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Bruce Partridge papers
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Held at: Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections [Contact Us]370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Bruce Partridge was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 16, 1940, and received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University in 1962 and his Ph.D. from Oxford University in 1965. After serving as Lab Instructor and Assistant Professor at Princeton, Partridge came to Haverford as Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy in 1970. He became Full Professor in 1977 and was named the Marshall Professor of Natural Sciences in 1982. Partridge served as Dean of the College from 1982-1985 and Provost from 1990-1995. He became Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy in 2009. In 2025, Partridge was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has primarily focused on the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the "heat" left over from the Big Bang origin of the Universe.
This collection contains papers related to Bruce Partridge's tenure as Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Dean of the College, and Provost at Haverford College. It also includes Partridge's correspondence with scientists in the fields of astronomy and physics.
The collection is divided into seven series and numerous standalone files.
The Correspondence series primarily consists of Partridge's correspondence with astronomers and physicists at institutions around the world, although there is also a file of his correspondence with individuals at Haverford College.
The Papers by position series is arranged according to the position Partridge held at Haverford College at the time of the papers' creation and documents his time as a faculty member, Dean of the College, Provost, and emeritus faculty member. This arrangement was established by Partridge. However, many of the papers outside of this series were also created while Partridge held these positions.
The Faculty governance series contains materials pertaining to the Faculty Meeting, especially papers related to faculty committees Partridge served on during his time at Haverford.
The Long Range Planning series contains reports of the Long Range Planning Committee from the early 1980s as well as Committee meeting materials from the 1994-1995 academic year. This series also contains some materials on budgets and a copy of Dick Wynn's Financial History of Haverford College from 1960-1987.
The Expansion and coeducation series primarily relates to the College's move towards expanding the student body and adopting coeducation during the 1970s. The series includes many statements by Partridge and others in favor of admitting women as first-year students at the College. There are also materials related to a potential College expansion in the early 2000s.
The Searches series includes materials on searches for the positions of Dean, Provost, and President of Haverford College.
Finally, the Visiting committees, institutional reports, and self-studies series contains materials related to accreditation and assessment of the College and various programs.
These series are followed by standalone topical files arranged alphabetically.
These papers were donated to the College Archives by Bruce Partridge between 2015 and 2025.
Processed by Elizabeth Jones-Minsinger; completed November, 2025
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- Elizabeth Jones-Minsinger
- Finding Aid Date
- November, 2025
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).
Collection Inventory
Correspondence with Helmut A. Abt, W.D. Allen, the American Scientist (Editors), Heinz Andernach, Yoram Avni, Lothar Banderman, Jeno M. Barnothy, John Barrow, D. Basu, O. Batsula, Robert Becker, Frank Bello, Carlton W. Berenda, Matthew Bershady, Bruno Bertolti, D.E. Blackwell, J.S. Blair, A. Blanchard, R.C. Bless, Sidney A. Bludman, Bart J. Bok, J. Richard Bond, Paul E. Boynton, Robert L. Brown, E. Margaret Burbidge, Geoffrey Burbidge
Correspondence with A.G.W. Cameron, Vincenzo Cappalletti, Max E. Caspari, Suzanne Cavalier, Alfonso Cavaliere, Catherine Cesarsky, S. Chandrasekhar, Marcus Chown, Judith Cohen, Edward K. Conklin, R. Cowsik, Philippe Crane, R.L. Cummerow, A. Dalgarno, Karl K. Darrow, G. Dautcourt, Arthur F. Davidsen, Paul Davies, Marc Davis, David Dearborn, Pierre Demarque, Marek Demianski, Tom R. Dennis, Keith Despain, Bryce DeWitt, Robert Dicke, Robert S. Dixon, N.A. Doughty, J.T. Dowell, George S. Downs, J.G. DuFour, Andrea K. Dupree, J.G. Duthie, J. Einasto, George Ellis, Richard Ellis, Giovanni G. Fazio, J. Faulkner, Rick Feigelson, Paul Feldman, Attilio Ferrari, Timothy Ferris, George B. Field, Willy Finn, Dennis Flanagan, Emery S. Fletcher, William A. Fowler, Tom K. Gaisser, Barry J. Geldzahler, E.C. Gillispie, W. Gliese, Walter I. Goldburg, Mark A. Gordon, K. Gorski, S.A. Goudsmit, Robert J. Gould, Ernest P. Gray, J.M. Greenberg, Edward Gross, Stephen F. Gull, Jim Gunn
Correspondence with Morton Hamermesh, A.W. Harrison, Martin O. Harwit, Michael G. Hauser, R.J. Havlen, Martha P. Haynes, Cyril [Hazard?], D.S. Heeschen, Karl Heinz-Bohm, Richard C. Henry, George H. Herbig, Jackie Hewitt, J. Heyvaerts, Craig Hogan, David E. Hogg, E.H. House, Robert F. Howard, Stephen D. Hughes, V.A. Hughes, G. Idlis, Richard Isaacson, F. Jacobs, Kenneth C. Jacobs, Kenneth Janes, John V. Jelley, A. Vallance Jones, Bernard Jones, W.T. Joyner, J. Kalckar and O. Ulfbeck, Alvin Kanofsky, Carl Kaysen, A.B. Kereselidze, Ivan King, T.D. Kinman, Alan Kiplinger, Robert P. Kirshner, Kitt Peak National Observatory (Observatory Director), Eugene H. Kone, Richard D. Kron, George Lake, Gina Liebow, Sarah Lippincott, Roy Lisker, Maria Livio, Donald Lynden-Bell
Correspondence with Macmillan Journals (Editor), Ronald L. Mallett, Ed Mannery, Bruce Margon, D.H. Martin, Henry E. Matthews, N.U. Mayall, Thaddeus J. Mazurek, Don McCarthy, William H. McCrea, Francesco Melchiorri, Moti Milgrom, I.G. Mitrofanon, T. Montmerle, Earl Morgan, J.V. Narlikar, I. Novikov, Bob Noyes, Eon O'Mongain, Istvan Ozavath, Leonid Ozernoy, T.L. Page, Giorgio Palumbo, Jay M. Pasachoff, James E. Peebles, Chou Peiyuan, Arno Penzias, John G. Phillips, Physical Review Letters (Editors), C.H. Poster, William H. Press, P. Buford Price, Richard Price, E.M. Purcell, L.A. Radicati di Brozolo, S. Neil Rasband, Martin Rees, Y. Rephaeli, F.E. Roach, Robert H. Romer, Mitja Rosina, Nicholas L. Rosner, Larry Rudnick, Remo Ruffini
Correspondence with E. Scalise Jr., Edward D. Scalsky, Jeffrey D. Scargle, Peter Scheuer, David N. Schram, Daniel A. Schwartz, Dennis Sciama, George A. Seielstad, G.W. Series, Giancarlo Setti, R. Sexl, John R. Shakeshaft, Irwin W. Shapiro, Peter Shaver, Benjamin S.P. Shen, Joseph Silk, Giorgio Sironi, Victor J. Slabinski, Leslie W. Smith, Roger P. Smith, George F. Smoot, Hyron Spinrad, Rolf Stabell, F.W. Stecker, William R. Stoeger, Robert A. Stokes, Rashid Sunyaev, Jill Tarter, G. Tauber, Joseph H. Taylor, D. ter Haar, Jan Teuber, Kip S. Thorne, Beatrice Tinsley, Ilona Torniainen, Charles H. Townes, Leroy Trahan, Andrezej Trautman, George L. Trigg, V.S. Troitsky, Kenneth Turner, Anthony Tyson, David Tytler
Correspondence with B.L. Ulich, M.H. Ulrich, Zdenek Urban, Sidney van den Bergh, J.F.G. Vanderwall, Thyrso Villela, Robert V. Wagoner, T. Wainwright, George Wallerstein, Joseph Weber, Adrian Webster, Steven Weinberg, Donat G. Wentzel, Mike Werner, Ray Weymann, John A. Wheeler, Mark Whittle, R. Wielebinski, William C. Wickes, Belinda J. Wilkes, David T. Wilkinson, Robert Wilson, Louis Witten, Arthur M. Wolfe, G.T. Wrixon, E. Wunderlich, Ya. B. Zeldovich, Gianfranco De Zotti
Correspondence with Bob at the Leander McCormick Observatory of the University of Virginia, Dave, George at the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, Gerry, Jim, John at California Institute of Technology, Jonathan at University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, Margaret at the University of Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, Niccolo at the University Cambridge Institute of Astronomy, Nick at Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California California Santa Barbara, and other unknown senders and recipients
This series is arranged according to the position Partridge held at Haverford College at the time of the papers' creation and documents his time as a faculty member, Dean of the College, Provost, and emeritus faculty member. This arrangement was established by Partridge. However, many of the papers outside of this series were also created while Partridge held these positions.
