The Frankfurt Physical Society () is a learned society based in Frankfurt, Germany. The society was founded in 1824 by physicians, educators and businessmen with the aim of promoting the study of physics and chemistry among its members. The society provided access to scientific instruments and chemicals for private experimentation and hosted lectures on recent discoveries, whether made by its own members or reported from elsewhere. In the following years, volunteer committees were formed within the society to collect meteorological data, research ways to ensure the synchronisation of the city's clocks, and to establish a library.
Starting in the 1830s, the city of Frankfurt supported the society financially to employ a full-time lecturer, who in turn was required to teach students at the local . With a growing staff of full-time lecturers and voluntary committees, the society functioned as a kind of university for Frankfurt during the period in the mid- to late 19th century. Students could attend weekly lectures, often focused on introducing fundamental concepts in chemistry and physics as well as participate in week-long practical training sessions in the society's laboratories. Toward the end of the 19th century, the society expanded rapidly, supported by Frankfurt's growing industry. In 1906, a new headquarters, now known as the Arthur-von-Weinberg-Building, was inaugurated, featuring the society's first purpose-built astronomical observatory.
As Frankfurt had no university at the time, the society played a foundational role when efforts led by Franz Adickes to establish one began to take shape. It contributed research institutes, along with staff and facilities, including its headquarters, to the founding of what would become Goethe University Frankfurt in 1914. Following the hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic, the society was no longer able to finance its personnel, and the university fully took over the institutes and their staff. The society subsequently shifted its focus to public outreach, especially in the fields of astronomy and physics, repurposing its observatory for public use.
The Society's main building was destroyed during the Bombing of Frankfurt am Main in World War II, and the observatory was not reopened until 1960. The building continued to be used by the university until 2005. Today, it is owned by the Senckenberg Nature Research Society, but the society still maintains its headquarters and a public observatory on the premises.
Frankfurt Physical Society now primarily focuses on public engagement in physics and astronomy. It organizes lectures, outreach events, and public observing nights. The society operates three observatories: the public observatory in Frankfurt, the at the Kleiner Feldberg, and a remote observatory in Spain used by members and students for spectroscopic research.
History Founding and first years The society often cites Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as an inspiration for its foundation. During a visit to his hometown of Frankfurt in 1815 and 1816, Goethe criticized the lack of scientific institutions in the city, stating:
Following Goethe's visit, the Senckenberg Nature Research Society was established in 1817. However, some members expressed dissatisfaction with its focus on natural history collections, preferring instead to promote developments in physics and chemistry. In July 1824 Frankfurt-based merchant published a bulletin calling for the establishment of a , a public cabinet or museum for instruments used in physics and chemistry. Albert operated a store for novelty items, toys and physical devices he manufactured himself.
Following this bulletin, on 24 October 1824, a group of Frankfurt citizens decided to establish a new society focused on physics and chemistry. In addition to Albert, an important figure in the foundation was the physician who was interested in animal magnetism.
The cabinet opened its doors to the public on 29 October 1824. The first statutes of the society regulated how and when members could borrow equipment, including the fees owed to Albert. It was Neeff who formally inaugurated the on 24 November 1824. In his inauguration speech, he argued that countries like England and France had prospered due to scientific advancement and that the Free City of Frankfurt had to catch up. He emphasized that the society should address a broad section of the city's population.
Lectures began on 10 December 1824, when Albert's son presented a new type of water meter. External speakers were invited, and beginning in 1826 Ernst Chladni held a series of lectures, demonstrating his Chladni figures. On 4 February 1826, he also spoke about the "possibility of the existence of living beings on the other bodies in our solar system".
The society initially operated out of Johann Valentin Albert's private residence on . Members could visit the cabinet daily, while non-members were granted access on Saturdays. However, this arrangement soon proved insufficient, and Albert sold his residence to purchase a larger property on .
In October 1825, a member of the society proposed initiating systematic meteorological observations to collect weather data. A committee was quickly formed and acquired the necessary instruments, including a thermometer and a hygrometer.
In response to a call by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the society contributed data for a coordinated campaign of weather observations across Europe on 15 January and 17 July 1827. Efforts were also made to expand the data collection network by establishing a weather station on the Großer Feldberg, although the first attempt in 1828 failed due to a snowstorm. In the meantime, a volunteer-run station in Frankfurt was collecting measurements at 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, and 10:00pm.
