Welcome
Welcome to the History of Science Resource Guide. This guide is meant to be a general starting point to research in the history of science, primarily within the University of Chicago Library collection. Print and electronic resources are included as well as general tips and tricks to make your research a bit easier. See also the History of Medicine guide.
History of Science at the University of Chicago
Study of the history of science is highly interdisciplinary in nature at the University of Chicago.
- Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and MedicineEndowed by Dr. Morris Fishbein, long time editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, and his wife Anna Fishbein, the Fishbein Center was inaugurated in 1970 to encourage the study of the history of science and medicine at the University of Chicago.
- The Committee on Conceptual and Historical Studies of ScienceCHSS is a graduate program at the University of Chicago that offers students the opportunity to work toward the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in areas concerned with the foundations, history, philosophy, and social relations of science. Though faculty interests range broadly, CHSS has particular strength in the history and philosophy of physics, astronomy, mathematics, evolutionary biology, psychology, psychiatry, anthropology, and communications.
Scholarly Societies
- British Society for the History of Science
- History of Science Society
- Society for the History of Technology
- Brazilian Association of Philosophy and History of Biology (ABFHiB)
- The Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics / La Société Canadienne d’Histoire et de Philosophie des Mathématiques
- Die Gesellschaft für Geschichte der Wissenschaften, der Medizin und der Technik e. V. (GWMT)
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geschichte und Theorie der Biologie = German Society for the History and Theory of Biology
- European Society for the History of Science
- Indian Society for History of Mathematics
- International Committee for the History of Technology
- Newcomen Society
- Philosophy of Science Association
- Scientific Instrument Society
- Sociedad Mexicana de Historia de la Ciencia y de la Tecnología = Mexican Society for the History of Science and Technology
- Society for the History of Astronomy
Links to Departmental Histories
- Department of Physics, Historical Sketch, 1893-1986This sketch was written by Hellmut Fritzsche when he was Chairman of the Department in 1986
Information about the history of various departments at the University varies in detail and availability from department to department. The Library's Special Collections Research Center which includes the University's archival collection is an especially rich source of historical documentation of science at the University of Chicago. The following are links to those departments and institutes which have published historical descriptions.
- University of Chicago Research Institutes: 50 years of scientific achievementsIncludes brief sketch of Enrico Fermi and James Franck Institutes
Subject Specialist
Chemistry and
Geophysical Sciences
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