Charles A.
Charles Arman Fowler was born on April 23, 1912, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Charles A. Fowler and Beatice Buckle Fowler. He married Inez Hanson on August 4, 1934, and they had two children, Scott Wellington Fowler and Craig Huntington Fowler.
Fowler studied at the University of Utah, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1933 and a Master of Science degree in 1934. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy in physics at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1940. His education in mathematics and physics formed the foundation for a career combining undergraduate teaching with research in magnetism and magnetic materials.
Fowler began his academic career in physics at the University of California, Berkeley, serving as an instructor from 1940 to 1942 and as an assistant professor from 1943 to 1946. He joined Pomona College in 1947 as an associate professor of physics and was promoted to professor in 1950. He also chaired the Pomona College physics department. During his long Pomona career, he taught physics, developed instructional materials, and pursued research on magnetic domains. Under the sponsorship of the United States Office of Naval Research, he helped develop a magneto-optic method for analyzing the magnetic structure of materials; the method became standard in magnetic laboratories and contributed to the development of high-speed computers. He served as an editorial reviewer for the American Journal of Physics and retired from Pomona College in 1977. During a 1967–1968 sabbatical supported by a National Science Foundation faculty fellowship, he studied the use of Pomona College’s IBM System/360 digital computer in undergraduate physics education.
Helped develop a magneto-optic method for analyzing the magnetic structure of materials under the sponsorship of the United States Office of Naval Research; the method became standard in magnetic laboratories and contributed to the development of high-speed computers.
Conducted research and developed instructional applications involving Pomona College’s IBM System/360 digital computer during a National Science Foundation-supported sabbatical in 1967–1968.
Fowler belonged to the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of University Professors, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi. He served as president of the California section of the American Association of Physics Teachers and was a member of the Committee of Physics Faculties. His professional activities also included editorial reviewing for the American Journal of Physics.
American Physical Society , United States
Served as president of the California section.
American Association of Physics Teachers , United States
American Association for the Advancement of Science , United States
American Association of University Professors , United States
Phi Beta Kappa , United States
Sigma Xi , United States
Served as a member.
Committee of Physics Faculties , United States
Fowler was married to Inez Hanson from August 4, 1934. They had two children, Scott Wellington Fowler and Craig Huntington Fowler. His parents were Charles A. Fowler and Beatice Buckle Fowler.