Excerpts from "A Charge to the Visiting Committee for 1970-71"; enrollment statistics for the Report of the President; memoranda related to the Ad Hoc Committee on Commencement, Athletics, the Language Committee, the Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program, the Governance Commission, the Academic Council, and the Educational Policy Committee; correspondence with Greg Kannerstein; John Coleman letter to alumni on concerns of minority students; planning documents for the 148th American Astronomical Society Meeting at Haverford; correspondence related to the Distinguished Visitors program; a letter from the Minority Coalition to John Coleman; a memorandum from Al Williams on the room draw; a statement on Two College Cooperation; a memorandum from Vernon Dixon on minority faculty appointments; a letter to Steve Cary on the Board's failure to implement full coeducation; memoranda on honorary degrees and commencement speakers; planning documents for the Institutional Advancement Program for 1980-1985; planning documents for the faculty retreat on diversity a memorandum on Haverford's budget.
Student exit interviews; a report on courses not taken for a grade; memorandum on faculty hiring; memoranda, correspondence, and press releases on Athletics; Robert Stevens letter to the community on the death of Roland Altherr; correspondence on the Honor Code and Honor Council; a report from the Faculty Compensation Sub-Committee of the Administrative Advisory Committee; memorandum on the CCFA proposal; Robert Stevens's opening Collection speech for 1981; Robert Stevens's letter on administrative appointments; correspondence and memoranda on recruiting minority faculty; correspondence on Class Night; letter from the Students Allied to Save Haverford; letter from Robert Stevens on the resignation of Al Williams; correspondence between the Minority Coalition and Robert Stevens; letter from Robert Stevens to Partridge on suggestions for Stevens's Sesquicentennial speech; Robert Stevens letter to Academic Council; assessments of University of Pennsylvania's 3/2 Engineering Program; and Partridge correspondence regarding divestment from South Africa, students serving on faculty appointment committees, Phi Beta Kappa speaker, the Black Students' League Collection talk, College publications, the Long Range Planning Committee, the Freshman Writing Program, College publicity, and Faculty Committee files.
Partridge correspondence and memoranda regarding financial aid and party insurance, Honor Council, the 3/2 Engineering Program at University of Pennsylvania, Phi Beta Kappa, College holidays, foreign scholarships, Robert Stevens' resignation, the acting provostship, the Martin Foss Award, cooperation with Bryn Mawr, the Educational Planning Committee, a cooling tower on Stokes, parking for prospective students, the impact of inflation on faculty compensation, stargazing, alumni, Middle States, endowed faculty positions, teaching reviews, distribution requirements in the sciences, summer housing for student researchers, racially-abusive letters to athletic staff, affirmative action, summer camp on campus, and senior faculty evaluations. Also includes Educational Planning Committee memoranda, course proposals, possible appointments to the provostship, the Middle States Steering Committee materials, faculty needs for consideration by a new Haverford administration, a cross-registration imbalance memorandum, a cooperation with Bryn Mawr memorandum, and a memorandum on faculty appointments.
Partridge correspondence and memoranda regarding Tom Kessinger's resignation, statistics on faculty compensation, a gift to the College from J. Howard and Bettye Marshall, public nights at the observatory, an astronomy conference on campus, administration decisions about tenure, retirement, and an open class experiment. Also includes materials related to budgeting, athletics, Middle States Reaccreditation Self Study, Academic Convocation, Tom Tritton's involvement with the Muppets Honor Council trial, the College Planning Committee, the search for a Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, the FCAE, and fellowships advising.
Proposed model for the restructuring of student government; an open letter from Black and Puerto Rican students at Haverford; a draft of a letter from Partridge to John C. Whitehead; a memorandum from Sara Shumer to Academic Council on the lack of promotions to full professor; a tentative outline for a sub-committee to the Committee on a Haverford Education concerned with campus life; a draft of a letter from Partridge to Claude Wintner and John Chesick on insurance; an article about Haverford from the Baltimore Sun; an article on astronomy by Dave Barry; a history of the observatories at Haverford; a student survey of one of Partridge's courses; and information on faculty housing at Haverford.
Includes a newspaper clipping (1982), a memo related to sesquicentennial planning (1982), materials related to Bob Gavin's continuation as Provost (1983), a memo on reporting Honor Trials to outside organizations (1983), a summary of data provided by Haverford for the ACE/UCLA Cooperative Institutional Research Program (1984), an agreement related to the student exchange program (August 1984), materials related to the CUR Conference (1985), and a draft letter from Robert Stevens to parents (undated).
Includes an invitation to a dinner with Bella Abzug (1990), The Honor Code: Reflections on the System of Trust at Haverford College (1990); memos on staff salaries at Bryn Mawr (1990); a report on the high school Class of 1990's SAT scores from the College Board (1990); a memo to senior staff on recognizing those holding Endowed Chairs (1990); Memoranda and other materials related to the Gulf Crisis (1991); correspondence and program related to a coeducation panel (1991); letter to new faculty (1991); memoranda from the Academic Council and the EPC (1991); memorandum on athletic participation (1991); and data on expenditures on FTE students (1991).
