J. William Buchta papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: ua00367

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The collection contains the personal papers of J. William Buchta. Materials include correspondences, papers related to the various organizations he was involved with, biographical information, published and unpublished works, news clippings, speeches, and class related materials.

Dates

Creation: 1923-1966

Creator

Buchta, J. William, 1894-1966 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Use of Materials

Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright

Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code). Requests to publish should be arranged with the University of Minnesota Archives.

Biographical Sketch of J. William Buchta (1894-1966)

J. [John] William Buchta was born near Osceola, Nebraska in 1894. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1920, received a masters degree in electrical engineering in 1921, and a Ph.D. degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1925. He was a professor of physics at the University from 1925 through 1962, serving as chairman of the Department of Physics from 1938-1953 and Assistant Dean of the College of Science, Literature and the Arts from 1941-1962.

Buchta was editor of the journals The Physical Review and Review of Modern Physics from 1931-1957 and in 1963 established the journal The American Physics Teacher. He wrote numerous articles on the topics of modern physics and physics education in secondary schools and colleges. He was a member of the Minnesota Academy of Science, (serving as president from 1940-1941); American Association of Science; American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Sigma XI. He was recognized by the Physics Teacher's Association of America for Notable Contributions to the Teaching of Physics in 1962. He died in 1966.