1936-1981 (HUGFP 105.12)
  3. Recommendations and related correspondence, 1949-1979 (HUGFP 105.16)
  4. Correspondence and other papers relating to the McCarthy Era, circa 1939-1956 (HUGFP 105.20)
  5. Research notes and manuscripts, circa 1927-1982 (HUGFP 105.45)
  6. Notebooks, 1928-1974 (HUGFP 105.48)
  7. Research data: computer printouts, circa 1970-1977 (HUGFP 105.55)
  8. Teaching materials, circa 1934-1977 (HUGFP 105.62)
  9. Grade books, 1936-1972 (HUGFP 105.66)

Acquisition

Specific acquisition information is noted as the series level.

  1. Gift of Susan Furry Ketterling, received 1985-09-12, accession 10562.
  2. Gift of Susan Furry Ketterling, received 1985-10-28, accession 10600.
  3. Gift of Susan Furry Ketterling, received 1989-06-09, accession 11722.

Related Materials

In the Harvard University Archives
  1. Bainbridge, Kenneth T. Papers of Kenneth T. Bainbridge, 1873, 1923-1996 (HUGFP 152). https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hua23003/catalog
  2. Fairbank, John King, 1907-. Papers of John K. Fairbank, 1933-1991 (HUGFP 12). https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hua27004/catalog
  3. Furry Legal Aid Committee. General Information by and about the Furry Legal Aid Committee, 1956 (HUD 3413). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990119912230203941/catalog
  4. Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-. Wendell Hinkle Furry reprints and pamphlets (HUGB F860.72). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/99154271201503941/catalog
  5. Gardner, George K. (George Knowles), 1891-. Papers of George K. Gardner, 1935-1956 (HUG 4417.XX). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990006045440203941/catalog
  6. Harvard University Corporation. Statement by the Harvard Corporation in regard to Associate Professor Wendell H. Furry, Teaching Fellow Leon J. Kamin, and Assistant Professor Helen Deane Markham, May 20, 1953 (HUA 953.83). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990091526230203941/catalog
  7. Harvard University Department of Physics. Records of the Harvard University Department of Physics, 1879-1983 (textual records) and 2007-2013 (web archive) (UAV 691). https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hua01999/catalog
  8. Harvard University News Office. Records relating to the Furry Case, 1947-1956 (UAV 605.453). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990019652080203941/catalog
  9. It also happened at Harvard: basic documents concerning the cases of three faculty members who refused to answer questions asked by congressional investigating committees, 1953 (HUA 953.42). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990079382560203941/catalog
  10. Pusey, Nathan M. (Nathan Marsh), 1907-2001. Letter from Harvard President Nathan M. Pusey to Senator Joseph R. McCarthy regarding Harvard Professor Wendell H. Furry, 1953 November 9 (UAI 20.953.20). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990017032210203941/catalog
  11. Ramsey, Norman, 1915-2011. Norman Ramsey personal archive, 1919-2010 and undated. https://id.lib.harvard.edu/ead/hua02015/catalog
  12. Rogers, Henry D. (Henry Darwin), 1932-. Henry D. Rogers letters to his parents, Walter Ford Rogers, Sr. and Mary Harrell Rogers, 1953-1956 (HUM 364). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/99153854609903941/catalog
  13. Scrapbook: press clippings on "McCarthy attacks Pusey" and "Furry-McCarthy attacks Harvard," 1953 (HUA 953.80.1). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990090316260203941/catalog
  14. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities. Hearing before Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, 83d Congress, 1st sess., Washington D.C., Feb. 25-26, 1953 [Testimony of R.G. Davis, D.J. Boorstin, W.H. Furry, G. Hicks] (HUA 953.89). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990070601690203941/catalog
  15. United States. Congress. House. Committee on Un-American Activities. Hearing before Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, 83d Congress, 1st sess., Washington, D.C., Apr. 16, 1953 [Testimony of W.H. Furry] (HUA 953.89.3). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990070601880203941/catalog
  16. United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Government Operations. Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reel-to-reel audiotape recordings of national security hearings held before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 1954 January 15-16 (UAI 20.954.4 and UAI 20.954.5). http://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/990017036010203941/catalog
In the American Institute of Physics Niels Bohr Library & Archives
  1. Eulogies for Wendell Hinkle Furry, 1985 (MB 2014-1502; 182).
  2. Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-. Oral history interview with Wendell Hinkle Furry, 1971 August 9 (OH 24324).
  3. Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-. Oral history interview with Wendell Hinkle Furry, 1977 January 17 and 31 (OH 4378).

Processing Information

The finding aid was created by Erin Clauss in August 2020. Information in this finding aid was assembled from legacy inventories and container management data. Titles are transcribed, except those in square brackets. The collection was not re-examined.

Inventory Update

This document last updated 2022 March 8.

Title
Furry, W. H. (Wendell Hinkle), 1907-. Papers of Wendell Hinkle Furry, circa 1927-1985: an inventory
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
und
EAD ID
hua65020

Repository Details

Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository

Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.

Contact:
Pusey Library
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