1900-1950

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  1900-1902

  A new building, the Hall of Liberal Arts, provided a location for the new University library, and the Dept. of Physics inherited North Hall, renamed the Hall of Physics.  Astronomy instruction was offered by the Dept. of Mathematics occasionally due to a faculty shortage.

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  1912

  The construction of a five-story physics building (later named MacLean Hall) was approved. Prof. Stewart required the building be durable to withstand heavy equipment, solid/rigid enough to protect delicate experiments, and the names of major scientists engraved in stone around the top of the building. The Physics Building provided research and laboratory space, lecture rooms, physics workshops, plus areas for mathematics, electrical engineering, and the fine arts. In 1912, there were four physics faculty members.

• 1917-1918

  During World War I, the science faculty’s efforts were re-focused on consulting with the war department and developing material and equipment in support of military efforts. 

• 1924

  The observatory on the central campus was torn down to make room for the building of University Hall (later renamed Jessup Hall).

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  1930s

  During the depression years – the University Catalog descriptions remained the same in the 1930s through 1941:  

  The Physics Building, one of the central groups, is occupied exclusively by mathematics and physics. It offers unexcelled opportunities for study and research. It is the Mathematics-Physics Library of about 14,000 volumes with 190 current journals. In the laboratories the equipment is abundant, diversified, and in some aspects unique. The more specialized apparatus is described in bulletins published by the laboratory. Recent research has been chiefly in the newer physics, atomic and nuclear structure, intensity and polarization in spectra, resonance radiation, electron impacts, and X-rays, though contributions are constantly being made in other lines. 

   

• 1940-1941

  In May 1940, excavation began for an underground room on the east side of the Physics Building to house a Van de Graaff generator, but installation of the generator was suspended until after World War II. 
  Beginning in 1941, physics faculty redirected efforts to support U.S. defense purposes, which resulted in faculty consulting with or joining military and government organizations. For teaching purposes, the University added lecturers plus graduate students as instructors. Temporary faculty members were added to develop materials and equipment to support war efforts.

• 1948

  Completion of a Van de Graaff generator located underground next to the Physics Building near the Old Capitol.