The Physicists and the Historians of Physics

TL;DR

This paper examines the evolution of teaching and research in the history of physics, highlighting shifts from physicist-led to historian-led initiatives and the challenges faced in maintaining the discipline's academic presence.

Contribution

It provides a historical overview of how the roles of physicists and historians in the history of physics have changed over time and discusses efforts to establish dedicated academic space.

Findings

Shift from physicist-led to historian-led history of physics education

Introduction of specialized historians in physics departments in the 70s

Reduction of resources for history of physics in the 90s

Abstract

In the 60s of the last century the few courses of History of physics in Physics degree were held by scholars who, apart from a few exceptions, did not have a specific research background in the field. Some activities, books, social movements in the civil society allowed in the 70's the entry, among Physics courses, of teachings in History of physics held by scholars specifically trained for that job since their degree. A second change happened in the 90s when many difficulties forced physicists to allocate fewer and fewer resources to the History of their discipline. I'll outline the features of the two periods and the efforts of Historians to find a proper space in Physics departments.