Collection inventory

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Peter G. Bergmann Papers

An inventory of his papers at the Syracuse University Archives

Finding aid created by: SAB
Date: 28 Feb 2024

Revision history:

Biography

Peter G. Bergmann (1915-2002) was a physics professor at Syracuse University.

Bergmann was born March 24, 1915, in Berlin, Germany. He began his study in physics in 1931 at the Technical University in Dresden, and intended to pursue his doctorate at the University of Berlin. However, by spring 1933, Hitler had taken power in Germany, and as a Jewish man, Bergmann was unable to register as a student. In fall of 1933, Bergmann became a student at the German University in Prague, one of three universities in the Czech Republic that offered lessons in German. Bergmann completed his dissertation “The Harmonic Oscillator in a Spherical Space” under Philipp Frank, and obtained his PhD in 1936.

Following his graduation, Bergmann moved to the United States to work under Albert Einstein at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University. He served as Einstein’s research assistant for five years, working on Einstein’s search for a unified relativity theory. After leaving Princeton, Bergmann taught at Black Mountain College and Lehigh University, and worked on underwater sound research at Columbia University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution during World War II. Bergmann took a professorial position at Syracuse University in 1947.

While at Syracuse, Bergmann developed one of the first research centers in the United States devoted to general relativity, and was the doctoral advisor for a number of well-known physicists. He was also active in many professional organizations, and served on the International Committee for General Relativity and Gravitation. Along with Dr. Venzo de Sabbata of the Ettore Majorana International Center for Scientific Culture, Bergmann coordinated a biennial NATO Advanced Studies Institute course that took place at the International School for Cosmology and Gravitation in Erice, Italy.

Following his retirement from Syracuse University in 1982, he was given desk space at New York University, where he continued to work until the late 1990s. Bergmann died in October 2002, and was posthumously awarded the Einstein Prize in 2003.

Scope and Content Note

The Peter G. Bergmann Papers contain biographical materials, correspondence-subject files, course materials, Einstein-related materials, writings by Bergmann, and writings by others.

Biographical materials contains clippings from Syracuse University newspapers related to Bergmann, publication lists, interview materials, photographs, and materials relating to professional accomplishments.

Correspondence-subject files consists of communications, reports, financial materials, notes, and event posters. The majority of material represents Bergmann’s collaborations with colleagues within the field of general relativity and his work with various associations and organizations, such as the International Committee on General Relativity and Gravitation, the International School of Cosmology and Gravitation, and the National Science Foundation.

Course materials contains blank tests from a physics course that Bergmann taught at New York University and projector transparencies for assorted lectures.

Einstein materials contains clippings related to Albert Einstein’s life and work, invitations and schedules for a variety of Einstein centenary celebrations, writings by and about Einstein and his work, and photocopies of correspondence, primarily between Einstein and Bergmann. Also present are photographs of Einstein and an Israeli banknote bearing Einstein’s face.

Writings by Bergmann consists of Bergmann’s article reprints, book reviews, conference presentations, dissertation, drafts, academic papers, and research reports.

Writings by others contains books, article reprints, and papers related to physics study, primarily within the fields of general relativity and theoretical physics.

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 University Archives holds a portrait file of Peter G. Bergmann. Additionally, the Special Collections Research Center holds the Albert Einstein Collection.

Selected Search Terms

Names

Bargmann, V. (Valentine), 1908-1989.
Bergmann, Peter Gabriel.
Bunge, Mario, 1919-2020.
De Sabbata, Venzo.
Dukas, Helen.
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955.
Frank, Philipp, 1884-1966.
Held, A. (Alan)
Lebowitz, Joel Louis, 1930-
Nathan, Otto, 1893-1987.
Pauli, Wolfgang, 1900-1958.
Rosen, Nathan, -1995.
Ettore Majorana International Centre for Scientific Culture.
International School of Cosmology and Gravitation.
International Society on General Relativity and Gravitation.
National Science Foundation (U.S.). Division of Physics.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Solvay Conference on Physics.
Syracuse University.

Subjects

Constraints (Physics)
General relativity (Physics)
Physics.
Underwater acoustics.
Unified field theories.
College teachers.
Higher education.
Physicists.

Types of Material

Articles.
Book illustrations.
Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Manuscripts for publication.
Photographs.
Posters.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Peter G. Bergmann Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of John E. Bergmann, 2004; additional gift of Miriam Goldberg, 2021.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically.

Table of Contents

Biographical materials

Correspondence-subject files

Course materials

Einstein materials

Writings by Bergmann

Writings by others

Inventory