Hunt, Frederick V.

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Hunt (1905-1972) graduated from Harvard in 1928 and taught physics and communication engineering at Harvard.

From the description of Papers of Frederick V. Hunt, 1927-1970 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 76973072

Lifespan 1905-1972.

From the description of Oral history interview with Frederick Vinton Hunt, 1964 December 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83510555

Frederick Vinton Hunt (1905-1972), an American educator and scientist, contributed substantially to numerous aspects of acoustics and communications. An inventor, Hunt also held 13 patents.

Hunt's early interest was in room acoustics, this was followed by an interest in phonograph recording and playback that continued throughout his career. (The interest in phonographs began in 1936. After developing sound recording equipment to document Harvard University's Tercentenary celebration, Vinton and his colleague J.A. Pierce were faced with the challenge of making equally impressive playback equipment; their researches led to the development of criteria that eventually made possible the long-playing record.) In 1941, Hunt founded the Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory. During World War II, this laboratory developed anti-submarine devices, including torpedoes and efficient sonar systems. At its height during the war, the staff expanded to 450, and the laboratory facilities grew to include ships, field stations, and the Hemenway Gymnasium at Harvard.

Hunt's achievements as an educator are also notable. His teaching methods were Socratic. Thirty-five doctoral dissertations were written under his direction. He played a key role in establishing the Division of Engineering and Applied Physics, part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, at Harvard University.

Hunt earned an AB in 1924 and a B.E.E. in 1925 from Ohio State University. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from Harvard in 1934, submitted a second thesis to the Graduate School of Engineering for an S.D., but was refused because Harvard would not award two doctorates to the same individual. He remained at Harvard until his retirement in 1971. He was Instructor in Physics (1934-1937), Assistant Professor (1937-1940), Associate Professor (1940-1946), Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics (1946-1971); the additional title of Rumford Professor of Physics became his in 1953.

He received many honors, including an honorary S.D. from Harvard in 1945, the Presidential Medal of Merit from President Truman in 1947, and the Distinguished Service Medal by the U.S. Navy in 1970.

From the guide to the Papers of Frederick V. Hunt, 1927-1970, (Harvard University Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.). F. V. Hunt memorial session II [sound recording] : Professor Hunt, educator; 1973 April 12. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Hunt, Frederick V. Oral history interview with Frederick Vinton Hunt, 1964 December 18. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.). F. V. Hunt memorial session I [sound recording] : engineering and architectural acoustics; 1973 April 12. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Hunt, Frederick V. Papers of Frederick V. Hunt, 1927-1970 (inclusive). Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891-. Oral history interview with Leonard B. Loeb, 1962 August 7. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Miller, Laymon N. Some anecdotes and recollections about Acoustical Society Presidents whom I have known, 2004 July 4. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Records of the Dept. of Physics, 1879-1983 (inclusive), 1910-1983 (bulk). Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Papers of Frederick V. Hunt, 1927-1970 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Chaffee, Emory Leon, 1885-1975. Oral history interview with Emory Leon Chaffee, 1964 January 31. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory. Records of the Underwater Sound Laboratory, 1941-1949. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.). F. V. Hunt memorial session III [sound recording] : physical acoustics, underwater sound and signal processing ; 1973 April 12. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Harvard University Archives Photograph Collection: Portraits, ca. 1852-ca. 2004 Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Records of the Underwater Sound Laboratory, 1941-1949 Harvard University Archives.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Acoustical Society of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Acoustical Society of America. Meeting (85th: 1973 : Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Beranek, Leo Leroy, 1914- person
associatedWith Bridgman, P. W. (Percy Williams), 1882-1961. person
associatedWith Chaffee, Emory Leon, 1885-1975. person
associatedWith Conant, James Bryant, 1893-1978. person
associatedWith Fletcher, Harvey, b. 1884. person
associatedWith Harvard Underwater Sound Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Dept. of Physics. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Division of Engineering and Applied Physics. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Graduate School of Engineering. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Laboratories for Acoustics. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University. Underwater Sound Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Loeb, Leonard B. (Leonard Benedict), 1891- person
associatedWith Lyman, Theodore, 1910- person
associatedWith Massachusetts Institute of Technology. corporateBody
associatedWith Miller, Laymon N. person
associatedWith Morse, Philip M. (Philip McCord), 1903-1985. person
associatedWith Ohio State University. corporateBody
associatedWith Pierce, George Washington, 1872-1956. person
associatedWith United States. Navy. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Office of Scientific Research and Development. corporateBody
associatedWith Weiner, Charles. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Architectural acoustics
Frequency meters
Minesweepers
Patents
Physics
Sound
Sound laboratories
Structural analysis (Engineering)
Underwater acoustics
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1905-02-15

Death 1972-04-21

Americans

English

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