[PHYSICAL SCIENCES] [TROWBRIDGE, John]

The Endowment of a Physical Laboratory at Harvard College

(Cambridge): (Harvard University), (1878). Octavo. Sewn pamphlet; printed wrappers; 7pp. Old institutional hand-stamp to front cover; old dampstains to bottom 1/4 of text throughout; moderate soil and edgewear; a solid, Good copy. Text includes "A List of the Scientific Papers published during the past six years, under my direction, from the Physical Laboratory of Harvard University." Trowbridge's name signed in blue pencil on front cover, but autograph unverfied; possibly simply an attribution of authorship by a former reader.

John Trowbridge (1843-1923), long-time professor of Physics at Harvard, was a pioneer in developing laboratory techniques for research in physics; in his 1925 memorial of Trowbridge, Theodore Lyman wrote: "The earlier part of the long period during which Professor Trowbridge was a member of the teaching staff of Harvard was characterized by the development of laboratory methods in teaching...Keenly alive to the lack of adequate facilities for the advancement of his chosen field along these lines at Harvard, Trowbridge projected a great physical laboratory, and found the means to construct it. When the laboratory was begun, models for such a building were altogether lacking in this country..." (Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Science, v.60 no. 14, p.651 ff).

The facility Trowbridge constructed would be named the Jefferson Physical Laboratory: it was the first building in the Western Hemisphere dedicated solely to the physical sciences and is still a Harvard landmark. Trowbridge would serve as Director for the first 22 years of the Laboratory's existence. This pamphlet, describing the design, construction and funding of the laboratory, appears to be uncommon; OCLC notes only 5 physical locations, most in Massachusetts; no other copies seen in commerce (2018).

Price: $85.00

Go Back