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Philip W. Anderson Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. 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
Philip Anderson was a condensed-matter theorist. From 1949 to 1984, he worked at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, after which he was Professor Emeritus of Physics at Princeton University. He won the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physics together with Sir Nevill Francis Mott and John Hasbrouck van Vleck "for their fundamental theoretical investigations of the electronic structure of magnetic and disordered systems."
This collection consists of Anderson's research files and include his article and book drafts, grant files, notes, memos, and his research diaries and notebooks from his time as a graduate student, an employee at Bell Laboratories, and professor emeritus at Princeton University. There is a bound run of his talks and papers; various Nobel Prize nomination applications; recommendation letters he wrote; and correspondence regarding his work and his involvement in professional organizations, conferences, and other groups. There is a small amount of publicity materials, which are primarily ephemera (invitations and clippings) and photographic prints.
The order of materials at the time of their transfer has been retained.
Gift of Philip Anderson's family in 2011 and 2021 (AM 2011-110, AM 2021-074, AM 2023-021).
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.
This collection was processed by Regine Heberlein in 2011. Finding aid written by Regine Heberlein in 2011.
In 2022, materials from the 2021 addition were processed and described by Amy C. Vo. Loose papers were foldered in archival folders, and materials in hanging folders were rehoused with creator-supplied titles transcribed.
Materials from an undocumented donation were found in repository in 2022. These materials were incorporated into the collection by Amy C. Vo in 2023.
No materials were separated during 2011 processing.
When materials from the 2021 addition were incorporated in 2022, commercial materials and materials that are available elsewhere were removed and returned to the donor. These included a VHS and U-matic tape, fifteen optical discs.
A retirement award from Bell Labs and doctoral student dissertations gifted to Philip W. Anderson were removed and returned to the donor in 2022.
People
Organization
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Regine Heberlein
- Finding Aid Date
- 2011
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research with the exception of the student files, which are closed due to FERPA restrictions.
- Use Restrictions
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Single copies may be made for research purposes. No further duplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to Special Collections Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
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