Archive Frits Zernike

Brief overview

Name of the archive: Archive Frits Zernike

Provenance: University Museum Groningen

Dated: 1894 - 1988

Size: 1.70m

Language of the materials: Dutch, English

Summary:

Personal and scientific archive of Frits Zernike (1888-1966) containing correspondence, notes, speeches,   etc. The archive materials were gathered and organized by Professor H. Brinkman and his assistant Mr O.S. Kramer.

Archive number: UBG039

Institute: University Library Groningen

Retainer: University Library Groningen

Provenance and acquisition

Biography

Frits Zernike was born in 1888 in Amsterdam, where he studied chemistry before becoming the astronomer J.C. Kapteyn’s assistant in Groningen. In 1915 he became a lecturer in mathematical physics and in 1920 professor in pure physics.

Zernike developed an interest in physical optics in the 1930s which led to his discovery of phase contrast and the invention of the phase contrast microscope. He also developed a colour phase contrast microscope with American optics specialists and the company Zeiss. This increased the contrast of preparations, making them easier to study.

Zernike received the Nobel Prize for his phase contrast microscope in 1953. He also received countless other awards, honorary memberships and doctorates, both nationally and internationally, for his work in the field of physics.

Acquisition

The archive came to the University Library by way of the University Museum.

Future additions

No future additions to this archive are expected

Contents and collation

The archive contains correspondence, lectures, published works, personal documents, and transcripts of interviews about Zernike, among others. This archive was collected by Professor H. Brinkman, who intended to write a biography about Zernike.

Instructions for users of the archive

Accessibility

The archive is accessible for research purposes.

Limitations to use

The materials in this archive are available for viewing only. They cannot be borrowed. When consulting these materials, the rules set out in the Reglement voor de gebruikers van de Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen apply. Reproductions, insofar as they are allowed, are to be made in line with the rules set out in the Tarieven en diensten Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.

Accessing the archive

An inventory of the archive is available. This inventory was made by O.S. Kramer in 1988. The archive was originally kept in drawers, which have been transferred into boxes. The archive originally contained several objects, which are described at the end of the inventory. These objects are in possession of the   University Museum and not the University Library.

Citations

When referencing (materials from) this archive, the following information must be provided in full at least once. After this, an abbreviated citation suffices.

• Archive: University Library Groningen, archive Zernike

• Individual items: UB Groningen, Zernike [number]

Requests

The materials in this archive can be requested by sending a mail to the Special Collections department or through Smartcat, the online library catalogue.