Ansel A. Knowlton photograph collection

Collection

Identifier: P1554

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Ansel A. Knowlton photograph collection contains 1 black-and-white cabinet card portrait of Ansel A. Knowlton taken at the A. H. Dinsmore Studio in Dover, Maine in 1894.

Dates

1894

Creator

Dinsmore, A. H. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Ansel A. Knowlton photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

Ansel Alphonso Knowlton (1876-1957) was born in 1876 in Maine. He studied physics at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, graduating in 1898. Knowlton began his career teaching high school in Massachusetts before taking positions teaching at Carleton College in Minnesota and at Northwestern University. During this time, he obtained his Masters degree in Physics. In the early 20th century, Knowlton taught physics at the Armour Institute of Technology while working towards his PhD in Physics.

In 1909, Knowlton accepted a position teaching physics at the University of Utah. In 1914, graduating student Milton H. Sevy gave a valedictory speech that criticized the Utah state Legislature and Governor William Spry for suppressing academic freedom at the University of Utah. University President Joseph T. Kingsbury accused faculty of fostering this attitude in students like Sevy. In February 1915, Kingsbury notified Knowlton and three other non-Mormon faculty members that he would not be renewing their teaching contracts; this prompted two deans and 15 other faculty members to resign in protest. The controversy drew national attention, and in April 1915, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) began an investigation into violations of academic freedom at the University of Utah. As a result of the AAUP report and continuing controversy, President Kingsbury resigned in January 1916.

After he was fired from the University of Utah, Knowlton moved to Portland, Oregon, where he took a position as professor of physics at Reed College, where he remained until his retirement in 1948. Returning to the East Coast, Knowlton taught for several years at Bennington College in Vermont. In 1942, Knowlton served as president of the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). In 1952, the AAPT awarded him its Oersted Medal in honor of his contributions to the field of teaching physics. Ansel Knowlton died on January 9, 1957.

Extent

1 Items (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Ansel A. Knowlton (1876-1957) was a professor of Physics at the University of Utah from 1909 to 1915. In 1915, Knowlton was one of four University of Utah professors whose contracts were not renewed, sparking a controversy about academic freedom at the U. Knowlton continued his career at Reed College in Oregon, where he taught from 1916 until retiring in 1948. This collection contains one portrait of Knowlton.