Preliminary Inventory of the Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986

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.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Walter Gordy Papers, 1935 - 1986.
Creator: Gordy, Walter, 1909-
Extent: 37.5 Linear Feet, , 29,000 Items
Repository: University Archives, Duke University
Location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult University Archives, Duke University.
Language: English.

Series Quick Links

Accession Number A89-62
Accession Number A89-99
Accession Number A93-40
Oversized Materials [from Accession Number A89-62]
Accession Number UA2007-0023

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.

Administrative Information

A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

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.

Contents of the Collection

Browse List of Series

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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.

Reprints on Microwaves

Box 1

Clippings on Gordy

Box 1

Memorial Service Materials

Box 1

Correspondence - Professional

Box 1

Correspondence - Congratulatory

Box 1

Campus Club Materials (Mrs. Gordy)

Box 1

Gordy's c.v.

Box 1

Photographs - Physics Department faculty, Gordys in USSR

Box 1

List of Microwave Laboratory Ph.D.s

Box 1

Student Ph.D. Thesis

Box 1

Reprints and Journals

Box 1

Correspondence - A-W

Box 1

Correspondence - W-Z

Box 2

Exchange Visit (Correspondence), 1974

Box 2

Correspondence - 1970s-1980s

Box 2

Correspondence - A-W

Box 2

Correspondence - W

Box 3

High School Validictory speech

Box 3

Misc. Professional Correspondence

Box 3

Reprints

Box 3

List of Students

Box 3

Microwave Directory

Box 3

Correspondence - Professional and University

Box 3

Speech notes

Box 3

Conference Materials

Box 3

Correspondence - re: prizes won by Gordy

Box 3

Notebook on experiments

Box 3

Correspondence - Conferences

Box 3

Conference Materials

Box 3

Gordy's Ph.D. Thesis and Abstract

Box 3

List of Published Papers by the Duke Microwave Laboratory

Box 3

Biographical Material

Box 3

Evaluation of Physics Department

Box 3

Information on Duke Microwavers, 1979

Box 3

Correspondence - University of Florida and University of Texas

Box 3

Notecards listing Gordy publications

Box 4

Research - Charts and Graphs

Box 4

Conference materials

Box 4

Reprints

Box 4

Duke University Distinguished Professor Award program and photographs

Box 4

UNC Distinguished Alumni photograph

Box 4

Accession Number A89-99

Papers relating to the nomination of Dr. Gordy for the North Carolina Award in Science, 1979

Box 7

Accession Number A93-40

Microwave Spectroscopy of Biological Substances, Pts. I and II [paper written by Gordy and others]

Box 7

Duke Microwave Laboratory - Published Papers, 1946-1978

Box 7

Duke Microwave Laboratory - Personnel Rosters, 1946-1978

Box 7

Correspondence, 1967

Box 7

Oversized Materials [from Accession Number A89-62]

Certificates of Life Membership in the UNC General Alumni Association for the Gordys

Box 8

Posters and announcements on talks by Gordy

Box 8

Research charts and graphs

Box 8

Accession Number UA2007-0023

Correspondence I (1961-1980), A-H

Box 9

Correspondence I (1961-1980), H-N

Box 10

Correspondence I (1961-1980), O-S

Box 11

Correspondence I (1961-1980), S-Z

Box 12

Correspondence II (1953-1960), A-F

Box 13

Correspondence II (1953-1960), G-P

Box 14

Correspondence II (1953-1960), P-Z

Box 15

Air Force contract ledgers

1947-1952

Box 16

1952-1960

Box 16

1960-1967

Box 16

Files associated with the Air Force contract 1946-1953 (reports, etc, not checked for identity with published papers.)

Box 16

Meeting correspondence, associated manuscripts

Box 17

Correspondence associated with other manuscripts

Box 17

APS, NAS, IUPAC correspondence

Box 17

Correspondence associated with Army Research Office, Durham (AROD)

Box 18

Correspondence with M. Katayama

Box 18

Correspondence with Duke University Planning Commission

Box 18

"Recent Correspondence" 1963-1966

Box 18

Mixed correspondence and papers, 1954-1974

Box 18

Mixed paper

Box 19

Teaching materials

Box 19

Duke development, 1958

Box 19

Mixed papers (note letter to Tribble)

Box 19

AROD contract accounting, 1969-1972

Box 19

Air Force contract, 1955-1971

Box 19

Air Force contract (con't)

Correspondence

Box 20

Proposals

Box 20

Reports

Box 20

Office of Ordinance Research (OOR) contract

Box 20

"Miscellaneous" correspondence, 1953-1960

Box 20

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1952-1966

Box 21

Air Force, payroll 1953-1960

Box 21

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951

Box 21

Miscellaneous correspondence, 1946-1951, continued

Box 22

Previously classified technical reports

Box 22

Binder and documents concerning Gordy's employment (1935-1941): Baylor College, Cal Tech, Linus Pauling etc.

Box 23

ESR spectra

Box 23

Correspondence, 1950s

Box 23

Christmas and private correspondence with former student, post-docs, and colleagues

Box 24

Addressbook

Box 24

Notes for talks at several 'Microwave dinner(s)' at APS meetings, Washington, D.C., circa 1964-1968

Box 24

Correspondence, A-M, 1951-1961

Box 24

AROD grant-related correspondence, 1951; 1962-1970

Box 25

Binders with grant accounting, 1962-1970

Box 25

Items retained from invoice files, 1946-1961

Box 25

Historical 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.