Ralph S. Halford papers, 1936-1975 [bulk dates: 1940-1959]
Collection context
- Creator:
- Halford, Ralph S., 1914-1978
- Extent:
- 0.83 linear feet 2 document boxes
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
Correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, conference papers, scientific drawings, photographs, and printed material. This collection consists chiefly of Halford's manuscripts and typescripts of his writings for scientific journals and papers presented at various conferences and symposiums with related correspondence of colleagues. Also included are files on the teaching of chemistry with reference to practices at Columbia, photographs of his spectrometers, a copy of his patent for Recording Spectrometers, and a file relating to his participation in a 1959 panel discussion on the future of education sponsored by the Barnard College and Columbia Alumni Clubs of Chicago. The printed material includes reprints and accompanying bibliography of Halford's writings. Also, a photograph taken by Jack Aeby at the test site of the atomic bomb, Alamogordo, N.M., 16 July 1945 has been added to the collection.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Ralph Stanley Halford was born in Vallejo, California in 1914. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree chemistry in 1935 and a Ph.D. in 1938 from the University of California at Berkeley. He lectured in chemistry for two years at Berkeley before becoming a national research fellow at Harvard, where he later became an instructor and then a lecturer.
He joined the faculty at Columbia University in 1946 as an associate professor of chemistry and was named full professor in 1952. In that year he was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship and from 1957 to 1959 he was chairman of the chemistry department. While chairman he developed a program that permitted exceptionally able students to earn Ph.D. in chemistry in two years after graduation.
In 1959 he became vice provost for projects and grants and in 1961 he was appointed Dean of the Graduate Faculties now known as the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In 1967 he was appointed special assistant to the president of Columbia for special projects. The following year he was named vice president for special projects, a post he held until his retirement in 1977. At the time of his retirement the Trustees named him dean emeritus and professor emeritus.
Halford passed away in Manhattan at age 64 on December 7, 1978 after a long illness.
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The following box is located off-site: Box 2. You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
- Terms of access:
-
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Preferred citation:
-
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Ralph S. Halford papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.
- Contact:
- rbml@library.columbia.edu