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Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0738

Scope and Contents

The personal papers of Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr., spanning the years 1924 to 1986, include professional publications in the fields of electronics and electrical engineering, lectures, addresses, and class and seminar notes for courses he taught in the Department of Electrical Engineering. There are also records pertaining to Hamburger's service as Director of Centennial Planning for The Johns Hopkins University, records concerning the founding of the Archives, and files relating to alumni matters and the Class of 1924.

Dates

  • Creation: 1924-1986

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. contributed over fifty years of service to The Johns Hopkins University as a student, faculty member and administrator. He received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1924 and his Ph.D. in 1931 in Electrical Engineering, both from Hopkins. Immediately after receiving his doctorate, he took a teaching position in the Department of Electrical Engineering. Hamburger served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering from 1954 until his retirement from teaching in 1970.

During the Second World War, Hamburger contributed to the war effort through research, coming to be regarded as an authority on dielectrics, radio and electronics, and radar target simulation equipment. He also served as a consultant to numerous industries and governmental agencies.

From 1958 to 1971, he served as Director of the Carlyle Barton Radiation Laboratory, located on the Homewood Campus. The Barton Laboratory, funded by the United States Air Force, was responsible for research and the solution of problems relating to electromagnetic warfare.

In 1970, Hamburger retired from teaching and was named Professor Emeritus. That same year, he was appointed Director of Centennial Planning by President Lincoln Gordon. In this position, he was responsible for planning and coordinating the many components of the University's Centennial Celebration, held in 1976.

Early in the course of planning for the Centennial, the University came to realize that its historical records were not properly organized, and indeed, were not even together in one location. To remedy this situation Hamburger promoted the founding of a University Archives to provide for the proper organization and preservation of the University's records. In 1977, in recognition of his service to the University, the Archives was formally named the Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. Archives.

On February 22, 1987, in further recognition of his decades of service to Johns Hopkins, Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. was awarded an honorary degree at Commemoration Day ceremonies. Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. died in 1994.

Extent

1.52 Cubic Feet (4 letter size document boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. contributed over fifty years of service to The Johns Hopkins University as a student, faculty member and administrator. The personal papers of Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr., spanning the years 1924 to 1986, include professional publications, lectures, addresses, and class and seminar notes. There are also records pertaining to Hamburger's service as Director of Centennial Planning for The Johns Hopkins University, records concerning the founding of the Archives, and files relating to alumni matters and the Class of 1924.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into five series: (1) Research and Seminar Notes; (2) Publications, Addresses and Lectures; (3) Centennial and Archives; (4) Alumni Records; and (5) University and Professional Correspondence.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These papers were given to the University by Dr. Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. in 1987.

Accruals

Accession number: 87.24

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Allan Holtzman, finding aid edited by James K. Stimpert.

This collection was referred to as Collection 5 (Coll.005) until November 2015.

Title
Ferdinand Hamburger, Jr. papers
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA