Documenting Earthquakes: A Virtual Exhibit

In honor of the centennial of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the Caltech Archives presents a virtual exhibit in six parts of materials from its own collections.  Recent major donations by Professor George W. Housner have substantially augmented the Archives’ holdings in the history of earthquakes and the early science of seismology.  Part I of the present exhibit, Documenting the 1906 Quake, takes highlights from the original investigative commission report—a landmark scientific study—and then presents a contrasting array of popular souvenir pieces of the same period.  Parts II-VI (forthcoming in 2006) are titled:  The Beginnings of Seismology at Caltech; Charles Richter and the Earthquake Magnitude Scale; Historical Earthquake Accounts from the George W. Housner Rare Book Collection; Namazu-e:  Japanese Earthquake Prints from the George W. Housner Collection; Earthquakes and Volcanoes:  Sir William Hamilton’s Report to the Royal Society, 1776-1779. 

The Gnome Club: a Visual History

The Gnome Club (Kappa Gamma Fraternity) was founded on March 9, 1897. Until the opening of the first four student houses in 1931 ended its official operations, it was one of five local fraternities active at Caltech. Nevertheless, the strong loyalty and friendship of early Gnomes helped it survive and the club began recruiting members from the graduating class in 1949. Today, the Gnomes are a continuing resource for the Institute, serving the Caltech community through the Alumni Association, SURF, Caltech Y, the Gnome scholarship program, and other activities. The Gnome Club exhibit provides viewers with an opportunity to relive some of the club's rich history.

The Wouk Exhibit

The Brothers Wouk — Victor (left), MS '40, PhD '42, a pioneer in electric and hybrid vehicle development, and Herman, the noted author. The two brothers came to Caltech on April 14, 2004 to celebrate Herman's new novel, A Hole in Texas, and Victor's donation of his papers to the Caltech Archives. A virtual exhibit memorializes the celebration.
 

The Beckman Room Exhibit

Arnold Orville Beckman came to Caltech in 1923. Within a few years, he earned his PhD, joined the Caltech faculty, invented the pH meter, and left to launch an industrial empire. In the same period, Caltech laid the foundation for the great institution it was to become. The exhibits in the Beckman Room introduce us to this history.

The Reading Room Exhibit

The Archives Reading Room, where scholars and other qualified researchers study Archives' materials, features an exhibit of scientific instruments and other Archives treasures ranging from an ancient Egyptian plumb bob to twentieth-century experimental apparatus.