This collection documents the life of physicist Charles F. Richter, who focused on geophysics and seismology. He is best known as the seismologist who developed the magnitude scale that bears his name. The papers consist of correspondence with professional organizations, manuscript material, lecture notes, technical notes, and Richter's own collection of science fiction publications.

Charles Francis Richter was born April 26, 1900 on a farm near Hamilton, Ohio. His parents divorced when he was young and his mother resumed her maiden name, Richter. In 1909 the family moved to Los Angeles. Richter entered the University of Southern California (USC) at the age of sixteen and after one year transferred to Stanford, where he received his bachelor's degree in physics in 1920. He completed his schooling at Caltech, earning a PhD in theoretical physics in 1928.

15 linear feet

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