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Erich Harth Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives


Finding aid created by: Tim Carter, Emily Rindahl, and Maggie Teschler
Date: 2016

Biography

Erich Harth (1919-2016) was a professor of physics and neurobiology at Syracuse University from 1957 to 1990. He also earned his bachelor's degree (1943), master’s degree (1948) and PhD (1951) in physics from Syracuse University.

Erich Harth was born in Kritzendorf, a small town near Vienna, Austria. He graduated from high school in 1937 and promptly joined the Austrian Air Force. When German forces invaded Austria shortly after, Harth fled to Lisbon, Portugal, and later made his way to Rio, Brazil. He eventually arrived in the United States in 1940. Harth then took a bus to Syracuse, New York with help from the Syracuse Peace Council, an organization that helped refugee students. He began studying physics at Syracuse University in 1941.

Harth earned his bachelor’s degree in 1943 and began graduate school immediately after. His graduate student status initially allowed him to avoid the draft for World War II, but he was eventually drafted into the Army in 1944. During his time as a paratrooper, 1944-1946, he earned two Battle Stars and the Combat Medical Badge.

After his service, Harth returned to Syracuse. He finished his master's degree in physics in 1948 and began studying cosmic rays in the University's newly-formed doctoral program. He earned his PhD in 1951. It was during these years that he met and married Dorothy Feldman.

Between 1951 and 1955, Harth worked at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C. studying nuclear physics. There he met Marty Block, who convinced Harth to continue studying cosmic rays with him at Duke University. By 1957, Harth had moved back to Syracuse with his family, where he would work for the next 33 years.

Back in Syracuse, Harth’s work shifted from the study of cosmic rays to the study of neural networks in the brain. By the late 1960s, he focused exclusively on exploring the material basis for things like vision, memory, and consciousness.

Harth was internationally recognized in the field of biophysics and frequently published his research in American, German, and Italian journals. He was the author of three books: Windows of the Mind: Reflections on the Physical Basis of Consciousness (1982), Dawn of a Millennium: Beyond Evolution and Culture (1990), and Creative Loop: How the Brain Makes a Mind (1993). He invented an algorithm known as Alopex, which was used to observe patterns in neuron activity. He also invented, along with professor Ted Kalogeropoulos, what was known as a multiparameter optimization circuit. This device helped to control many variables within machines and was used by researchers in everything from car engines to hadron colliders.

Erich Harth earned a Chancellor citation in 1984 for his work with the biophysics program at Syracuse University. He retired as professor of physics in 1990 but continued to publish and write about the brain up until his death in 2016.

The biographical information here was adapted from information found on the Syracuse University Department of Physics Interview Archives website and in these papers.

Scope and Content Note

The Erich Harth Papers date from 1940 to 2013 and include the following five series:

The Articles series contains articles that Harth published in scientific journals.

The Books series contains copies of Harth's published books, including Italian and German translations.

The Other Writings series contains drafts of Harth's biography, funding proposals for his multiparameter optimization circuit, two drafts of unpublished books about the brain and consciousness, and miscellaneous writings and notes.

The Presented Papers series contains papers Harth presented at various conferences, meetings, symposia, and congresses.

The Reports series contains reports Harth wrote during his time working for the Office of Naval Research and the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from the Syracuse University Archives and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The Syracuse University Archives holds a clippings file for Erich Harth.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Harth, Erich.
Syracuse University -- History.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Neurobiology.
Physics.
College teachers.
Higher education.

Types of Material

Articles.
Photographs.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Erich Harth Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Richard Harth donated the Erich Harth Papers to the Archives in 2016.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in archival housing. Items in binders were rehoused in folders.

Table of Contents

Articles

Books

Other Writings

Presented Papers

Reports

Inventory