History of Hedwig Kohn in Timeline

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By Popular Timelines Editorial Team  · Updated:
Hedwig Kohn

Hedwig Kohn was a pioneering physicist and one of the first women to achieve habilitation in physics in Germany prior to World War II. Born in Breslau, she faced persecution as a Jewish woman under the Nazi regime, compelling her to leave Germany. Kohn relocated to the United States, where she resumed her academic pursuits and remained for the rest of her life, contributing significantly to her field despite the challenges she faced.

1907: Enrolled in Breslau University

In 1907, Hedwig Kohn enrolled in Breslau University a year before women were officially allowed to matriculate. She was the second woman to enter the physics department.

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1913: Obtained Doctorate in Physics

In 1913, Hedwig Kohn obtained her doctorate in physics under Otto Lummer and was soon appointed as Lummer's assistant.

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1930: Obtained Habilitation

In 1930, Hedwig Kohn obtained her habilitation (the qualification for university teaching).

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1933: Dismissed from position

In 1933, Hedwig Kohn was dismissed from her position due to Nazi regulations which barred Jews from government service.

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1935: Visit to Licht-Klimatisches Observatory

In 1935, Hedwig Kohn spent three months at the Licht-Klimatisches Observatory in Arosa, Switzerland, to measure the intensity of ultraviolet rays in the sun, thanks to US funding.

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1938: Lost Work and Resources

In 1938, Hedwig Kohn found herself without work or financial resources and narrowly avoided becoming a victim of the Holocaust.

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1939: Visa to the United Kingdom

In 1939, Hedwig Kohn had been given a visa to the United Kingdom, but it was cancelled because of World War II.

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July 1940: Travel to Sweden

In July 1940, Hedwig Kohn secured a visa to travel to Sweden and immediately went there.

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January 1941: Arrival in the United States

In January 1941, Hedwig Kohn arrived in the United States and was seriously ill.

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1942: Began Teaching at Wellesley College

In 1942, Hedwig Kohn began teaching at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

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1945: Became Associate Professor at Wellesley College

In 1945, Hedwig Kohn became an associate professor at Wellesley College.

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1948: Awarded Full Professorship at Wellesley College

In 1948, Hedwig Kohn was awarded full professorship at Wellesley College.

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1952: Became Research Associate at Duke University

In 1952, upon her retirement as professor, Hedwig Kohn became a research associate at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

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November 1964: Death

In November 1964, Hedwig Kohn died. She had been working at Duke University until shortly before her death.

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1964: Death

In 1964, Hedwig Kohn died shortly after retiring, she had been working at Duke University.

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April 2019: Google Doodle Commemoration

In April 2019, a Google Doodle commemorated Hedwig Kohn's 132nd birth anniversary.

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