Includes data on average compensation at peer institutions; data on the dorm exchange (1992); EPC materials (1992); a letter to students about what happens if they fail to ratify the honor code (1992); data on enrollment and the endowment (1992); a memo on a visit by Bunichi Kagami '37 (1992); a memo on top academic prospects (1992); the results of a grants and contracts survey (1992); a memo about a grants officer (1992); athletic enrollments (1992); data on faculty-student ratios (1992); a first-year class report for the Class of 1996 (1992); a memo to Senior Staff on over-enrollment (1993); a memo on an athletic advisory group; Army ROTC cross-enrollment agreement (1993); a memo to the Board of Managers Development Committee (1993); Haverford-Bryn Mawr cross-registrations (1993); Admission Data Analysis (1993); a report on staffing from the Provost Office (1993); a letter to faculty about the Community of Bosnia Foundation (1993); memo on long range planning (1993); and data on average compensation of faculty among peer institutions (1993).
Data on deans (1994); five-year review of operating budget (1994); data on class size, endowments, admissions, average compensations at peer institutions, percent of salary increases, and composition of faculty (1994); correspondence with senior staff; a study on grade inflation (1994); letter to Tom Kessinger about medical benefits for interim faculty (1994); admissions profile for the Class of 1998 (1994); letter to students about faculty hiring (1994); memorandum on research professorships (1994); materials about experiences of women faculty at Haverford (1994).
Letter to Deborah Roberts about Faculty Meeting (1994); report on comparative class size distribution (1994); report on cross registration and cross majoring with Bryn Mawr (1994); LRPC memo (1995); five-year review of operating budget (1995); Faculty Compensation Sub-committee memo (1995); report on faculty staffing (1995); and report on state of the faculty (1995).
Haverford College Administrative Priorities for 2012-13 (2013); Committee on Admissions Report to the Faculty (2013); email on protecting non-U.S. citizens and religious minorities at the College (2016).
Report of the Long Range Planning Committee (October 27, 1980); Physical Plant Visiting Committee Report (August 19, 1983); Five Year Budget Projections (ca. 1980); Dick Wynn, A Financial History of Haverford College, 1960-1987 (ca. 1987)
Includes a report of the Committee on the Honor Code, materials related to the Honor Council and Students' Association, and planning materials.
Original folder title
Memoranda on letters of recommendation for students from Bruce Partridge while Provost of Haverford College, 1990; correspondence on scholarships (1987-2008); Report on U.S. News & World Report (undated); Memo on use of interim faculty (September 1988); Faculty Time-Work Survey comments (undated); Administrative and Academic Computing issues (undated); Learning Spaces: Discussion Points by Bob Kieft (undated); letter from Bruce Partridge possibly to the Faculty Meeting (undated); commentary on College's mission statement (undated)
T. Lauritsen and F. Ajzenberg-Selove manuscript for "Energy Levels of Light Nuclei. VII: A=5-10" (September 3, 1965); F. Ajzenberg-Selove manuscript for "Energy Levels of Light Nuclei A=18" (February 1977)
International Astronomical Union, "Commission 3 (Notations)," Volume VI, (1939); Louis C. Green, "Constant Current Sources,"
Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 11, No. 8 (August, 1940) (reprint); "The Determination of Atomic Wave Function," Proceedings of the National Science Foundation Conference on Stellar Atmospheres (1954) (reprint, 2 copies); L.C. Green et al., "Oscillator Strengths and High Accuracy Wave Functions for Neutral Helium," IAU, Symposium No. 26 (1966)"Home/land" presentation by Joshua Goltz (April 1994); sample major declaration forms (1996); memo on the Bryn Mawr Education Program (1997); Feminist & Gender Studies memo (1999); emails from Tom Tritton on the Educating to Lead, Educating to Serve campaign (2004) and his decision to step down as president (2006); Academic Convocation information from website (2004); course proposal from David Sedley (2005); Resignation letter from Thomas R. Tritton, April 21, 2006; statistics on students (2007); a memo to faculty from the CPGC (2007); an announcement related to the social justice requirement (2008); memo from Bryn Mawr about changes to their general college requirements (2011); Aryeh Kosman retirement postcard (undated); Bridges of Understanding notes (undated); congratulations to graduates (undated); Conversations during Alumni Day (undated); proposal for offering a scholarship to a student from the Middle East or North Africa.