Lewi Tonks (1897–July 30, 1971) was an American physicist who worked for General Electric on microwaves, plasma physics and nuclear reactors.

[3][4] His studies were interrupted during World War I, where he conducted research at the New London Connecticut Naval Station on sonar for submarine detection systems.

[2] He joined General Electric in 1923 where he worked under Irving Langmuir, who was the associate director of the research lab.

[2] In 1934, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 30th congressional district as a member of the Socialist Party, earning 2.5% of the vote.

[5] Tonks also participated in WGY radio station in the Science Forum broadcast, answering the question of the listeners on scientific matters.

Shortly thereafter, the collection was deposited at the Niels Bohr Library of the American Institute of Physics in College Park, Maryland.