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Photographs from the Papers of Charles Phelps Smyth
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Held at: Science History Institute Archives [Contact Us]315 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Science History Institute Archives. 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
Charles Phelps Smyth was born in Clinton, New York on February 10, 1895. He received his bachelors and masters degrees from Princeton University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University where he studied under the Nobel laureate Theodore W. Richards. Smyth served in the National Bureau of Standards and the Chemical Warfare Service during World War I, and from 1920 to 1963 he was a faculty member in the Princeton Department of Chemistry. His field of interest was dielectrics and atomic structure. During World War II, Smyth worked on the Manhattan Project, mostly from Princeton. At the end of the war he was sent to Germany as a member of the Office of Scientific Research and Development's ALSOS Mission to locate and secure scientists and equipment involved with Germany's uranium (nuclear energy) efforts. Smyth received the Medal of Freedom in 1947, the ACS Nichols Medal in 1954 and in 1955 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He served as a consultant to the Office of Naval Research from 1963-1969 and 1971-1978. Smyth died in Bozeman, Montana on March 3, 1990.
This collection consists of black and white photographs of various sizes and some postcards and color prints documenting Charles Phelps Smyth's professional activities and achievements from circa 1918 through 1970. Photographs depicting towns, landscapes, and military personnel taken by Smyth in Germany in 1945 make up about half of the collection. Other photographs show conferences, seminars, and awards ceremonies, including Smyth receiving the Medal of Freedom in 1947, while the postcards are of a more personal nature. Of particular note are color prints of Smyth featured on the March 1954 covers of Chemical Engineering News and the American Chemical Society's magazine The Illustrator. A few pictures from Smyth's earlier years include a tintype of him as a child in 1900 and photographs of him during World War I and his time at Harvard. One photograph is stored in a flat file.
Separated from the Papers of Charles Phelps Smyth, 1870-1990 (bulk 1909-1990); Gift of Emily V. Smyth, widow of Charles Phelps Smyth, 1993.
Processed by Amanda Antonucci in 2007. One photograph is stored in flat files. Object identification numbers were assigned to individual photographs.
People
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Science History Institute Archives
- Finding Aid Author
- Finding aid created by Jennifer Nieling and encoded into EAD by Melanie Grear. Edited by Alex Asal in 2023.
- Finding Aid Date
- 2015
- Access Restrictions
-
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes and the collection is open to the public.
- Use Restrictions
-
To obtain reproductions and copyright information, contact: reproductions@sciencehistory.org.
Collection Inventory
Charles P Smyth at Harvard with classmates, Professor Theodore W. Richards and Richards' family c. 1920. Smyth is standing in the back row, left wearing glasses.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 6.25"
Two photographs of Charles Smyth at Harvard with Professor Theodore Richards and classmates; Top row: Smyth, Richards, Schumb and Bottom row: Sameshima, Boyce, Collidge, Craig; Taken just after World War I.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.25" x 5.5"
Two photographs of Charles Smyth at Harvard with Professor Theodore Richards and classmates; Top row: Smyth, Richards, Schumb and Bottom row: Sameshima, Boyce, Collidge, Craig; Taken just after World War I.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.25" x 5.5"
Postcard from Nuremberg, Germany addressed to Smyth's father. Smyth and unidentified group seated in tour vehicle (Auto-Fremdenrundfahrt/Autovereinigung Nurnberg)
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.5" x 5.5"
Two passport photographs of Charles P. Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3" x 3"
Two passport photographs of Charles P. Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3" x 3"
A river in Germany; collapsed bridge in center, (Rhine?), 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Architecture and river in Germany (Rhine?), 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Bridge over river in Germany, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Pilot getting into a plane in Germany, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Tank on a dirt road in Germany, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Soldier standing next to and holding on to a weapon (round), 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.5" x 6"
Three people standing near a tree and house, all looking away from camera. One person holds a backpack and case
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man helping a person with bags, standing near a bicycle in countryside, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Woman pushing a baby carriage on a dirt road along hills in Germany, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
People on a sidewalk in a German town; children and people with suitcases, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
People piling onto a truck, woman riding a bicycle, buildings in background, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
German town; trucks on road and people on sidewalks with suitcases
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Base or port, gated entrance to "Brenner" signs say "Vehicles stop here, you keep this area clean, 5 MPH," 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man writing at a desk, typewriter and map, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man in uniform bent over piles of documents laid out on a bed, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man in uniform nailing paper onto a block, 1945
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Four men in uniform typing or writing
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man in uniform, reading papers at a desk
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Two officers standing in a room, smoking
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Man next to a baby in a white baby carriage
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
River, boat, and bridge with trees and buildings in background
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Cityscape, with river, trees, and buildings
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Amphitheater with platform and chairs
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Castle (?) or entrance way with turrets with a wagon and two horses in front
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Tree-lined road in Germany
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 5.25"
Postcard of Charles Smyth fly-fishing in Montana, sent to Smyth's mother. States "Allan Ranch-Beyond All Roads- Augusta, Montana" across bottom.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.5" x 5.5"
Postcard of Charles Smyth fly-fishing in Montana, dated 1949, Unsent; Handwritten on back "Sun River, Montana."
