Preliminary Inventory of the Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986
[top]Descriptive Summary
TitleWalter
Gordy Papers,
1935 - 1986.
Creator
Gordy, Walter,
1909-
Extent
37.5 Linear Feet,
29,000 Items
Repository
29,000 Items
University Archives, Duke
University
Abstract
Walter Gordy (1909-1985) was a James B.
Duke Professor of Physics at Duke University. In his over thirty year career at Duke, he founded and directed the Duke
Microwave Laboratory, and researched and published
extensively. The Walter Gordy Papers include
correspondence, bibliographies, vita, articles, speeches,
notebooks, teaching materials, illustrations, photographs, and graphs of
experimental results. Major subjects include microwave
spectroscopy, microwave radar, the Duke Microwave
Laboratory, Army research Office , Durham (ARO-D), and the Duke Department of Physics.
Language
English.
[top]
Administrative Information
Access RestrictionsPatrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Records, such as search committee files or
others pertaining to employment where individuals are
identified, are closed for 70 years.
Unprocessed materials are closed pending
processing.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is
required for use.
Use Restrictions
Copyright for Official University records is
held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by
the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants,
as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Walter Gordy Papers,
University Archives, Duke University.
Provenance
The Walter Gordy Papers were received by the
University Archives as a gift in 1989 (A89-0062, A89-99)
and a transfer in 1993 (A93-36, A93-40) and 2007 (UA2007-0023).
Processing Information
Processed by Valerie Gillispie
Completed July 29, 2003
This collection is partially processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, July 30, 2003
Updated by Sherrie Bowser, June 2007
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
[top]
Biographical Note
Walter Gordy was born on April 20, 1909 in Newton County Mississippi. After receiving a B.A. from Mississippi College in 1932, he received his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1932 and 1935, respectively. From 1935 to 1941, Gordy served as a professor of physics at Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Texas. He then worked at Cal Tech with Linus Pauling and later in the Radiation Kabiratirt at MIT.
In 1946, Gordy joined the faculty of the Duke University Department of Physics. During his tenure, he contributed to the development of microwave radar and microwave spectroscopy through his work in the Duke Microwave Laboratory, which he founded and headed. He published many articles and four books, and was a member of numerous professional organizations. In 1958, Gordy was named a James B. Duke Professor. Gordy died in Durham on October 6, 1985. He was survived by his wife of fifty years, Vida.
[top]Collection Overview
The collection includes correspondence,
bibliographies, vita, articles, speeches, notebooks, teaching materials,
illustrations, photographs, and graphs of experimental
results. The materials date from approximately 1935 to
1986. Gordy's professional career, particularly his work at
Duke, is well represented. Much of the material stems from
his research in the Duke Microwave Laboratory. The
correspondence in the collection is mainly professional. A
few materials, such as trip souvenirs, represent Gordy's
personal life.
[top]
Subject Headings
These and related materials may be accessed under
the following subject headings in the Duke University
Libraries online catalog.
- Duke University. Dept. of Physics.
- Gordy, Walter, 1909-
- Microwave spectroscopy.
- Microwaves--Research.
- Physics--Experiments--Methodology.
- Physics--Research.
- Physics--Study and teaching.
- Negatives.
- Photographs.
- Slides.
Related Material
Department of Physics
records
Duke University Archives
 | List of Series in Collection | |||||||
 |  | Accession Number A89-62 | ||||||
| | Accession Number A89-99 | ||||||
| | Accession Number A93-40 | ||||||
| | Oversized Materials [from Accession Number A89-62] | ||||||
 | | Accession Number UA2007-0023 | ||||||
Preliminary Description of the Collection
Accession Number A89-62
Reprints on Microwaves
Clippings on Gordy
Memorial Service
Materials
Correspondence -
Professional
Correspondence -
Congratulatory
Campus Club Materials (Mrs.
Gordy)
Gordy's c.v.
