J. Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer speaking at the inauguration of the Nuclear Physics Institute at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. The bust is of Niels Bohr.

Oppenheimers on the 1920 US Census

Oppenheimers in the 1910 US Census

The letter J in Oppenheimer’s first name is still a mystery. Most sources—including Oppenheimer’s own birth certificate and a 1944 letter from the War Department granting Oppenheimer his security clearance—state that Oppenheimer’s first name was Julius. Numerous other people, though—including Oppenheimer himself— insisted the J didn’t stand for anything at all. In a 1946 letter to the U.S. Patent Office (pictured), Oppenheimer wrote: “This is to certify that I have no first name other than the letter J, and that my full and correct name is J Robert Oppenheimer.”

J. Robert Oppenheimer at the Guest Lodge, Oak Ridge, in 1946

Photo shows J. Robert Oppenheimer, who directed the making of the first atomic bomb for the United States. Oppenheimer has been suspended by the Atomic Energy Commission pending a review of his security file. He has been charged with having associated with Communists in the early 1940s, having married a former communist, and having made generous financial contributions to Communist causes from 1940 to 1942. He is also accused of having given contradictory testimony to the FBI about his early Communist associations.

Collectie / Archief : Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie : [ onbekend ] Beschrijving : Dr. J. R. Oppenheimer , "vader" van de atoombom (kop) Datum : 3 augustus 1970 Fotograaf : Fotograaf Onbekend / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende : Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort : Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris : bekijk toegang 2.24.01.04 Bestanddeelnummer : 923-7258

Dr. J. R. Oppenheimer receiving Diploma of Honorary Degree from Indian Ambassador, G.L. Mehta at Indian Embassy, Washington, USA, 1957

Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer in a posed photograph at the Institute for Advanced Study.