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.5" x 5.5"
Charles Smyth in uniform during World War II
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6.5" x 8.5"
Group of 14 men, including Charles P Smyth, Franklin Institute Medal Day, Philadelphia, PA; individuals listed on attached caption.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Brussels Exposition Exhibit: Models showing internal rotation of hydrogen, carbon and chlorine molecule.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Two print photographs (color) of The Indicator Magazine by American Chemical Society, with Charles Phelps Smyth - 1954 Nichols Medalist – on the cover. New York Section and New Jersey Section, Vol. XXXV No.3 March 1954
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Two print photographs (color) of The Indicator Magazine by American Chemical Society, with Charles Phelps Smyth - 1954 Nichols Medalist – on the cover. New York Section and New Jersey Section, Vol. XXXV No.3 March 1954
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Two print photographs (color) of the cover of the March 29, 1954 issue of Chemical and Engineering News Magazine, which pictures Charles Smyth with the caption "Charles Phelps Smyth, Serves Science and Country"
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Attendants of the Gordon Research Conference on Dielectric Phenomena (1968) at Proctor Academy in Andover, New Hampshire; Arthur A. Maryott, Chairman, Graham Williams, Vice Chairman, 10-14 June 1968. A list of attendees pictured is also included.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Charles Smyth receiving honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Salford, U.K.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6" x 8"
Charles Smyth receiving honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Salford, U.K.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6" x 8"
Tintype of young Charles Smyth ca. 1900
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints2.25" x 3.5"
Group photograph of Charles P. Smyth during World War One.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6.25" x 8"
Group photographs of the British Association for Advancement of Science, including Charles Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6.25" x 8"
Group photographs of the British Association for Advancement of Science, including Charles Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6.25" x 8"
Group photograph of 4 men, including Charles P. Smyth, standing in front of Palmer Laboratory, Princeton University. Photograph by Peter Debye.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.25" x 4.5"
Charles P. Smyth outside of his house at 22 Marven Place, Princeton. Photograph by Prof. Debye.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.25" x 4.5"
Group photograph of Princeton University Bicentennial Conference of Future of Nuclear Science. A list of attendees pictured is also included.
Physical Description1 Photographic Printsoversized
Henry deWolf Smyth, Mrs. Ruth P. Smyth, and Charles P. Smyth receiving the Medal of Freedom
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Harold W. Dodds, then president of Princeton University, Charles P. Smyth receiving the Medal of Freedom, and Colonel Miles A. Cowles, U.S. Army
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Group photograph at General Electric Conference with Professors of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, August 30, 1951. A list of attendees pictured is also included.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8" x 10"
Group photograph of Soap and Synthetic Detergent Phases Seminar, Procter & Gamble, Miami Valley Laboratories Dedication, September 12, 1952. A list of attendees pictured is also included.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints8.5" x 11"
Group photograph of men and women standing outside, including Charles P. Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4.75" x 7"
Three men walking, including Charles P. Smyth
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.5" x 4.75"
Color photograph of Charles Smyth and another man standing outside of Princeton University chapel or cathedral
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints3.5" x 5"
Greeting card with photograph adhered inside. Exterior: "Season's Greetings/David Linsbury" Interior: photograph of wall with names and signatures
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints4" x 8.25"
Matted photograph of group of men and women from Laboratorie de Chimie Anorganica, Bucharest, 1924. Inscription: "A Monsieur Charles Smyth, Princeton, En souvenir de l'inoubliable visite qu'il a faite au 'Laboratorie de Chimie Anorganica' de Bucarest." Signatures beneath.
Physical Description1 Photographic Prints6.5" x 8.75"