Photographs - Physics Department
faculty, Gordys in USSR
List of Microwave Laboratory
Ph.D.s
Student Ph.D. Thesis
Reprints and Journals
Correspondence - A-W
Box 2
Correspondence - W-Z
Exchange Visit (Correspondence),
1974
Correspondence -
1970s-1980s
Correspondence - A-W
Box 3
Correspondence - W
High School Validictory
speech
Misc. Professional
Correspondence
Reprints
List of Students
Microwave Directory
Correspondence - Professional and
University
Speech notes
Conference Materials
Correspondence - re: prizes won by
Gordy
Notebook on experiments
Correspondence -
Conferences
Conference Materials
Gordy's Ph.D. Thesis and
Abstract
List of Published Papers by the Duke
Microwave Laboratory
Biographical Material
Evaluation of Physics
Department
Information on Duke Microwavers,
1979
Correspondence - University of
Florida and University of Texas
Box 4
Notecards listing Gordy
publications
Research - Charts and
Graphs
Conference materials
Reprints
Duke University Distinguished
Professor Award program and photographs
UNC Distinguished Alumni
photograph
Popular Lectures and
Articles
Report on Exchange Visit to
Yugoslavia
Papers by Gordy
Notes for Acceptance Speech for N.C.
Award for Science
Speeches by Gordy (including
notes)
Box 5
Millimeter and Submillimeter Wave
Developments at Duke University
Information on Awards Received by
Gordy
Nomination of Walter Gordy for the
North Carolina Award in Science
Duke Microwavers
Information
Notebooks from courses and
research
[Approx.
20]
Box 6
Notebook
Research notes and
charts
Correspondence - re: submissions for
publication
Duke Microwave Laboratory personnel
information - RESTRICTED
Sketches
Reprints
Photographs of physicists and
equipment
Clippings
Information on conference held in
honor of Gordy
Conference materials
Roster of Physics Ph.D.s from
Duke
Unbound copy of
Microwave
Spectroscopy
Correspondence - re: submissions for
publication
Biographical Information
Box 7
Student Papers -
RESTRICTED
Clippings
Maps and information about Harvard
and MIT
Touraide (driving map)
Trip Souvenirs (placemats, guide
books, etc.)
Photographs of research
results
Negatives of research
results
Glass and plastic slides
Technical illustrations
Accession Number A89-99
Papers relating to the nomination of
Dr. Gordy for the North Carolina Award in Science,
1979
Accession Number A93-40
Microwave Spectroscopy of Biological
Substances, Pts. I and II [paper written by Gordy and
others]
Duke Microwave Laboratory -
Published Papers,
1946-1978
Duke Microwave Laboratory -
Personnel Rosters,
1946-1978
Correspondence,
1967
Oversized Materials [from Accession Number A89-62]
Certificates of Life Membership in
the UNC General Alumni Association for the
Gordys
Posters and announcements on talks
by Gordy
Research charts and
graphs
Accession Number UA2007-0023
Correspondence I (1961-1980), A-H
Box 10
Correspondence I (1961-1980), H-N
Box 11
Correspondence I (1961-1980), O-S
Box 12
Correspondence I (1961-1980), S-Z
Box 13
Correspondence II (1953-1960), A-F
Box 14
Correspondence II (1953-1960), G-P
Box 15
Correspondence II (1953-1960), P-Z
Box 16
Air Force contract ledgers
1947-1952
1952-1960
1960-1967
Files associated with the Air Force contract 1946-1953 (reports, etc, not checked for identity with published papers.)
Box 17
Meeting correspondence, associated manuscripts
Correspondence associated with other manuscripts
APS, NAS, IUPAC correspondence
Box 18
Correspondence associated with Army Research Office, Durham (AROD)
Correspondence with M. Katayama
Correspondence with Duke University Planning Commission
"Recent Correspondence" 1963-1966
Mixed correspondence and papers, 1954-1974
Box 19
Mixed paper
Teaching materials
Duke development, 1958
Mixed papers (note letter to Tribble)
AROD contract accounting, 1969-1972
Air Force contract, 1955-1971
Box 20
Air Force contract (con't)
Correspondence
Proposals
Reports
Office of Ordinance Research (OOR) contract
"Miscellaneous" correspondence, 1953-1960
Box 21
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1952-1966
Air Force, payroll 1953-1960
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951
Box 22
Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951, continued
Previously classified technical reports
Box 23
Binder and documents concerning Gordy's employment (1935-1941): Baylor College, Cal Tech, Linus Pauling etc.
ESR spectra
Correspondence, 1950s
Box 24
Christmas and private correspondence with former student, post-docs, and colleagues
Addressbook
Notes for talks at several 'Microwave dinner(s)' at APS meetings, Washington, D.C., circa 1964-1968
Correspondence, A-M, 1951-1961
Box 25
AROD grant-related correspondence, 1951; 1962-1970
Binders with grant accounting, 1962-1970
Items retained from invoice files, 1946-1961
