Abstract
One of the most successful Hungarians abroad was Theodore von Kármán (1881–1963). Though he started his American career in the late 1920s, von Kármán was one of those whose excellence was nationally recognized by his contributions to the war effort. Indeed, many of the outstanding émigré professionals from Hungary attained their greatest recognition in the U. S. during, and as a consequence of, World War II and the subsequent Cold War period.
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Biographical details referring to Theodore von Kármán are based on the Theodore von Kármán Papers at the California Institute of Technology Archives in Pasadena, CA. I made particularly good use of the following biographical sketches, #135.7–8: Hugh L. Dryden, “The Contributions of Theodore von Kannân: A Review,” Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, July, 1963. pp. 12–17; Frank J. Malina, “Theodore von Kârmân, 1881–1963,” Revue Française d’Astronautique, June 17, 1963; Hugh L. Dryden, “Theodore von Kannân, 1881–1963,” American Philosophical Society Yearbook, 1963; “In Memoriam Theodore von Kannân, Technische Hochschule Aachen, May 28, 1963;” Hugh L. Dryden, “The Contributions of Theodore von Kármán to Applied Mechanics,” Applied Mechanincs Reviews, Vol. 16., No. 8, August 1963, pp. 589–595. Consult also Theodore von Kármán with Lee Edson, The Wind and Beyond. Theodore von Kârmân, Pioneer in Aviation and Path Finder in Space (Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1967 )
B. József Eötvös, Minister of Religion and Education to Mór Kleinmann, Buda, July 20, 1869. No. 12039, Theodore von Kármán Papers, 142. 10, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Mór Ktmân had some responsibility for planning the education of one of the Habsburg Archdukes and he received his title partly for this reason. Cf. William O. McCagg Jr., Jewish Nobles and Geniuses in Modern Hungary, Boulder, CO., East European Monographs, 1972, repr. 1986. s, p. 209, note 46-it was this title that Theodore von Kdrmdn used in a Germanized form.
Theodore von Kârmân, Untitled note on Mór Kârmân, Theodore von Kármán Papers, 141.6, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA. Dr József Gerö, ed., A Kiralyi Könyvek (Royal Books) (Budapest, 1940), p. 100, William O. McCagg Jr, Jewish Nobles, op. cit., pp. 209. Péter Újvâry, ed., Magyar Zsidó Lexikon (Budapest, 1929 ), pp. 453–454.
Mór Kannan, “Az Ember Tragédidja. Elemzö tanulmany,” (Budapesti Szemle, No. 346, 1905)-It is interesting to note that the Tragedy of Man was also a source of inspiration for other émigrée scientists, such as Leo Szilard.
William O. McCagg, op. cit., p. 209.
Theodore von Kármán with Lee Edson, The Wind and Beyond, pp. 21–22.
William O. McCagg, op. cit., p. 210.
Theodore von Kármán with Lee Edson, The Wind and Beyond, p. 33, quoted by William O. McCagg, op. cit., p. 211.
Frank J. Malina, “Theodore Von Kármán (1881–1963),” MS for the Revue Française d’Astronautique, June 17, 1963. Theodore von Kârmén Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “Theodore Von Kârmdn (1881–1963),” MS for the American Philosophical Society Yearbook, September 4, 1963. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “In Memoriam Theodore Von Kârmân,” Technische Hochschule Aachen, May 28, 1963. p. 6. Theodore von Kdnnân Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “The contributions of Theodore von Kârmân: A review,” Astronautics and Aerospace Engineering, July 1963, p. 12. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.7, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “Theodore von Kármán (1881–1963),” MS for the American Philosophical Society Yearbook, September 4, 1963. Theodore von Kârmân Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Dr. Theodore von Kármán,“ Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Frank J. Malina, “Theodore von Kânnân (1881–1963),” MS for the Revue Française d’Astronautique, June 17, 1963. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “In Memoriam Theodore von Kármán,” Technische Hochschule Aachen, May 28, 1963. p. 6. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “In Memoriam,” op. cit., pp. 6, 8.
Vern Haugland, “Von Karman,” Associated Press report, Washington, May 12, [1961], Theodore von Kârmân Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Theodor von Kârmân to L. Prandtl, August 2, 1933. Theodore von Kânnân Papers, 23. 44, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Theodor von Kármán to L. Prandtl, February 2 2, 1938. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 23. 44, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “The Contributions of Theodore von Kârmân to Applied Mechanics,” Applied Mechanics Reviews, Vol. 16, No. 8, August 1963, pp. 14–15.
