Established in 1870 under the direction of Professor William A. Anthony, the Physics Department (1870-1891) has since been known as the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering (1891-1910), the Department of Physics and Illuminating Engineering (1910-1915), the Department of Physics (1915-1991), and finally the Department of Physics and Astronomy (1991-present). Graduate studies began prior to 1881, with doctoral work beginning in 1926. This collection contains annual reports. The early annual reports (1890s through 1930s) are correspondence with the head of the department, Professor Louis B. Spinney.  Included are funding levels approved for the department and a series of departmental annual and biannual reports. The bulk of materials in this collection were created during Professor Spinney's tenure.

The Physics Department was established in 1870 under the direction of William A. Anthony, Professor of Mechanics and Physics. Graduate work leading to the degree of Master of Science was first offered before 1881. The department was combined with the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1891. Separated from the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering in 1910, the name of the department changed to the Department of Physics and Illuminating Engineering. In 1915, the name changed back to the Department of Physics. In 1926, doctoral work in applied physics was added to the graduate studies program. Rapid development of graduate education and research in physics began after World War II, when the Institute for Atomic Research was established with Professor Frank Spedding as the Director.  The departmental name was changed to the Department of Physics and Astronomy as of the 1991-1993 university course catalog.

This collection (1902-1988, undated) contains correspondence, notices and annual/biannual reports. The annual and biannual reports include departmental briefs and annual budgets. The notices (1902-1911) to the head of the department, Professor L. B. Spinney, detail funding and appropriations requests that had been approved or denied for the coming academic year. Included is Professor Spinney's resulting report from a 1904 request for statistics from President A. B. Storms for the years 1904 and 1897 on appropriations and the number of students and professors. A brief 1913 letter from Professor Spinney to the Finance Committee is also included.

Related collections include:

• Louis Bevier Spinney Papers (RS 13/20/15)
• Department of Physics and Astronomy Subject Files (RS 13/20/01)
• Iowa Board of Regents Finance Committee Records (RS 01/02/03)
• Additional collections related to the Department of Physics are classified under RS 13/20 and can be found through the department's website.

The collection is arranged chronologically.