Standards and Measurements of Ionizing Radiations in the 20th Century at the National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standards and Technology Chapter 1: 1901 - 1921

Published

December 27, 2023

Author(s)

Bert Coursey, Keith Martin

Abstract

This report describes the development of standards for radioactivity and x rays in the US during the first two decades of the 20th century. The first standards for radium were pioneered by chemists in industry and academia. The US national standards were established at the National Institute of Standards and Technology on receipt of a radium standard from Marie Curie and the International Radium Standards Commission in 1913. During World War I, the NIST began development of standards for self-luminescent dials and watches containing radium paint, and standards for x-rays to support the US industry for protective materials against x rays and radium. Marie Curie's 1921 visit to the NIST to receive a gram of radium funded by donations from the women of America is described.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1298

Report Number

1298

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1298

Local Download

Keywords

Alpha particles, emanation, gamma rays, ionization chambers, luminescence, Marie Curie, mesothorium, radioactivity, radium, standards

Citation

Coursey, B. and Martin, K. (2023), Standards and Measurements of Ionizing Radiations in the 20th Century at the National Bureau of Standards/National Institute of Standards and Technology Chapter 1: 1901 - 1921, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1298, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=956957 (Accessed October 13, 2025)