Frank L. Wattendorf, “Theodore von Kârmân, International Scientist,” Zeitschrift für Flugwissenschaft, 4 (1956) Heft 5/6, p. 165. Theodore von Karman Papers, 135.7, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Werner Osenberg to Theodore von Kârmân, June 12, 1945. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 22. 18, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Frank L. Wattendorf, op. cit., ibid.
R. Smend to James Franck, December 23, 1947, James Franck to Theodore von Kârman, February 11, 1948, both in Theodore von Kármán Papers, 9. 36, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
R. Smend to James Franck, December 23, 1947. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 9. 36, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
James Franck to Theodore von Kármán, February 11, 1948. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 9. 36, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, In Memoriam…“ Theodore von Kârmân Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Frank J. Malina, “Theodore von Kânnân, 1861–1963,” op. cit., pp. 3–4. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135.8, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.-From the great figures of modern engineering L. Prandtl, G. I. Taylor, S. Timoshenko, N. E. Joukowski, G. Eiffel and G. A. Crocco belonged to Felix Klein’s school in Germany.
Memo to News Editors,“ May 8, 1961. News from the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, New York, N. Y., Theodore von Kármán Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Von Karman Busy at 80,“ The Sun, Baltimore, May 7, 1961. Theodore von Kvrmân: A Global Life 89
The Akron blew up in 1933, and Mason crashed in 1935. Marie D. Roddenbery to “June,” April 14, 1961. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135. 9, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
A Tribute to Dr. von Karman,“ NATO Letter, July-August, 1963, p. 23. Cf. Judith Sz. Hódy, ”Mindig tanítani akartam. Utolsó beszélgetés Kármán Tddorral,“ Irodalmi Újsâg, May 15, 1963, p. 3.
Ralph Dighton, “Expert on Wind Called Father Of Supersonic Age,” Columbus Dispatch, May 16, 1961.
Frank J. Malina, op. cit., p.3.
Congressional Record, Senate, May 3, 1961, pp. 6587–8.
Congressional Record, Senate, May 3, 1961, pp. 6587–8.
Congressional Record, Senate, May 3, 1961, pp. 6587–8.
Congressional Record, Senate, May 3, 1961, p. 6587.
A Tribute to Dr. von Karman,“ NATO Letter, July-August, 1963, p. 23.
John F. Kennedy to Theodore von Karman, The White House, Washington, February 8, 1963, Theodore von Kármán Papers, 135. 4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
White House Announcement for Palm Beach, Florida, relative to the award of The National Medal of Science to Dr von Karman, December 31, 1962. Theodore von Karman Papers, 135. 4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
President J.F. Kennedy Presents U. S. Science Medal to Dr. von Karman,“ The Aerojet Booster, Vol. II, No. 13., No. 1., March 1, 1963.
For Release: Memo to News Editors,“ May 8, 1961. News from the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, New York, N. Y., Theodore von Kármán Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA. John G. Norris, ”Air-Breathing Orbital Planes Urged By Expert as Cheaper Than Rockets,“ Washington Post Times Herald, May 10, 1961.
For Release: Memo to News Editors,“ May 8, 1961. News from the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, New York, N. Y., Theodore von Kármán Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA. John G. Norris, ”Air-Breathing Orbital Planes Urged By Expert as Cheaper Than Rockets,“ Washington Post Times Herald, May 10, 1961.
Von Karman,“ Associated Press, May 9, 1961. Theodore von Kármán Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Walter Wingo, “`Supersonic flight will do most…” Washington News, May 10, 1961.
John G. Norris, “Air-Breathing Orbital Planes Urged By Expert as Cheaper Than Rockets,” Washington Post Times Herald, May 10, 1961. — — Even in September 2003, Professor Dr.-Ing. Karl Otto Felsch of the University of Karlsruhe vividly remembered the polyglot von Kármán moderating international scientific conferences in four different languages consecutively.
For Release,“ May 12, 1961. News from the Institute of Aerospace Sciences, New York, N. Y., Theodore von Kdrmân Papers, 137.4, California Institute of Technology Archives, Pasadena, CA.
Hugh L. Dryden, “In Memoriam,” op. cit., p. 6.
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Frank, T. (2004). Theodore von Kármán: A Global Life. In: Vad, J., Lajos, T., Schilling, R. (eds) Modelling Fluid Flow. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-08797-8_4
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