J. HAROLD WAYLAND (1901 - 2000) INTERVIEWED BY JOHN L. GREENBERG AND ANN PETERS December 9 and 30, 1983 January 16, 1984 January 3, 5, and 7, 1985 J. Harold Wayland, 1979 ARCHIVES CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Pasadena, California Subject area Engineering and applied science Abstract An interview in six sessions, December 1983–January 1985, with J. Harold Wayland, professor emeritus of engineering science in the Division of Engineering and Applied Science. Dr. Wayland received a BS in physics and mathematics from the University of Idaho, 1931, and became a graduate student at Caltech in 1933, earning his PhD in 1937. After graduation he taught at the University of Redlands while working at Caltech as a research fellow with H. Bateman until 1941. Joins Naval Ordnance Laboratory as head of the magnetic model section for degaussing ships; War Research Fellow at Caltech 1944-45; heads Navy’s Underwater Ordnance Division. In 1949, joins Caltech’s faculty as associate professor of applied mechanics, becoming professor of engineering science in 1963; emeritus in 1979. He describes his early education and graduate work at Caltech under R. A. Millikan; courses with W. R. Smythe, F. Zwicky, M. Ward, and W. V. Houston; http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J teaching mathematics; research with O. Beeck. Fellowship, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen; work with G. Placzek and M. Knisely; interest in rheology. On return, teaches physics at the University of Redlands meanwhile working with Bateman. Recalls his work at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory and torpedo development for the Navy. Discusses streaming birefringence; microcirculation and its application to various fields; Japan’s contribution; evolution of Caltech’s engineering division and the Institute as a whole; his invention of the precision animal table and intravital microscope. Involvement with the Athenaeum. Friendship with Sidney Weinbaum; Weinbaum’s trial. In the last two sessions, conducted by his daughter Ann, he reminisces about growing up in Boise, Idaho; living conditions as a Caltech graduate student. Further comments on Copenhagen, colleagues there, meeting Niels Bohr, and his career at the University of Redlands. Administrative information Access The interview is unrestricted. Copyright Copyright has been assigned to the California Institute of Technology © 1986, 2020. All requests for permission to publish or quote from the transcript must be submitted in writing to the University Archivist and Head, Special Collections. Preferred citation Wayland, J. Harold. Interview by John L. Greenberg and Ann Peters. Pasadena, California, December 9, 30, 1983; January 16, 1984; January 3, 5, 7, 1985. Oral History Project, California Institute of Technology Archives. Retrieved [supply date of retrieval] from the World Wide Web: http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J Contact information Archives, California Institute of Technology Mail Code B215-74 Pasadena, CA 91125 Phone: (626)395-2704 Fax: (626)395-4073 Email: [email protected] Graphics and content © 2020 California Institute of Technology. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVES ORAL HISTORY PROJECT INTERVIEW WITH J. HAROLD WAYLAND PASADENA, CALIFORNIA BY JOHN L. GREENBERG AND ANN PETERS Copyright © 1986, 2020, California Institute of Technology http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J Wayland–ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Interview with J. Harold Wayland Session 1 1-31 Family background and growing up in Boise, Idaho; interest in high school chemistry via radio; chemical engineering and physics at University of Idaho; teaching assistant at Caltech 1931, assigned by E. Watson to teach math; Electricity & Magnetism with W. R. Smythe; Analytical Mechanics with F. Zwicky; courses with M. Ward, W. V. Houston. Research with O. Beeck on ionization of gases by atomic bombardment; marriage; teaching math at U. of Idaho; back to Caltech to complete thesis under R. A. Millikan; works on atom bombardment; Fellowship, Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen, 1937; Jewish refugees there; work with G. Placzek on neutron beam self-absorption. Tutoring at Caltech; teaches physics at University of Redlands; work at Caltech with H. Bateman as research fellow; Einstein, A. Lemaître, R. Tolman seminar; M. Ward, T. von Kármán as teachers. E. T. Bell; A. Michal. Further recollections of Bateman. Further comments on ionization of gases. World War II; magnetic mine research at Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Washington; electrical-engineering design, San Pedro; value of I. Bowen’s optics course and W. R. Smythe’s E&M for fluid mechanics; torpedo development under F. Lindvall; new problems in hydrodynamics of water