A Glimpse of Greatness: The Passport of Robert Oppenheimer

The Early Journey of J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Rare Passport Signed Twice by the Future “Father of the Atomic Bomb”

This extraordinary artifact, a bifolium U.S. passport issued to J. Robert Oppenheimer on June 10, 1924, offers a glimpse into the formative years of one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century. The passport, signed twice by the young Oppenheimer—once as the “bearer” and again on his photographic portrait—also bears the countersigned stamped signature of Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes. It is richly adorned with numerous consular and immigration stamps documenting Oppenheimer’s travels across England, Italy, France, and Germany, including his arrival at Southampton on September 16, 1925. Robert Oppenheimer Passport

Issued when Oppenheimer was just 20, the document describes him as 6 feet 1 inch tall, with an oval face, blue eyes, a Roman nose, and a medium forehead. The photograph accompanying the passport, validated with his signature, captures him at 17 years old and is the same image used for his earlier passport application in 1921.

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