Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Charles Townes Innovative Lives Presentation

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0673
Creators:
Townes, Charles, Dr., 1915-
Berger, Sondra
Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation.
Dates:
1998-12-02
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
3 boxes
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Videotaped interview with Charles Townes, inventor of the MASER (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation). The interview was part of the "Innovative Lives" public program series. Videotapes include VHS and Beta Cam SP formats.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Divided into four series.
Series 1: Original videos
Series 2: Master videos
Series 3: Reference videos
Series 4; Digital images

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Charles Townes was born in Greenville, S.C., July 28, 1915. Graduated from Furman University (1935), Duke University (1936), and the California Institute of Technology (Ph.D., 1939). Appointed to faculty of Columbia University, 1948, where he conceived the idea for the maser. Received Nobel Prize for physics for advances in quantum electronics, 1964.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Ownership and Custodial History
Oral history was created by the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. Transferred to the Archives Center December 2, 1998.
Immediate Source of Acquisiton
Created by the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, National Museum of American History, 1998.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Alison Oswald, 1999.

Using the Collection

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions. Signed oral history releases on file.
Restrictions on Access
Collection is open for research but the original videos are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Preferred Citation
Charles Townes Innovative Lives Presentation, 1998, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Oral history -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Videotapes -- 1990-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Innovative Lives Program (NMAH public program series) Title Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Electronics -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Masers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
BetaCam SP (videotape format) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Interviews -- 1980-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventions -- 1950-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Physics -- 1960-1990 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Astronomy -- 1960-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nobel Prizes Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Inventors -- 1930-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Physicists -- 1930-2000 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Nahory, Robert E. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu