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Arthur Gordon Webster

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Dear Gordon: This is the only way. For years I have been a failure - my research is worth nothing. Everyone else knows it, and S.N. physics has got away from me and I cannot come back. Everything I have started has stalled. Students will not come and they will put me out. Your mother will not see.
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Webster committed suicide in 1923, following the closure of the mathematics department at Clark, after it was rumored that the physics department would be the next to be closed by the new president. With a revolver he had bought a few hours before, Webster shot himself twice in the head in his
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She will get over this. Take care of her. I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you. Am sorry to make so much trouble. Do your best and tell the truth. With my best love, "Papa"
825: 1629: 1624: 818: 725: 1579: 249:, receiving his PhD in 1890. Helmholtz is said to have considered Webster his favorite American student. During this period Webster also studied in 362:(1927) (posthumous, with a second edition by Samuel J. Plimpton published by Teubner in 1933. This second edition was reprinted by Dover in 1966) 716: 1614: 707: 772: 241:
in 1885 at the top of his class and had stayed for a year as instructor in mathematics and physics. At the end of that year he went to the
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Versuche über eine Methode zur Bestimmung des Verhältnisses der elektromagnetischen zur elektrostatischen Einheit der Elektricität
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Webster was unusual for his time in that he was both a proficient mathematician as well as a competent experimentalist.
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on May 20, 1899. In 1903, Webster became president of the American Physical Society and was elected to the
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The Dynamics of Particles and of Rigid, Elastic, and Fluid Bodies: Being Lectures On Mathematical Physics
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and Clark University had doctoral programs in physics. Webster was promoted to full professor in 1900.
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appointed Webster assistant professor and head of the Physical Laboratories in 1892, when physicist
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Duff, A. Wilmer (1938). "Arthur Gordon Webster—Physicist, Mathematician, Linguist, and Orator".
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private office while a class waited for him next door. He left a note to his son which read;
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Phillips, Melba (June 1, 1987). "Arthur Gordon Webster, Founder of the APS".
641: 590: 553: 210:(November 28, 1863 – May 15, 1923) was an American physicist who founded the 121: 789: 1475: 1451: 1320: 1201: 1111: 598: 569:(1490). American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): 37–39. 545: 345:
Theory of Electricity and Magnetism, Being Lectures On Mathematical Physics
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Arthur Gordon Webster papers, 1893-1913, Niels Bohr Library & Archives
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in 1895. A group of 20 physicists, invited by Webster, founded the
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Anonymous (June 1, 1923). "Arthur Gordon Webster 1864-1923".
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The Partial Differential Equations of Mathematical Physics
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Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
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Hall, Edwin H. (July 20, 1923). "Arthur Gordon Webster".
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Editorial on the situation at Clark University in 1923
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Biographical Memoir of Arthur Gordon Webster 1863-1923
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American Physical Society (APS): 585–586. 607:"Biographical memoir of Arthur Gordon Webster" 1630:Members of the American Philosophical Society 826: 1625:Presidents of the American Physical Society 842:Presidents of the American Physical Society 833: 819: 222:Webster was born on November 28, 1863, at 28: 523: 518:Articles on Webster in scholarly journals 1580:Scientists from Brookline, Massachusetts 681:Articles on Webster in the popular press 648: 799: 768:A Web page on Arthur Gordon Webster at 513:Patent number: 1489566 (April 8, 1924). 405:American Academy of Arts & Sciences 285:Webster's research was in the field of 1562: 814: 781:A picture of Arthur Gordon Webster's 762: 504: 312:at a meeting at Fayerweather Hall in 306:American Academy of Arts and Sciences 245:where he studied for four years with 1615:Suicides by firearm in Massachusetts 611: 560: 379: 477:"Commits Suicide While Class Waits" 337: 13: 14: 1641: 499: 1595:20th-century American physicists 389:. National Academy of Sciences. 469: 444: 419: 393: 373: 322:American Philosophical Society 1: 794:Mathematics Genealogy Project 708:Death Notice of A. G. Webster 366: 356:(Leipzig, B.G. Teubner, 1912) 271:left for the newly organized 35: 657:(6). AIP Publishing: 48–52. 318:National Academy of Sciences 217: 7: 1100:Charles Christian Lauritsen 614:American Journal of Physics 304:Webster was elected to the 237:Webster had graduated from 10: 1646: 969:William Francis Gray Swann 583:10.1126/science.58.1490.37 297:) and for research on the 1620:Multiple gunshot suicides 1536:Sylvester James Gates Jr. 1408: 1253: 1092: 949: 880:Edward Leamington Nichols 848: 348:(London, MacMillan, 1897) 310:American Physical Society 212:American Physical Society 201: 183: 171: 155: 145: 135: 128: 117: 98: 84: 65: 43: 27: 20: 1590:Clark University faculty 1273:Norman Foster Ramsey Jr. 1106:John Hasbrouck Van Vleck 934:Thomas Corwin Mendenhall 753:October 5, 2012, at the 695:October 5, 2012, at the 320:. He was elected to the 277:Johns Hopkins University 224:Brookline, Massachusetts 77:Worcester, Massachusetts 58:Brookline, Massachusetts 1291:Arthur Leonard Schawlow 1047:Arthur Jeffrey Dempster 1035:Percy Williams Bridgman 910:Robert Andrews Millikan 715:, Monday June 11, 1923 401:"Arthur Gordon Webster" 380:Ames, Joseph S (1957). 228:Captain Robert Townsend 1605:Naval Consulting Board 1585:Harvard College alumni 1190:John Archibald Wheeler 1077:Francis Wheeler Loomis 1011:John Torrence Tate Sr. 898:Benjamin Osgood Peirce 856:Henry Augustus Rowland 775:March 3, 2016, at the 726:Wednesday 16 May, 1923 706:, Monday May 28, 1923 546:10.1103/physrev.21.585 335: 230:and Harriett Munro of 1393:Jerome Isaac Friedman 1071:J. Robert Oppenheimer 892:William Francis Magie 868:Arthur Gordon Webster 790:Arthur Gordon Webster 330: 275:. At that time, only 273:University of Chicago 247:Hermann von Helmholtz 208:Arthur Gordon Webster 178:Hermann von Helmholtz 1357:Donald N. Langenberg 1345:Nicolaas Bloembergen 1214:Edward Mills Purcell 1124:Raymond Thayer Birge 922:Joseph Sweetman Ames 800:Archival collections 456:search.amphilsoc.org 452:"APS Member History" 243:University of Berlin 93:University of Berlin 1530:Philip H. Bucksbaum 1422:William F. Brinkman 1309:Mildred Dresselhaus 1232:Joseph Edward Mayer 1208:Luis Walter Alvarez 1172:John Harry Williams 999:Harrison M. Randall 957:Karl Taylor Compton 862:Albert A. Michelson 739:June 13, 1923 issue 730:Sunday 20 May, 1923 626:1938AmJPh...6..181D 575:1923Sci....58...37H 538:1923PhRv...21..585. 314:Columbia University 269:Albert A. Michelson 196:Albert Potter Wills 1494:Malcolm R. Beasley 1458:Arthur Bienenstock 1333:James A. Krumhansl 1279:Lewis M. Branscomb 1166:William V. Houston 1136:Henry DeWolf Smyth 1065:Lee Alvin DuBridge 1005:Lyman James Briggs 993:Floyd K. Richtmyer 763:Webster on the Web 505:Patents by Webster 407:. February 9, 2023 1557: 1556: 1488:Michael S. Turner 1327:Val Logsdon Fitch 1297:Maurice Goldhaber 1261:William A. Fowler 1196:Charles H. Townes 1083:Isidor Isaac Rabi 916:Henry A. Bumstead 634:10.1119/1.1991322 431:www.nasonline.org 205: 204: 184:Doctoral students 130:Scientific career 54:November 28, 1863 1637: 1464:Cherry A. Murray 1381:D. Allan Bromley 1351:Ernest M. Henley 1339:Eugen Merzbacher 1315:Robert R. Wilson 1154:Victor Weisskopf 1148:George Uhlenbeck 1023:George B. Pegram 835: 828: 821: 812: 811: 770:Clark University 745:The Boston Globe 687:The Boston Globe 674: 663:10.1063/1.881077 645: 602: 557: 493: 492: 490: 488: 473: 467: 466: 464: 462: 448: 442: 441: 439: 437: 423: 417: 416: 414: 412: 397: 391: 390: 388: 377: 338:Books by Webster 261:Clark University 232:Albany, New York 173:Doctoral advisor 167: 150:Clark University 72: 53: 51: 37: 32: 18: 17: 1645: 1644: 1640: 1639: 1638: 1636: 1635: 1634: 1560: 1559: 1558: 1553: 1542:Frances Hellman 1440:Marvin L. Cohen 1428:Myriam Sarachik 1416:George Trilling 1404: 1399:James S. Langer 1375:J.R. Schrieffer 1285:Herman Feshbach 1249: 1244:Chien-Shiung Wu 1226:Philip M. Morse 1160:Frederick Seitz 1088: 1053:Harvey Fletcher 945: 844: 839: 802: 777:Wayback Machine 765: 755:Wayback Machine 697:Wayback Machine 683: 605:Joseph S. Ames 526:Physical Review 520: 507: 502: 497: 496: 486: 484: 475: 474: 470: 460: 458: 450: 449: 445: 435: 433: 427:"A. G. Webster" 425: 424: 420: 410: 408: 399: 398: 394: 386: 378: 374: 369: 340: 265:G. Stanley Hall 239:Harvard College 220: 194: 190: 165: 110:Founder of the 109: 105: 91: 89:Harvard College 85:Alma mater 80: 74: 70: 61: 55: 49: 47: 39: 23: 12: 11: 5: 1643: 1633: 1632: 1627: 1622: 1617: 1612: 1607: 1602: 1597: 1592: 1587: 1582: 1577: 1572: 1555: 1554: 1552: 1551: 1545: 1539: 1533: 1527: 1521: 1515: 1509: 1503: 1497: 1491: 1485: 1482:Robert L. Byer 1479: 1473: 1467: 1461: 1455: 1449: 1443: 1437: 1431: 1425: 1419: 1412: 1410: 1406: 1405: 1403: 1402: 1396: 1390: 1387:Andrew Sessler 1384: 1378: 1372: 1369:C. Kumar Patel 1366: 1363:Burton Richter 1360: 1354: 1348: 1342: 1336: 1330: 1324: 1318: 1312: 1306: 1303:Robert Marshak 1300: 1294: 1288: 1282: 1276: 1270: 1264: 1257: 1255: 1251: 1250: 1248: 1247: 