RS 13-20-55 Wilbur Thoburn

Descriptive summary

creator:	Wilbur C. Thoburn
title:	Papers
dates:	1945-1992, n.d.
extent:	0.42 linear feet (1 document box)
collection number:	RS 13/20/55
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Wilbur C. Thoburn, Papers, 1945-1992, n.d. RS 13/20/55, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Biographical note

Wilbur C. Thoburn, the son of missionaries, was born November 24, 1900 in Lucknow, India. He received a B.S. (1921) from the Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania; a M.A. (1922) from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois; a M.S. (1931) from the University of Chicago; and a Ph.D. (1956) from Iowa State College.

Thoburn was physics instructor (1922-1923) at the University of Georgia; an instructor (1924-1937) at the Lucknow Christian College in Lucknow, India; and Professor of Physics (1938-1961) at the Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan. He held the positions of Assistant Professor of Physics and research assistant part-time (1956-1958) at Iowa State College and joined the faculty full-time as an Assistant Professor (1961-1970). Although he retired in 1970, Thoburn continued research until his death on March 14, 1992.

Collection description

The collection consists mostly of Thoburn’s physics research notes and publications. The papers also contain biographical material and correspondence with editors and critics.

Organization

This collection is organized alphabetically then chronologically.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	B6 model liquid, comparison	1978, n.d.
1	2	Biographical information	1970-1992
1	3	Clarifying some ideas about molecular mechanisms in fluids	n.d.
1	4	Consequences of intermolecular attraction in fluids	n.d.
1	5	Critics, correspondence	1982-1986
1	6	Dynamic consequences of intermolecular attraction in gases	1965
1	7	Editors, correspondence	1945-1986
1	8	Field and gradient meter	1962-1964
1	9	Magnetic properties of the Gd-La and Gd-Y alloys	1950
1	10	Magnetic properties of terbium metal	1958
1	11	Mechanisms underlying surface tension, tension in interfaces and contact angles	n.d.
1	12	Molecular mechanisms in liquids and gases	1971
1	13	Obtuse contact angle	1971
1	14	Obtuse contact angle, problem	1976
1	15	Origin of liquid surface tension	1970
1	16	Origin of surface tension of liquids	1977
1	17	Pressure mechanisms in real gases	n.d.
1	18	Role of intermolecular attractions in liquids and gases	1965
1	19	Tension in the interface between two liquids	1977-1979
1	20	Thermodynamics	n.d.
1	21	Traditional misinterpretation in elementary molecular theory	1980, n.d.
1	22	Transition region, liquid to vapor	n.d.