CHRONOLOGY, 1879–1920
This chronology contains references to: (1) significant events in Einstein’s life; (2) Ein-
stein’s previously published and unpublished writings that appear in the Writings series of
this edition. In the case of published papers, the date refers to receipt by a journal, unless
otherwise indicated; (3) Einstein’s lectures, courses, attendance at significant academic, ad-
ministrative, or other gatherings, and his travels; (4) major political events; (5) interviews
with Einstein. Newspaper titles without a date refer to the issue published on the date of the
entry. All excerpts and quotations are rendered in English. For the original texts and their
bibliographic references, see the respective calendars in the documentary edition.
The following abbreviations are used:
DPG Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft (German Physical Society)
ETH Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (Swiss Federal Polytechnic)
GDNÄ Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher und Ärzte (Society of German Scientists
and Physicians)
KWG Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft (Kaiser Wilhelm Society)
KWIP Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Physik (Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics)
M German marks
PAW Preußische Akademie der Wissenschaften (Prussian Academy of Sciences)
1879
Mar 14 Albert Einstein is born to Pauline (Koch) Einstein and Her-
mann Einstein at Bahnhofstr. B 135 in Ulm,
Germany.
1880
Jun 21 The Einstein family registers its residence at Müllerstr. 3,
third floor, in
Munich.
1880–1881
“It is true that my parents were worried because I started to
talk only at a late age and they consulted a physician” (Ein-
stein to Sybille Blinoff, 21 May 1954). On 1 July 1881,
however, his grandmother Pauline Koch notes his “funny
ideas” (Hoffmann 1976, p. 22).
1881
Nov 18 Maria (Maja) Einstein, Einstein’s only sibling, is born in
Munich.