When was the Physics & Materials Science Department at the UofM 1st established? July
1, 1966 (Physics Department)
Over a century old! The University of Memphis was first established and opened its
doors on Sept. 10, 1912.
Kemmons Wilson opened the first Holiday Inn in 1952 in his hometown of Memphis.
"America's Distribution Center." FedEx was founded in Memphis in 1971
Our current department faculty have worked or studied in at least 20 countries!
Manning Hall was one of the first 3 buildings on campus. It was an official fallout
shelter and housed crackers and water in a room at the west end of the basement. There
was a fallout shelter sign on the wall in the basement for decades.
1978 — First research opportunities for undergraduates in the Department of Physics
Hand-written letter by Albert Einstein on display outside MN 208. This letter was
written Faculty member Joanne Rhodes’ father at age 9, in response to a Happy 55th
birthday letter and drawing that the 9-year-old had sent to Einstein on March 14,1934
shortly after he moved to Princeton.
The Einstein Centennial physics presentation includes one by native Memphian Dr. Alan
Lightman, who later wrote the international bestseller Einstein’s Dreams.
In 2016 we held our first annual Lois McGlothlin Donaldson Endowed Lecture in Physics.
Our keynote speaker was Dr. Eric Chaisson, 37 years after he’d been keynote speaker
at our Einstein Centennial.
