On the Propagation of an Arbitrary Electro-Magnetic Disturbance, on Spherical Waves of Light and the Dynamical Theory of Diffraction

]> ms.110 Bliss, (W. J. A.) 1867-1940 Papers 1892-1927 Ms. 110 Margaret N. Burri Special Collections, The Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University

3400 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 USA Phone: (410) 516-8323

Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Diwakar Bhandari Finding aid written in English Bliss, (W. J. A.) 1867-1940 Papers 1892-1927 Ms. 110 Special CollectionsThe Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University Contact Information Special Collections The Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University 3400 North Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218 (410) 516-8323 Processed by: Margaret N. Burri Date completed: September 1988 Encoded by: Diwakar Bhandari

Descriptive Summary Ms. 110 Bliss, (W. J. A.) 1867-1940 Papers 1892-1927 Bliss, W. J. A., 1867-1940 Johns Hopkins University. Special Collections 1 linear ft. (2 document boxes) English The collection consists of four series: notebooks, lecture notes, writings, and correspondence. The material spans 1892-1927, with the bulk covering 1892-1894 and 1925-1927. The notebooks contain Bliss's notes on physics from lectures given by Joseph Ames and Henry Rowland. Bliss studied with both men while working on his Ph.D. These notebooks, along with the David S. Pindell Notebook (Ms. 207), provide the most complete source for understanding the content and methodology of Rowland and Ames's classroom instruction. Electricity, heat, light, magnetism and optics are covered in the notes. Bliss taught an upper level course on electricity and magnetism. His lectures dealt primarily with the mathematical theory of the subjects. Because the emphasis was heavily mathematical, Bliss had his students work a number of problems. The questions and solutions for the problem sets are included on notecards with the lectures. The correspondence survives only because Bliss recorded lecture notes on the backs of letters. The originals remain with the lectures; copies on acid-free paper are available to the researcher. Administrative Information Provenance

The W. J. A. Bliss papers came to the Manuscripts Department at two different times. The first part, seven notebooks, lecture notes, and notecards, were transferred from the Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. archives in 1982. Nine additional notebooks were transferred from the Henry A. Rowland Papers (Ms. 6) in 1988.

Use Restrictions

Access to the papers is unrestricted.

Permission to publish material from this collection must be requested in writing from the Manuscripts Librarian, Milton S. Eisenhower Library, The Johns Hopkins University, 3400 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21218.

Preferred Citation

W. J. A. Bliss Papers Ms. 110 Special Collections Milton S. Eisenhower Library The Johns Hopkins University

Biographical Note

William Julian Albert Bliss was born in Washington, D. C. on January 22, 1867. He received his A. B. from Harvard in 1888, and entered the Physics Ph.D program at The Johns Hopkins University the same year. After receiving his doctorate in 1894, Bliss, joined the faculty. He taught continously for 38 years, instructing students in electricity and magnetism. He retired in 1928, and died in 1940.

Bliss was active in both the intellectual and social life of the University. He co-authored, with Joseph S. Ames, what was to become the standard physics lab guide: The Manual of Experimental Physics. He also served as chairman of the Dormitory Committee from 1911 to 1925.

Description of Series/Container List Series 1: Notebooks Series 1: Notebooks, 1892-1894 1.5 boxes Arranged alphabetically by topic.

Notes on lectures delivered by both Henry A. Rowland and Joseph S. Ames are included here. The topics covered are electricity, heat, hydrodynamics, light, magnetism, mechanics, and optics.

Box Contents 1 Electricity, lectures by Joseph S. Ames, n. d., 1 folder 1 Electricity, lectures by Henry A. Rowland, 1893-1894, 3 volumes 1 Electricity and Magnetism, lectures by Henry A. Rowland, 1893, 3 volumes 1 Heat, lectures by Henry A. Rowland, 1892-1894, 3 volumes 1 Hydrodynamics, lectures by Joseph S. Ames, 1893, 1 volume 1 Light, lectures by Henry A. Rowland, 1892-1893, Dr. Rowland 2 Mechanics, lectures by Joseph S. Ames, 1893, 1 volume 2 Mechanics and Hydrodynamics, lectures by Joseph S. Ames, 1892- 1893, 1 volume 2 Optics, 1892, lectures by Henry A. Rowland, 1 volume Series 2: Lectures Series 2: Lectures, 1925-1927 and n.d. .5 box, Arranged chronologically.

The bulk of the lectures are those Bliss delivered to his Physics III course. Required for upper-level Physics majors, the course covered electricity and magnetism. The problem set notecards are arranged according to Bliss's topics: branch circuits, capacity, transmission, resistance, force and potential, Ohm's Law, magnetic induction, magnetic circuits, and thermoelectricity.

Box Contents 2 "Atomic Structure, X-Rays and Quantum Theory", c.1925,1 folder 2 "Energy of Medicine", n. d.,1 folder 2 "Physics III. Electricity and Magnetism", 1925-1927,6 folders 2 Problem sets for Physics III, notecards Series 3: Correspondence Series 3: Correspondence, 1909-1926 1 folder Arranged chronologically.

The correspondence consists mainly of incoming letters. The seven outgoing letters are interfiled. The bulk of the correspondence focuses on business matters: lab supplies, interest on bonds, and mortgage payments. Because Bliss chose to write lectures on the backs of the letters, he probably viewed it as his "junk mail."

Box Contents 2 ATT 2 Boston Safe Deposit and Trust 2 Century Trust Company 2 Chandler Motor Car Company 2 D. Van Nostrand Company 2 Depart of Commerce and Labor 2 E. A. Kaestner 2 Eastern Box Company 2 Encyclopaedia Brittanica 2 Fidelity Trust Company 2 J. Harmanus, Fisher and Sons 2 Northwestern National Insurance Company 2 Palm Engineering Company 2 Schaar and Company 2 Thomas H. Quinlan and Company 2 W. C. Shinn Manufacturing Company 2 West and Company 2 Weston Electrical Company 2 Wilson-Maeulen Company Series 4: Writings Series 4: Writings, n.d. 1 folder

The writings series consists of one item: Bliss's comments on Henry A. Rowland's 1882 article "On the Propagation of an Arbitrary Electro-Magnetic Disturbance, on Spherical Waves of Light and the Dynamical Theory of Diffraction." Bliss's comments are undated.

Box Contents 2 Comments on Henry A. Rowland's On the Propagation of an Arbitrary Electro-Magnetic Disturbance, on Spherical Waves of Light and the Dynamical Theory of Diffraction, n.d.