Academic Freedom and Faculty Careers: a Case Study of Four Nobel Laureate Exiles, 1930-1940
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W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1995 Academic freedom and faculty careers: A case study of four Nobel laureate exiles, 1930-1940 Timothy Dale Norton College of William & Mary - School of Education Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the European History Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Other Education Commons Recommended Citation Norton, Timothy Dale, "Academic freedom and faculty careers: A case study of four Nobel laureate exiles, 1930-1940" (1995). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1539618387. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-tsav-h255 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. 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Ml 48106*1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACULTY CAREERS: A CASE STUDY OF FOUR NOBEL LAUREATE EXILES 1930-1940 A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education by Timothy Dale Norton December 1995 UMI Number: 9612646 Copyright 1996 by Norton# Timothy Dale All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9612646 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACULTY CAREERS A CASE STUDY OF FOUR NOBEL LAUREATE EXILES 1930-1940 by Timothy Dale Norton Approved November 1995 by ____ Dorothy p HTd T CHaix* of Doctoral Committee _ J d - Roger B Y Baldwin, Ph.D. antes M. Yankovich, Ed.D. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................ v ABSTRACT...................................................vi CHAPTER 1 ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND THE CAREERS OF FOUR INTELLECTUALS................... 2 Introduction............................... 2 Understanding Academic Freedom........... 2 Academic Freedom in a World Gone Mad .....4 The Research Problem..................... 10 The Concept of Academic Freedom......... 12 Academic Freedom in Germany............. 13 Academic Freedom in America..............14 The Purpose of the Study................. 14 Delimitations and Limitations........... 16 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE................... 19 Introduction.............................. 19 The Concept of Academic Freedom......... 19 The German Model of Academic Freedom....24 The American Model of Academic Freedom..29 The Careers of Four Elite Scientists.... 34 Conclusion................................ 38 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY................................. 40 CHAPTER 4 THE EVOLUTION OF THE MODERN MODEL OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMANY, 1800-1938____45 Introduction......... * ....................45 Humboldt and Berlin...................... 47 The Legitimization of Manipulation...... 52 The Weimar Years..........................57 The Nazi Nexus............................59 CHAPTER 5 THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN MODEL OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM, 1700-1940................64 Introduction.............................. 64 After the Revolution..................... 64 The Impact of the German Model.......... 66 The American Association of University Professors.................. 71 The Impact of W a r .........................73 Professional Persistence................. 76 iii CHAPTER 6 THE EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM IN GERMANY AND AMERICA UPON THE CAREERS OF FOUR SCIENTISTS....... 82 Introduction.............................. 82 The Legislative Onslaught................82 The Adulteration of German Science...... 88 Albert Einstein in Germany...............92 James Franck in Germany................. 100 Otto Meyerhof in Germany................109 Otto Stern in Germany................... 117 The Opportunities in America........... 123 The Great Depression.................... 124 Communism................................ 12 7 Anti-Semitism............................ 130 Albert Einstein in America..............133 James Franck in America................. 142 Otto Meyerhof in America................147 Otto Stern in America................... 152 Summary.................................. 159 CHAPTER 7 CONCLUSION................................. 161 Introduction............................. 161 Germany.................................. 164 America.................................. 169 The Four Intellectuals.................. 177 Recommendations..........................183 FIGURE 1 ..................................................162 REFERENCES. ............................................ 187 VITA 195 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Much gratitude is expressed to Dr. Dorothy E. Finnegan, my Committee Chair, whose keen insight and superb analytical abilities greatly assisted me in writing this document. Appreciation is also extended to Dr. Roger G. Baldwin and Dr. James M. Yankovich for their willingness to serve on my Committee. Additionally, I offer thanks for the hard work and patience of my typist, Beverly M. Hedberg. Most of all, I would like to thank my wife, RoseAnna, for "holding things together" and my children, Timothy and Anne, for understanding that Daddy had to spend so much time "at the library." v ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACULTY CAREERS: A CASE STUDY OF FOUR NOBEL LAUREATE EXILES 1930-1940 ABSTRACT The purpose of this historical study was to evaluate the consequences that the politically-determined conventions of academic freedom in Germany and in the United States had on the careers of four elite scientists before and after their emigration resulting from the threats of Nazism. This problem consisted of three distinct conceptual parts: (l) academic freedom, as a concept, (2) the political conventions of academic freedom within pre-World War II Germany and within pre- and World War II America, and (3) the effect that these definitions had on the careers of Albert Einstein, James Franck, Otto Meyerhof, and Otto Stern. The methodology that best suited this evaluation was the historical case study. In Germany, I followed academic freedom's evolution beginning with Humboldt's work at the University of Berlin, continuing through to the Weimar Republic, and vi concluding with the National Socialists. In the United States, I traced academic freedom's development from its classically-based roots, moving through the entrance of the German model, and closing with the impact of the American Association of University Professors. Incumbent in this discussion was the effects that German nationalism, National Socialism, the Great Depression, communism, and anti-semitism had upon the evolution of academic freedom. I concluded that the nature and development of academic freedom was formed and directed by the constructs of and the constraints upon intellectual liberty. Its politically-determined conventions influenced, both positively and negatively, the careers of four particular scientists. More in-depth study is necessary to further evaluate the relationship between various governing bodies and the academic freedom of the Jewish professoriate. Additionally, insight into the degree and manner of influence of university presidents upon the careers of faculty is also needed. TIMOTHY DALE NORTON SCHOOL OF EDUCATION THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA vii ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FACULTY CAREERS A CASE STUDY OF FOUR NOBEL LAUREATE EXILES 1930-1940 CHAPTER 1 ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND THE CAREERS OF FOUR INTELLECTUALS Introduction It takes but one look at the inscription on the Statue of Liberty to be reminded that America has always been a place of refuge for those "tired...poor" individuals who, in their attempts to escape intolerance and oppression in foreign lands, found in this nation a place where they could finally "breath free." Scattered among the "huddled masses" fleeing Hitler's strangle-hold were intellectuals looking