The Department of Physics at Oregon Agricultural College was started in 1908 with the appointment of Dr. Willibald Weniger as Assistant Professor of Physics by President William Jasper Kerr. Prior to that time two courses in elementary physics were given by the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Dr. Weniger received his B.A. degree in 1905, his M.A. in 1906, and his Ph.D. in 1908, all from the university of Wisconsin, and then came directly to Oregon Agricultural College. He was at that time the only Ph.D. on the staff of the College.
The courses in physics offered in 1908-09 were: 1 and 2. Physics. Three credits per term. Required for students in Mechanic Arts. 3 and 4. Physics. Four credits per semester. Prerequisite: plane geometry. Required for students in Engineering, Commerce, Pharmacy, and Forestry.
The Physics offices and laboratories were located in Mechanical Hall (now Apperson Hall) where they remained until 1928 when the new Physics building (now Covell Hall) was completed.
This is the way our history begins. For more information,see links below. Some pictures need to be rotated in the adobe reader, the scanner does not always agree with what physics tells is up or down.
Historical facts covering 1908 through 1966, compiled by Prof. Edwin Yunker [1]
Historical facts covering 1967 through 1971, compiled by Prof. James Brady [2]
Historical facts covering 1970 through 1979, compiled by Ms. Carole Holmquist [3]
Pictures from 1923 to 1934 [4]
Pictures from 1936 [5]
Start of the KOAC radio station [6]
The first OSU seismograph [7]
Start of the OSU cyclotron [8]
Move to Weniger Hall [9]
Dedication of Weniger Hall [10]
Pictures taken in 1969 [11]
Program of the 100th meeting of the NW AAPT section in Corvallis [12]
Dedication of the Yunker Reading Room, 1972 [13]
Local AAPT meeting in Corvallis, 1971 [14]
Alumnus in the news, Dr. Kenneth Evenson, 1972 [15]
Local OAS meeting in Corvallis, 1973 [16]
First Physics Fellowship, 1973 [17]
James Brady's retirement party, 1973 [18]
