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Dr. Alvin Nielsen Papers

 Collection
Identifier: AR-0747

  • Staff Only

The collection contains Dr. Alvin Nielsen's research and administrative papers, from 1936-1980, and commemorative materials, from 1980-2001.

Series I: Physics Department, 1936-1989 January 13, undated -- Series I consists of papers related to Nielsen's tenure as a physics professor and head of the Department of Physics at the University of Tennessee. It includes reports, correspondence, and news articles. It also contains photographs, taken by Nielsen, of the university's campus, events and fellow faculty members.

Series II: College of Liberal Arts, 1952 January 1-1994 June 9, undated -- Series II contains papers related to Nielsen's term as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Tennessee. It includes reports, correspondence, and news articles. It also contains photograph slides, taken by Nielsen, of the university campus, and photographs of College of Liberal Arts faculty and staff given to Nielsen and his wife, Jane Ann.

Series III: Memorials and Honors, 1977-2001 October, undated -- Series III comprises of papers documenting honors bestowed upon Nielsen during his lifetime, including the dedication of the Alvin H. Nielsen Physics Building and the Alvin H. Nielsen College Scholars Scholarship Award, and after his death in 1994. It consists mostly of news articles, biographical information, and pamphlets.

Dates

  • 1936-2001

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Abstract

The Dr. Alvin Nielsen Papers document Nielsen's tenure as physics professor, head of the Physics Department, and the dean of the College of Liberal Arts (now the College of Arts and Sciences) at the University of Tennessee, from 1935-1980. His papers include reports, correspondence, presentations and speeches, newspaper articles, and photographs. The papers also contain materials collected after his retirement and death that commemorate his achievements, from 1980-2001.

Biographical/Historical Note

Alvin Andreas Herborg Nielsen was born to Knud Herborg Nielsen and Maren Nielsen in Menominee, Michigan on May 30, 1910. His parents immigrated from just outside Herning, Denmark to the United States in the late 19th century. He had an older brother, Harald Herborg Nielsen (1903-1973).

Nielsen majored in physics at the University of Michigan, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts (1931), Master of Science (1932), and Doctorate (1934) degrees. He began his professional career as a post doctorate research fellow at Ohio State University shortly after graduating in 1934, where his brother worked as a physics professor. Nielsen left OSU in 1935 to teach as a physics instructor at the University of Tennessee. He served as a professor of physics (1946-1980), as head of the Department of Physics (1956-1969), and as the dean of the College of Liberal Arts (1962-1977). He was also honored as a Mace Bearer and as a Phi Kappa Phi Distinguished Faculty lecturer in 1963.

Nielsen's academic and professional research focused on molecular spectroscopy, the study of the interaction between atoms or molecules and radiated energy. He conducted research on infrared spectroscopy in detection work for the U.S. Air Force at Ohio State University (with his brother, Harald) from 1944-1946. He was selected as the University of Tennessee's first Fulbright Research Scholar, which granted him time during the 1951-1952 academic year to develop his infrared research and work with Marcel Migeotte of the Astro-Physicial Institute of the University of LiƩge, Belgium. He also served as one of the first consultants for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant Laboratories post-WWII (1947-1980). He published eighty-five publications throughout his career.

When Nielsen retired from his dean position in 1977, the City of Knoxville and the university held an Alvin Nielsen Appreciation Week. In addition, the College Scholars Scholarship, a program he planned as dean, began in his name. In 1980, when he retired from his professorship, the university dedicated the Alvin H. Nielsen Physics Building in his honor. He continued to teach physics as a professor emeritus until 1988. He continued his community involvement after his retirement, including serving on the board of directors for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, among other organizations that promoted the arts, music and theater.

Nielsen married his wife Jane Ann Evans Nielsen (circa 1914-October 18, 2003), of Columbus, Ohio, on December 29, 1942. They had one daughter, Margaret Arthur Nielsen Wayne (1947- ). Nielsen died on November 3, 1994 in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Arrangement

The collection contains one box. The collection's series consist of the following content:

Missing Title

  1. Physics Department, 1936-1989 January 13, undated
  2. College of Liberal Arts, 1952 January 1-1994 June 9, undated
  3. Memorials and Honors, 1977-2001 October, undated

Previous Citation

Some materials in this collection were previously cited as AR.0692 and MS.3644. All materials from previous collections are contained within this collection.

Acquisition Note

University Archives acquired this collection between 2008-2012.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480