My favorite references for physics history are Shamos' book, the 1935
Source Book in Physics by William Magie (Princeton University), and Samuel
Glasstone's Sourcebook on Atomic Energy (2nd edition 1958). From the
latter book, for example, you learn that the Millikan oil-drop experiment
was preceded by, and improved, H. A. Wilson's water-droplets experiment
carried out in Thomson's laboratory. Balmer's article in Magie's book is
especially interesting.
Laurent Hodges, Professor of Physics
12 Physics Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-3160
lhodges@iastate.edu http://www.public.iastate.edu/~lhodges