1241: 1235: 1229: 1223: 1217: 1211: 1205: 1199: 1193: 1187: 1181: 1175: 1169: 1163: 1157: 1151: 1145: 1139: 1133: 1127: 1121: 1115: 1109: 1103: 1096: 1094: 1090: 1089: 1087: 1086: 1080: 1074: 1068: 1062: 1056: 1050: 1044: 1041:Albert W. Hull 1038: 1032: 1029:George Stewart 1026: 1020: 1014: 1008: 1002: 996: 990: 987:Robert W. Wood 984: 981:Arthur Compton 978: 972: 966: 960: 953: 951: 947: 946: 944: 943: 937: 931: 928:Theodore Lyman 925: 919: 913: 907: 904:Ernest Merritt 901: 895: 889: 883: 877: 871: 865: 859: 852: 850: 846: 845: 838: 837: 830: 823: 815: 809: 808: 801: 798: 797: 796: 787: 786: 785: 764: 761: 760: 759: 758: 757: 742: 733: 723:New York Times 720: 710: 682: 679: 678: 677: 676: 675: 646: 609: 603: 519: 516: 515: 514: 506: 503: 501: 500:External links 498: 495: 494: 483:. May 15, 1923 481:New York Times 468: 443: 418: 392: 371: 370: 368: 365: 364: 363: 357: 349: 339: 336: 219: 216: 203: 202: 199: 198: 192:Robert Goddard 185: 181: 180: 175: 169: 168: 159: 153: 152: 147: 143: 142: 137: 133: 132: 126: 125: 119: 115: 114: 100: 99:Known for 96: 95: 86: 82: 81: 75: 73:(aged 59) 67: 63: 62: 56: 45: 41: 40: 33: 25: 24: 22:Arthur Webster 21: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1642: 1631: 1628: 1626: 1623: 1621: 1618: 1616: 1613: 1611: 1610:1923 suicides 1608: 1606: 1603: 1601: 1598: 1596: 1593: 1591: 1588: 1586: 1583: 1581: 1578: 1576: 1573: 1571: 1568: 1567: 1565: 1549: 1548:Robert Rosner 1546: 1543: 1540: 1537: 1534: 1531: 1528: 1525: 1522: 1519: 1518:Roger Falcone 1516: 1513: 1510: 1507: 1504: 1501: 1498: 1495: 1492: 1489: 1486: 1483: 1480: 1477: 1474: 1471: 1470:Curtis Callan 1468: 1465: 1462: 1459: 1456: 1453: 1450: 1447: 1446:John Hopfield 1444: 1441: 1438: 1435: 1432: 1429: 1426: 1423: 1420: 1417: 1414: 1413: 1411: 1407: 1400: 1397: 1394: 1391: 1388: 1385: 1382: 1379: 1376: 1373: 1370: 1367: 1364: 1361: 1358: 1355: 1352: 1349: 1346: 1343: 1340: 1337: 1334: 1331: 1328: 1325: 1322: 1319: 1316: 1313: 1310: 1307: 1304: 1301: 1298: 1295: 1292: 1289: 1286: 1283: 1280: 1277: 1274: 1271: 1268: 1265: 1262: 1259: 1258: 1256: 1252: 1245: 1242: 1239: 1238:Pief Panofsky 1236: 1233: 1230: 1227: 1224: 1221: 1220:Robert Serber 1218: 1215: 1212: 1209: 1206: 1203: 1200: 1197: 1194: 1191: 1188: 1185: 1182: 1179: 1178:Robert Bacher 1176: 1173: 1170: 1167: 1164: 1161: 1158: 1155: 1152: 1149: 1146: 1143: 1140: 1137: 1134: 1131: 1128: 1125: 1122: 1119: 1116: 1113: 1110: 1107: 1104: 1101: 1098: 1097: 1095: 1091: 1084: 1081: 1078: 1075: 1072: 1069: 1066: 1063: 1060: 1059:Edward Condon 1057: 1054: 1051: 1048: 1045: 1042: 1039: 1036: 1033: 1030: 1027: 1024: 1021: 1018: 1015: 1012: 1009: 1006: 1003: 1000: 997: 994: 991: 988: 985: 982: 979: 976: 975:Paul D. Foote 973: 970: 967: 964: 961: 958: 955: 954: 952: 948: 941: 940:Dayton Miller 938: 935: 932: 929: 926: 923: 920: 917: 914: 911: 908: 905: 902: 899: 896: 893: 890: 887: 884: 881: 878: 875: 872: 869: 866: 863: 860: 857: 854: 853: 851: 847: 843: 836: 831: 829: 824: 822: 817: 816: 813: 807: 804: 803: 795: 791: 788: 784: 780: 779: 778: 774: 771: 767: 766: 756: 752: 749: 748:June 17, 1923 746: 743: 740: 737: 734: 731: 727: 724: 721: 718: 714: 711: 709: 705: 704: 700: 699: 698: 694: 691: 688: 685: 684: 672: 668: 664: 660: 656: 652: 651:Physics Today 647: 643: 639: 635: 631: 627: 623: 619: 615: 610: 608: 604: 600: 596: 592: 588: 584: 580: 576: 572: 568: 564: 559: 558: 555: 551: 547: 543: 539: 535: 531: 527: 522: 521: 512: 