Based on these observations, the committee compiled the first weather reports for Frankfurt, which were published in the newspapers and . These reports provided retrospective data rather than forecasts. Goethe received copies of the reports from the society; his secretary expressed gratitude and requested that they continue to be sent in January 1827.
Reaching out to the public Following the success of its early lectures, the society continued its efforts to engage with the interested public. In 1828 and 1829, the well-known physicist Beat Friedrich von Tscharner was invited to deliver two series of lectures. The society published its own lecture schedule in 1828/1829. In 1831, it released a more extensive publication: a yearbook titled . The compendium, intended as a yearly publication, compiled scientific content designed to appeal to a broader Frankfurt readership, including lecture summaries and various data collections. These included astronomical and meteorological tables based on the society's own observations, Jewish calendar holidays, and miscellaneous facts such as the heights of the world's tallest mountains and buildings in the local unit of length. However, the idea of publishing a yearly compendium of useful scientific information proved to be unsuccessful, at least financially, only one edition of the yearbook was ever published.
At a time of rising public interest in lectures but financial difficulties following the failed publication, chairman proposed a series of reforms during the 1833 members' assembly. Passavant convinced the society to dissolve its close relationship to Johann Valentin Albert, who had previously been a key figure in the : hosting events in his home, supplying instruments and chemicals, but also operating a business renting and selling these instruments. Some of Albert's public demonstrations in 1831 and 1832 reportedly failed due to his carelessness.
Passavant suggested finding new headquarters for the society, building its own collection of scientific instruments, and hiring a permanent lecturer to ensure a more structured and reliable lecture program. He recommended , a scientist who had recently returned from travels across Europe. Passavant was also able to secure a contract with , which provided rooms free of charge at its premises near the Eschenheimer Turm. The Foundation, the Senckenberg Society and were now housed at the same premises, sharing a library and cooperating in other areas. The connection to Albert was completely dissolved; he even renounced his membership and omitted any reference to his time at the society in his later autobiography.
With financial matters still unresolved, the society sought municipal funding. The city council granted an annual stipend of 1,000 Gulden on the condition that the society employ a lecturer and ensure that lectures were held without interruption. Additionally, students from the local Gymnasiums were to be granted free access to the society's lectures, and the society was expected to provide reports and expert assessments to the municipal authorities.
In 1835, the members' assembly voted to amend the society's statutes to allow for the appointment of honorary members, specifically individuals who had made significant contributions to the sciences or had donated substantial sums to the society. Among the first honorary members were Carl Friedrich Gauß, who was appointed in August 1836, as well as Justus von Liebig and Alexander von Humboldt.
According to Hermann Dechent in his biographical article on Johann Karl Passavant, Passavant was involved in a "re-establishment" of the Society in the mid-1830s; which marked a renewed focus on scientific research and public engagement.
First employed lecturers
In 1833 Karl Wiebel was employed by the society as its first lecturer. His lectures were now open to the public, being held in the lecture hall of Senckenberg Society. Every Saturday a lecture focusing on chemistry, physics, geology, meteorology, geography or astronomy was offered. On other days of the week, a series of lectures focusing on subjects deemed necessary for the "practice and perfection of many new branches of business" was held by Wiebel. The then 27-year-old Wiebel left Frankfurt in 1835 after two years to take a position in Aarau.
His successor was Rudolf Christian Böttger. He held four lectures each week, ranging from fundamental topics from physics such as thermodynamics, to more specific topics like "amphoterism in sugar and glue". In addition to his teaching duties, Böttger was responsible for writing reports for the city. These expert assessments addressed questions posed by the municipal authorities, for example, how to reduce unpleasant odours emitted from a factory after residents had complained, or whether new inventions in gas lighting could be implemented in the city.
These reports were prepared by a committee composed of society members, with Böttger frequently participating and receiving support from volunteers. One such volunteer was inventor Johann Philipp Wagner, who conducted research on replacing steam engines with electric motors for use in factories and transportation. The society attempted to support Wagner in obtaining a patent in Germany for an electric locomotive he had invented, but the application was unsuccessful, as Wagner was unable to demonstrate that his invention could move heavier loads. In 1837, he introduced his interrupter bell to the Society.
Another committee was formed in 1838. As early as 1829, member Franz Xaver Schnyder von Wartensee had complained that the city's clock towers were highly inaccurate. He proposed that the society itself should regulate the city's clocks. After several years of preparation, the society presented its plan to the city, which in June 1838 decided to assign the task of regulating the clocks to the society.