Nimitz Library
Honors and Awards
Throughout his lifetime, Michelson received over fifteen medals and prizes, twelve honorary degrees, and numerous honorary and elected positions in professional organizations and societies related to the discipline of science. Besides being awarded prestigious medals and prizes such as the Matteucci Medal (1903), the Copley Medal (1907), the Franklin Medal (1923) and the Duddell Medal (1929), Michelson most notably received the Nobel Prize in Physics on December 10, 1907. Two days later, as part of the ceremonies for this prize, Michelson delivered his Nobel Lecture entitled “Recent Advances in Spectroscopy.” Distinguished universities around the world, such as Western Reserve University, the University of Cambridge, Yale University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Paris, and Princeton University, conferred honorary Ph.D., Sc.D., and LL.D. degrees upon Michelson throughout his career.
Albert A. Michelson was both a regular member and an honorary member of numerous internationally recognized professional societies, such as the Royal Astronomical Society, the American Philosophical Society, the Sociedad Astronomica de Mexico, the Optical Society of America, Societe Francaise de Physique, and the Russian Academy of Science. Michelson also took an active leadership role in several of these professional organizations. In 1888, he was Vice President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and its President in 1910. Michelson was also President of the American Physical Society in 1901 and President of the National Academy of Sciences in 1923.
Letter to Albert A. Michelson from the Sociedad Astronomica de Mexico, recognizing him as an honorary member, January 8, 1903.
Stamp of 1907 Nobel Laureates Buchner and Michelson, commemoratively produced in 1967.
Notification by the American Association for the Advancement of Science to Albert A. Michelson of his election to the office of President, January 3, 1910.