509: 508: 482: 478: 472: 457: 453: 447: 432: 428: 422: 406: 402: 396: 385: 384: 376: 372: 361: 358: 355: 354: 350: 347: 346: 342: 341: 334: 329: 325: 323: 319: 315: 311: 307: 302: 300: 296: 292: 288: 283: 280: 278: 274: 270: 266: 262: 258: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 235: 233: 229: 225: 215: 213: 209: 200: 197: 193: 189: 188:Mildred Allen 186: 182: 179: 176: 174: 170: 163: 160: 158: 154: 151: 148: 144: 141: 138: 134: 131: 127: 123: 122:Elihu Thomson 120: 116: 113: 108: 104: 101: 97: 94: 90: 87: 83: 78: 68: 64: 59: 46: 42: 31: 26: 19: 16: 1512:Laura Greene 1476:Barry Barish 1452:Leo Kadanoff 1321:Sidney Drell 1202:John Bardeen 1112:Enrico Fermi 867: 744: 735: 722: 712: 701: 690:May 16, 1923 686: 654: 650: 617: 613: 566: 562: 529: 525: 485:. 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Bethe 773:Archived 751:Archived 693:Archived 599:17834620 34:Webster 792:at the 622:Bibcode 571:Bibcode 563:Science 534:Bibcode 140:Physics 1550:(2023) 1544:(2022) 1538:(2021) 1532:(2020) 1526:(2019) 1520:(2018) 1514:(2017) 1508:(2016) 1502:(2015) 1496:(2014) 1490:(2013) 1484:(2012) 1478:(2011) 1472:(2010) 1466:(2009) 1460:(2008) 1454:(2007) 1448:(2006) 1442:(2005) 1436:(2004) 1430:(2003) 1424:(2002) 1418:(2001) 1401:(2000) 1395:(1999) 1389:(1998) 1383:(1997) 1377:(1996) 1371:(1995) 1365:(1994) 1359:(1993) 1353:(1992) 1347:(1991) 1341:(1990) 1335:(1989) 1329:(1987) 1323:(1986) 1317:(1985) 1311:(1984) 1305:(1983) 1299:(1982) 1293:(1981) 1287:(1980) 1281:(1979) 1275:(1978) 1269:(1977) 1263:(1976) 1246:(1975) 1240:(1974) 1234:(1973) 1228:(1972) 1222:(1971) 1216:(1970) 1210:(1969) 1204:(1968) 1198:(1967) 1192:(1966) 1186:(1965) 1180:(1964) 1174:(1963) 1168:(1962) 1162:(1961) 1156:(1960) 1150:(1959) 1144:(1958) 1138:(1957) 1132:(1956) 1126:(1955) 1120:(1954) 1114:(1953) 1108:(1952) 1102:(1951) 1085:(1950) 1079:(1949) 1073:(1948) 1067:(1947) 1061:(1946) 1055:(1945) 1049:(1944) 1043:(1943) 1037:(1942) 1031:(1941) 1025:(1941) 1019:(1940) 1013:(1939) 1007:(1938) 1001:(1937) 995:(1936) 989:(1935) 983:(1934) 977:(1933) 971:(1931) 965:(1929) 959:(1927) 942:(1925) 936:(1923) 930:(1921) 924:(1919) 918:(1918) 912:(1916) 906:(1914) 900:(1913) 894:(1911) 888:(1909) 882:(1907) 876:(1905) 870:(1903) 864:(1901) 858:(1899) 669:  640:  597:  589:  552:  487:May 1, 166:(1890) 164:  157:Thesis 136:Fields 118:Awards 79:, U.S. 60:, U.S. 1409:2001– 387:(PDF) 251:Paris 728:and 713:Time 703:Time 667:ISSN 638:ISSN 595:PMID 587:ISSN 550:ISSN 489:2009 463:2024 438:2024 413:2024 289:and 253:and 66:Died 44:Born 38:1915 659:doi 630:doi 579:doi 542:doi 112:APS 1566:: 665:. 655:40 653:. 636:. 628:. 616:. 593:. 585:. 577:. 567:58 565:. 548:. 540:. 530:21 528:. 479:. 454:. 429:. 403:. 234:. 214:. 36:c. 834:e 827:t 820:v 741:. 732:. 719:. 673:. 661:: 644:. 632:: 624:: 618:6 601:. 581:: 573:: 556:. 544:: 536:: 491:. 465:. 440:. 415:. 52:) 48:(

Index


Brookline, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Harvard College
University of Berlin
Acoustics
Ballistics
APS
Elihu Thomson
Physics
Clark University
Thesis
Doctoral advisor
Hermann von Helmholtz
Mildred Allen
Robert Goddard
Albert Potter Wills
American Physical Society
Brookline, Massachusetts
Captain Robert Townsend
Albany, New York
Harvard College
University of Berlin
Hermann von Helmholtz
Paris
Stockholm
Clark University
G. Stanley Hall
Albert A. Michelson
University of Chicago

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