Navigation
Preface
Introduction
Physicist
Family
Photos
Appendices
Family Tree

Membership

Login

1. Articles - Physics-Related
   1. Commentary on the Scientific Contributions and Life of Donald W. Kerst The excerpts were written by Andrew Sessler, Univ. of California, Berkeley, and Keith Symon, Univ. of Wisconsin.
   2. The Race to Make the World's First Synchrotron, - H.W. Koch, June 8, 2001. A description of this race is important because it shows the influence of Don Kerst in "all later accelerators, including the newest high energy synchrotrons". From Sessler and Symon
   3. Techniques for Application of the Betatron to Medical Therapy - 17 Authors The American Journal of Roentgenology and Radium Therapy, v. 61, No. 5, May, 1949 p.591 - 624 (Only 2 pages included here) This lengthy, detailed report by 17 participants was justified because it was the first patient with glioblastoma to be treated with 20 million volt roentgen rays and with the betatron.
   4. Operation of a 300 Mev Betatron D. W. Kerst, G. D. Adams, H. W. Koch, and C. S. Robinson, Physical Review Letters, p. 297, March 20, 1950 This research article in a letters journal was the first rapid-publication scientific announcement of the successful operation of a 300 Mev betatron.
   5. Magnetic Field Calculations for Large Cross-Section Cloud Chamber Coils - H. W. Koch Journal of Applied Physics, v. 21, No. 5, p. 387 - 395, May, 1950 (Only 9 pages included here) The calculations provide a procedure for designing large air-core magnets for physics research.
   6. Bremsstrahlung Cross-Section Formulas and Related Data - H. W. Koch and J. W. Motz Reviews of Modern Physics, v. 31, No. 4, October, 1959, p. 920 - 955, (Only 6 pages included here) - This review collects and evalutes all of the theoretical and experimental data available on the production of high-energy x-rays (i.e. bremsstrahlungen). It continues to be a useful reference for physicists.
   7. Physicists On-Line with Pi-Net - H. William Koch, Physics Today Editorial, May 1986, p. 144 Pi-Net was the forerunner of the present day physics information network available on Internet at http://www.aip.org.
   8. Electron Beams: National Bureau of Standards and the New Technology, H.W.Koch, Science, V. 156, No. 3773, April 21, 1967. This article was written in the summer of 1966 at the National Bureau of Standards and was published after Bill had left their employ. As the title implies, it was intended to explain the great promise in the technology and use of high-power electron and x-ray beams.
   9. NBS Radiation Physics Laboratory - Pamphlet issued by NBS that explains the large array of electron, positive-ion, and x-ray facilities available in the new Gaithersburg Laboratory. The pamphlet was completed in the fall of 1967. At Bill's suggestion, his name as Chief of the Radiation Physics Division was removed from the final page because of his imminent departure from NBS.
   10. Ed Condon and the NBS Radiation Physics Laboratory (3/23/05) - This autobiographical sketch describes two unusual circumstances in National Bureau of Standards (NBS) history (a director who was oriented towards basic experimental as well as theoretical research in 1945 and a move of the entire NBS to Gaithersburg, Maryland in 1964) that made it possible for NBS to obtain substantial financial support for the relatively esoteric research field of photonuclear physics using high-energy, but low-power betatrons and linacs. Also, it explains why the appearance of this research in the 1950's and the 1960's did not produce adequate industrial support later in the 1970's, during the recession in science, to avoid closing a part of the Radiation Physics Laboratory; and why now in the year 2005 with the invention of new electron accelerators with high power as well as high energy, industry should be seeking significant new research with electrons and x-rays at NBS. See also:
   11. Article entitled "Recollections on Sixty Years of NBS Ionizing Radiation Programs for Energetic X Rays and Electrons" by H.W.Koch published in J.Res.Natl.Inst.Stand.Techol. 111,443-460 (2006)
   12. The Story of the American Institute of Physics (1967 - 1987) - H.William Koch, December 1988. The AIP Executive Committee requested Bill to prepare this report, while most of the people and information resources were still easily accessible. There are just enough events included so as to give the reader a flavor of AIP activites during the 20 year period of his tenure. There are just sufficient coverages of some petty details to reflect the very human experience of being the director of a professional/political organization.

