author

Robert P. Multhauf

1919–2004

A leading historian of science at the Smithsonian, he helped shape how museums and scholars tell the story of chemistry, technology, and invention. His work blends careful scholarship with a clear sense of how science fits into everyday life and history.

3 Audiobooks

Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century

Development of Gravity Pendulums in the 19th Century

by Victor F. (Victor Fritz) Lenzen, Robert P. Multhauf

The Introduction of Self-Registering Meteorological Instruments

The Introduction of Self-Registering Meteorological Instruments

by Robert P. Multhauf

Mine Pumping in Agricola's Time and Later

Mine Pumping in Agricola's Time and Later

by Robert P. Multhauf

About the author

Robert P. Multhauf was an American historian of science, curator, and author whose career was closely tied to the Smithsonian Institution. Born in 1919, he studied at Iowa State University and later earned his master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley before joining the Smithsonian in 1954.

At the Smithsonian, he served as a curator and later became director of the Museum of History and Technology, now part of the National Museum of American History. He was especially known for his work on the history of chemistry and for helping establish the history of technology and science as stronger fields of study within museums and academia.

Multhauf also played an important role in the scholarly world beyond the museum, including service with the History of Science Society and the Society for the History of Technology. His books, essays, and editorial work earned him a lasting reputation as a thoughtful guide to the material culture of science.