Willard Libby
1908 – 1980

Willard Libby

American physical chemist

university teacherchemist
Born
1908-12-17, Grand Valley
Died
1980-09-08
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Willard Libby was a chemist born in Grand Valley, Colorado in 1908. He contributed to the development of radiocarbon dating in 1949 and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1960 for his role in this work. He died in 1980.

Occupation

Willard Libby is recorded as a university teacher and a chemist, born in Colorado (1908–1980).

Connections to Colorado

Willard Libby was born in Grand Valley, Colorado in 1908. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Willard Libby came from Grand Valley. A full Aubrey report on Grand Valley pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

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Talcott Parsons
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Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
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John Searle
John Searle
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Ruth Handler
Ruth Handler
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Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
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Frequently asked about Willard Libby

Who was Willard Libby?
Willard Libby was American physical chemist, born in Colorado (1908 – 1980).
When and where was Willard Libby born?
Willard Libby was born on 1908-12-17 in Grand Valley.
When did Willard Libby die?
Willard died on 1980-09-08.
What was Willard Libby known for?
Willard Libby is recorded as a university teacher and a chemist.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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