Abstract:

Paul joined the acoustics program of the UCLA Physics Department in 1938, shortly after receiving his M.S. in physics and mathematics from Northwestern University. He was a spirited contributor to Professor Vern Knudsen's weekly seminars dealing with nearly all aspects of acoustics: propagation, architectural, hearing, music, etc. Here, he shared ideas with other students: Dick Bolt, Cyril Harris, Bob Leonard, Walter Rosenblith, Izzy Rudnick, Ludwig Sepmeyer et al., and mentors: Leo DelSasso, Vern Knudsen, and Norman Watson. In 1941 Paul became a key contributor to a new research effort to develop improved hearing protection devices as military acoustics became important in those pre-World War II years. This paper is a brief anecdotal glimpse into this short period of Paul's early professional life.