Microwave Spectroscopy

uagordy Preliminary Inventory of the Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986 Processed by: Valerie Gillispie; machine-readable finding aid created by: Valerie Gillispie University ArchivesDuke University

Durham, N.C., U.S.A.

Aleph Number: 003258679

Machine-readable finding aid derived from automated markup system. Date of source: July 29, 2003 Processed by Valerie Gillispie July 29, 2003; Finding Aid encoded by Valerie Gillispie, University Archives, Duke University, July 30, 2003 Description is in English. 05-01-2006 PUBLIC "-//University Archives//TEXT (US::NDD::::Walter Gordy Papers)//EN" uagordy.xml converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).Also, the top level of the finding aid (above the dsc) was changed to conform to the NC EAD Best Practice Guidelines. Within the dsc, dates for series were normalized. Preliminary Inventory of the Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986 University Archives Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0202 USA

Descriptive Summary Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986. Gordy, Walter, 1909- 37.5 Linear Feet, 29,000 Items University Archives, Duke University For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University. 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. English. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Patrons 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.

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.

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.

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. Contents of Collection Accession Number A89-62

The Gordy papers are only preliminarily processed. The lists of materials within each box represent major subjects, but they are not folder lists.

1 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 2 Correspondence - W-Z Exchange Visit (Correspondence), 1974 Correspondence - 1970s-1980s Correspondence - A-W 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 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) 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] 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 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 7 Papers relating to the nomination of Dr. Gordy for the North Carolina Award in Science, 1979 Accession Number A93-40 7 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] 8 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 9 Correspondence I (1961-1980), A-H 10 Correspondence I (1961-1980), H-N 11 Correspondence I (1961-1980), O-S 12 Correspondence I (1961-1980), S-Z 13 Correspondence II (1953-1960), A-F 14 Correspondence II (1953-1960), G-P 15 Correspondence II (1953-1960), P-Z 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.) 17 Meeting correspondence, associated manuscripts Correspondence associated with other manuscripts APS, NAS, IUPAC correspondence 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 19 Mixed paper Teaching materials Duke development, 1958 Mixed papers (note letter to Tribble) AROD contract accounting, 1969-1972 Air Force contract, 1955-1971 20 Air Force contract (con't) Correspondence Proposals Reports Office of Ordinance Research (OOR) contract "Miscellaneous" correspondence, 1953-1960 21 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1952-1966 Air Force, payroll 1953-1960 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951 22 Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951, continued Previously classified technical reports 23 Binder and documents concerning Gordy's employment (1935-1941): Baylor College, Cal Tech, Linus Pauling etc. ESR spectra Correspondence, 1950s 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 25 AROD grant-related correspondence, 1951; 1962-1970 Binders with grant accounting, 1962-1970 Items retained from invoice files, 1946-1961 Related Material Department of Physics records Duke University Archives