John H. Reisner, Jr. papers, 1924-1995
Part of collection: David Sarnoff Research Center records (2464-09)
Dates
- Creation: 1924-1995
Biographical Note
Dr. John H. Reisner, Jr. (1917-1998) earned a B.S. in Physics from Davidson College in 1939 and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Virginia in 1941 and 1943. He was employed at RCA's Special Apparatus Engineering Section in Camden, New Jersey from 1943 to 1945 where he developed crystallography and quartz resonators. In 1945, Reisner transferred to the Scientific Instruments Section of RCA to work on electron optical instrumentation. By 1948, Reisner was assigned to lead the research and development of electron microscopes and diffraction cameras.
Reisner's team developed five generations of electron microscope prototypes, the forerunners of over a thousand commercial instruments. Concurrently, he was responsible for research on and development of the sources of contamination and specimen damage by electron beams, field emitters, image intensification, objective lens correction, and electron guns. Much of his work led to the manufacture of improved imagery and other electronic enhancements. Reisner developed the first experimentally successful permanent magnet electron lens. In addition, he managed a group who designed the column for a million volt microscope at U.S. Steel, and a 500 kilovolt microscope at the University of Virginia.
Reisner transferred to RCA Laboratories in 1971 where he worked on video system development, especially the RCA VideoDisc.
Scope and Content
The collection primarily consists of correspondence, memoranda, and reports documenting Reisner's research in electron microscopy and the RCA VideoDisc. Reisner's personal life and his service to the church and community is also described via personal correspondence and meeting notes.
Photographs and slides document the different types of electron microscopes including Electron Emission Microscope, Reflection Electron Microscope, as well as EM-3 and EM-75 Microscopes. They also document the use of the microscope and how it is impacted by diffraction, optical reconstruction apparatus, contamination as a function of electrical charge density, carbon film thickness impact on transmission, and the impact of temperature on level of contamination. Other images show substances including diseases (polio virus, influenza virus, necrosis virus, and tumors) everyday objects (soap), and chemical elements (lead oxide). There are also images of Trichocysts from Paramecium and Paramyosin Fibril stain with Phosphotungstic Acid.
One of Reisner's lab notebooks (1979-1982) can be found in Record group 26.
General Physical Description (AVD portion only)
(AVD portion only) 172 photographic prints : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. 2 photographic negatives : b&w ; 3 x 4 in. 68 photographic slides : b&w ; 35 mm. 5 photographic slides : color ; 35 mm. 358 photographic slides : b&w ; lantern.
Arrangement
The Reisner papers are arranged into two subseries:
A. Research
B. General
Extent
From the Collection: 990 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Additional Description
Access Restrictions
Records subject to 25-year time seal.
Arrangement
The Reisner papers are arranged into two subseries:
A. Research
B. General
Provenance
Donated to the David Sarnoff Library by his son in 2007.
Processing Notes
Processed by David Burdash, 2014.
Subjects
Related Names
Subject
Creator
- From the Collection: Sarnoff Corporation (Organization)
- From the Collection: Radio Corporation of America. David Sarnoff Research Center, Princeton, N.J (Organization)
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