2. Photos, Clippings, Letters, Etc. - Physics-Related
   1. Clipping - - "19 UI Physicists Helped Develop Atomic Bomb" - Champaign Gazette -November 9, 1945 - Atomic Bombs and UI Physicists were hot news in the local papers in the fall of 1945.
   2. Certificates - These certificates were intended for framing and hanging on office walls. They never made Bill's offices.
   1. US War Department re Manhattan Project - August 6, 1945
   2. US State Department re Geneva Conference - September 1958
   3. Clipping - "UI Tests Reveal Betatron As Cancer-Fighting Weapon" - Champaign Gazette - March 1949 - This news story describes Gail Adams' report at a meeting of the American Roentgen Ray Society in Chicago. The report was based on the article excerpted here in Appendix AppA.3.
   4. Photo - - Kerst and Koch measuring depth-dose ionization distributions produced by 20 Mev betatron x-rays - in 1942 - The first measurements of dose distributions in human-tissue-like material are being made by Don Kerst on left and Bill Koch on right.
   5. Photo -- 75 Mev Betatron Model - This photo shows the model of the 300 Mev betatron that was built and tested in the UI betatron laboratory. The 300 Mev betatron was 4.5 times bigger than the model. The model was operated under pulse conditions only. The 300 Mev machine was run with 60 cycle per second power continuously.
   6. Photo - - Kerst with 75 Mev Betatron Model; Artist Sketch of proposed 300 Mev Betatron - The model was made operate briefly for confirming tests in 1949. The large machine operated for the first time in February 1950.
   7. Clipping - "Kerst and his Four Assistants Put Huge Betatron into Activity" - February 1950 - Kerst gave credit for assistance in his betatron program to three physicists - Adams, Koch, and Robinson - and his business manager, Flora.
   8. Photo - Kerst explains operation of 300 Mev Betatron for newsmen - February 1950, Champaign Gazette - Besides Kerst at the blackboard, the persons in the photo are (l.to r.): Clark Robinson, Bill Koch, Ralph Flora, Gal Adams, and George Stoddard, President of UI.
   9. Photo - Front of 300 Mev Betatron with visitors on viewing platform - February 1950 - Champaign Gazette
   10. 1. Clipping - News Story in Queens College Newspaper entitled: " Scientist Koch Becomes "Alumnus Of The Year" - October 25, 1960
       2. Telegram - Congratulations on Alumnus of the Year Award from Margaret Kiely, 1941 Dean of Arts and Sciences, Queens College - November 5, 1960

   11. Letter - Best Wishes on "First Qcer to get PHD" from Prof. Donald Kirkpatrick - March 23, 1944
   12. Clipping - "Dr. H. William Koch Heads Radiation Physics Division" from NBS Standard Employee Bulletin - November 1963
   13. Clipping - 4 Pages -"Gaithersburg Radiation Physics Division" from NBS Standard Employee Bulletin - March 1964 (Pages 1, 2, 3, 4)
   14. Clipping - Sawyer and 4 AlP Directors from Inside AlP Newsletter - 1972
   15. Photo - AIP Management Committee: (l to r) Koch, Slack, Marks, Lasky, Gilbert, Waterfall - 1973
   16. Letter - Good Wishes for Koch's Tenth Anniversary at AlP - John A. Wheeler, January 4, 1976
   17. Letter - Good Wishes at Retirement - Frederick Seitz, March 12, 1987
   18. Letter - Good Wishes at Retirement - D. Allan Bromley, March 18, 1987
   19. Letter - Good Wishes at Retirement - G. S. Goldhaber, March 23, 1987
   20. Letter - Good Wishes at Retirement - Management Committee, March 1987
   21. Photo - Painting presented to Bill at his retirement party on March 29, 1987

3. Photos, Clippings, Etc. - Family-Related
   1. Clipping - Announcement of Bill and Becky's Wedding with misprint in heading - Marion Daily Republican - February 3, 1945
   2. Letter Congratulations on Wedding from Prof. Hugo Swenson - February 28, 1945
   3. Photos -
      1. Bill Koch as 22 Year old graduate student in 1942
      2. Bill and Becky on February 2, 1945, the day before their wedding
   4. Photo - Taken on day of Bill and Becky's Wedding February 3, 1945
   5. Photo - Koch Family in Silver Spring Home - 1954
   6. Photo - Mother Becky and Daughter Kathy in Silver Spring - 1955
   7. Photo - Koch Family - 1960
   8. Photo - Koch Family with Grandpa John and Grandma Elsie on Mount Evans, Colorado - 1962
   9. Photo - Bill at time of Queens College Alumnus Award - 1962
   10. Photo - Koch Family in Scarsdale Home - 1967
   11. Photo - Koch Children - 1968
   12. Photo - Bill at beginning of AlP career - 1968
   13. Photo - Mother Grace and Daughter Becky in Marion - 1980
   14. Photo - Bill in his Woodbury office - 1984
   15. Photo - Littleton Church Photo of Becky and Bill - 1990
   16. Photo of Family Reunion on Chincoteague Island, Virginia, superimposed on Pike's Peak Photo taken in Colorado Springs, Colorado - July 2000
   17. Photo of Koch Family taken July 29, 2001

The source materials for the Tables and the book were:

1. Scrap book assembled by Becky several years ago of newspaper clippings, photos, and letters.
2. Genealogy diagrams for the Koch ancestors (See Appendix C15)
3. Becky's interviews with John and Elsie Koch about their backgrounds.
4. AIP Book entitled History of the American Institute of Physics (1967 - 1987) by H.W. Koch
5. Anecdotes of Family experiences retold many times at Family Reunions
6. Videotapes of interviews, such as AAPM History Committee Interview of Koch, Parts 1 and 2, by Gail Adams and Robert Gorson 4/6/95; and Koch-Locke Conversation, 1/94
7. Videotape of Koch 50th Wedding Anniversary Party, Marion, Illinois, Sept 1994
8. Book of NBS Staff photos at Koch Retirement party, December 1966
9. Book of Letters collected for Koch Retirement from AIP, March 1987
10. Videotape of AIP Conference and Speakers at Koch Retirement Party, Woodbury Country Club, March 1987

Prev | Next | Appendices

Email this page

Print this page