Description
Vern Oliver Knudsen (1893-1974) was a professor in the Department of Physics at UCLA before serving as the first dean of the
Graduate Division (1934-58), Vice Chancellor (1956), Chancellor (1959). He also researched architectural acoustics and hearing
impairments, developed the audiometer with Isaac H. Jones, founded the Acoustical Society of America (1928), organized and
served as the first director of what is now the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center in San Diego, and worked as
a acoustical consultant for various projects including the Hollywood Bowl, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Schoenberg Hall,
the United Nations General Assembly building, and a variety of radio and motion picture studios. The collection consists of
manuscripts, correspondence, galley proofs, and other material related to Knudsen's professional activities. The collection
also includes the papers of Leo Peter Delsasso, John Mead Adams, and Edgar Lee Kinsey.
Background
Vern Oliver Knudsen was born in Provo, Utah, on December 27, 1893; BA, Physics, Brigham Young University, 1915; worked at
Western Electric, later known as the Bell Telephone Laboratories, 1918; PhD, Physics, University of Chicago, 1922; professor,
Department of Physics, UCLA; served as first dean of the Graduate Division, UCLA, 1934-58; became Vice Chancellor at UCLA,
1956; Chancellor, UCLA, 1959; researched architectural acoustics and hearing impairments; developed audiometer with Isaac
H. Jones; founded Acoustical Society of America, 1928, and served as president, 1933-35; organized and served as first director
of what is now the Naval Undersea Research and Development Center in San Diego, California; acoustical consultant for various
projects, including the Hollywood Bowl, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Schoenberg Hall, the United Nations General Assembly
building, and a variety of radio and motion picture studios; published two books, Architectural acoustics and Acoustical design in architecture; died, May 13, 1974.Vern Oliver Knudsen was born December 27, 1893 at Provo, Utah, the youngest child of Scandinavian immigrant parents.
Restrictions
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold
the copyright.