entry; work at Naval Ordnance Test Station; heads Naval Underwater Ordnance Division, Morris Dam; conflicting research interests under military administration. To Caltech January 1949 as associate professor of applied mathematics; the discipline of engineering science; applied mathematics and physics; J. Vinograd; molecular behavior in a hydrodynamic field; Guggenheim fellowship 1953-54 at macromolecular research center in Strasbourg to study double refraction in flow as means of observing hydrodynamic fields. Session 2 32-71 Theory of streaming birefringence; after return from Strasbourg, viscometric studies with J. Vinograd; interactions of particles in fluids, using tobacco mosaic and southern bean mosaic viruses. Biological application of fluid mechanics at molecular level; students M. Intaglietta, D. Collins, G. S. Argyropoulos. Interest in blood flow dating back to Copenhagen (M. Knisely), revived by work with W. Frasher at Cardiovascular Research Lab; “outflow viscometry,” measuring blood-flow rate in animals; B. Zweifach, Intaglietta, Y. C. Fung and bioengineering at UCSD. Biophysics, bioengineering in U.S. and Europe; work with P. Johnson on blood-flow velocity; concentration on living systems; transport processes from bloodstream into tissues; publishes with Frasher on cat http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J Wayland–iii mesentery; designing equipment for intravital research; A. Beckman and L. DuBridge’s support of funding for precision animal table and intravital microscope. Microcirculation research worldwide; Japan as potential leader in field. Intravital microscope sent from Caltech to U. of Missouri Medical School in 1978; P. D. Harris as PI. Prospects for intravital Observatories; Japanese candidates as director. Need to expand microcirculation research; funding in U.S. compared with Max Planck Institutes. Changes in Caltech’s direction since 1930s; views on engineering and engineering science; von Kármán’s and Lindvall’s contributions. Session 3 72-93 The Athenaeum over the years; chairman of study committee, 1960s; revives idea of bringing together scholars and faculty; need for Institute funding; changes with liquor permit; conflict with H. Brown; J. D. Roberts as board chairman; program committee encouraging professional entertainment and intellectual gatherings; not enough mingling today with Associates or among divisions. F. Hoyle as speaker. Other changes at Caltech: outside funding affects sense of identity with the Institute; extracurricular interests: research with wife on history of playing cards; chairman of liaison committee for 3rd World Congress of European Microcirculation Society; prospects of funding large-scale, methods-oriented biomedical research facilities. Reminiscences of Millikan as fellow board member of Neighborhood Church; mathematics at Caltech in the 1930s; Bateman’s unique qualities; his inventory system. Session 4 94-107 More on graduate students and teachers, 1931-34; M. Ward’s outstanding class; L. Pauling collaborators E. B. Wilson, D. O. North, S. Weinbaum; trying to solve molecular structure problems with determinantal equations; friendship with Weinbaum; Pauling’s pioneering application of quantum mechanics to chemistry; R. C. Tolman’s role in developing a systematic approach to relativity; learning atomic collision techniques to study mechanics of gas discharge; Weinbaum’s 1950 perjury trial and prison sentence; E. Watson’s firm opposition to witch hunts. Session 5 108-122 Family roots in Midwest; learning auto mechanics, blacksmithing, journalism at high school in Boise; piano and organ lessons; early interest in law and public debate yielding to radio broadcasting and science; music and theatrical performances in Boise; Chautauqua orators; camping in the mountains; shock of hard work at university. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechOH:OH_Wayland_J Wayland–iv Session 6 123-136 Lifelong interest in photography; flash photos with magnesium powder; color photography in Denmark in 1937; high-speed photography in naval ordnance work and cinematography in microcirculation laboratory. Four graduate students keeping house at Catalina and Del Mar; entertainment and dancing; cooking experiments and versification. Recollections of stay in Copenhagen; influence of fellow resident M. Knisely then working in A. Krogh laboratory on microcirculation in frog kidney; connection maintained into postwar years, ultimately leading to work with Frasher in 1960s; Strasbourg stay shows value of using fluid mechanics and optics to study large molecules; Vinograd’s classes on use of hydrodynamics to characterize large molecules; finding differences in viscosity with molecules of different size in small blood vessels. A Walpurgis Night in Stockholm; association with Placzek and V. Weisskopf; meeting Bohr on a train in