Fritz Zwicky Papers: Finding Aid mssZwicky
Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, February 7, 2013.
The Huntington Library
2013
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Business Number: (626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Note
Finding aid last updated on March 27, 2024, by Suzanne Oatey.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Fritz Zwicky papers
Creator:
Zwicky, F. (Fritz), 1898-1974
Identifier/Call Number: mssZwicky
Physical Description:
1.5 Linear Feet
(2 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1940-1967
Abstract: This small collection contains
correspondence, some photographs, 5 audio tapes, and 14 film reels of Fritz Zwicky
(1898-1974), a Swiss astronomer who worked most of his life at the California Institute of
Technology. The collection chiefly deals with Zwicky and his family, although there is a
little material related to astronomy. Some of the material is in German.
Language of Material: English and German
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Fritz Zwicky papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Barbarina Zwicky, June 24, 2011.
Biographical / Historical
Fritz Zwicky (1898-1974) was a Swiss astronomer. He worked most of his life at the
California Institute of Technology, where he made many important contributions in
theoretical and observational astronomy. Zwicky was born in Bulgaria in 1898. In 1904, at
the age of six, Fritz was sent to his grandparents in Glarus, Switzerland for school. His
interests were math and physics and he received an advanced education in mathematics and
experimental physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, located in Zürich,
Switzerland. In 1925, he immigrated to the United States to work with Robert Millikan at the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) after receiving the "international fellowship
from the Rockefeller Foundation."
In 1932, Zwicky married Dorothy Vernon Gates; they divorced in 1941. In 1947 he married
Anna Zurcher; they had three daughters: Margrit, Franziska, and Barbarina. Zwicky died in
Pasadena, California in 1974 and was buried in Mollis, Switzerland. The Zwicky Museum at the
Landesbibliothek, Glarus, houses many of his papers and scientific works, and the Fritz
Zwicky Stiftung (Foundation) in Switzerland carries on his ideas relating to "Morphological
analysis."
Scope and Contents
The collection chiefly deals with Zwicky and his family although there is a little material
related to astronomy. Some of the material is in German. The small collection includes:
One volume that contains letters between Zwicky and his daughters while they were in
Switzerland (for school). Entitled "Briefe von und an die kinder." In his letters, Zwicky
sometimes mentions his research and astronomical work.
There are three telephone books that belonged to Zwicky and 15 photographs. Includes one
portrait of Zwicky and 14 views of the star cluster Hyades (includes notes on the front and
verso of the photographs).
Also included in the collection are 5 audio tapes, reel to reel, that are not labeled and
undated. There are also 14 16mm film reels that contain scenes of home life in Pasadena;
Zwicky family trips; school shows with Zwicky's daughters; and scenes at Palomar
Observatory.
Note: The cataloger did not review the audio-video material.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected audiovisual items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions
are available in the
Internet
Archive.
Arrangement
Arranged in 2 boxes:
- Box 1: Volume, Telephone Books, Photographs
- Box 2: Audio tapes and film reels
General
Former call number: mssZwicky papers.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Astronomers -- United States -- Archives
Astronomy -- Photographs
Astronomy -- United States -- History -- 20th century --
Sources
Stars -- Clusters
California, Southern -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
Fetan (Switzerland)
Pasadena (Calif.)
Audiotapes -- 20th century
16mm -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence)-- Switzerland -- 20th century
Photographs -- 20th century
California Institute of
Technology
Palomar Observatory
Volume, Telephone Books, Photographs
Box 1, Folder 1
Volume: "Briefe von und an die kinder" (1960-1967). 1 item.
Box 1, Folder 2
Telephone books [undated]. 3 items.
Box 1, Folder 3
Photographs (1940-[approximately 1950]). 15 items.
Audio tapes and film reels
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected audiovisual items from this collection have been digitized. Digital
reproductions are available in the
Internet
Archive.
Box 2, Folder 1
Audio tapes [undated]. 5 items (a-e).
Box 2, Folder 2
Film reels, 16mm Kodachrome (1952-1956). 14 items.
Box 2, Folder 2, Item a
Family Zwicky, Pasadena, July 1952
Box 2, Folder 2, Item c
School show, Margriti, Franziska, [June 1953]
Box 2, Folder 2, Item d
Children in plastic swimming pool, August 1953
Box 2, Folder 2, Item e
Family, Mr. Rudo's swimming pool, August 1953
Box 2, Folder 2, Item f
Trip to Palomar, La Salana, Beach, etc., August 1953
Box 2, Folder 2, Item g
Trip to Flagstaff, Grand Canon, September 1953
Box 2, Folder 2, Item h
Grand Canon, Zion Park, [September 1953]
Box 2, Folder 2, Item i
Zoo, Bicycles, [May] 1954
Box 2, Folder 2, Item l
Fall of 1955, Halloween, Pismo Beach, 1955
Box 2, Folder 2, Item m
Fall 1955, Halloween Party at Hamilton School, 1955
Box 2, Folder 2, Item n
Knotts Berry Farm, January 1956