Washington University Observatory Collection

Collection

Identifier: WUA-01-wua00330

Staff Only

This collection is comprised of historical materials from the Washington University Observatory. This includes records of observations, plans of the Observatory, and reports. Many items in the collection are extremely fragile and require special handling.

Dates

Creation: 1879-2003

Creator

Washington University (Saint Louis, Mo.). Observatory (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

5.00 linear feet

Additional Description

Historical Information

At the inaugural ceremonies of Washington University in 1857, William Greenleaf Eliot, the first chancellor, announced that the local philanthropist James Yeatman had donated $1,500 for the making of a superior telescope. The lenses for the 6-inch refractor, made by Henry Fitz and Co., and refigured in 1882 by Alvan Clark and Sons, are still in use today. Fitz and Clark were two of the most noted American telescope makers of the 19th century.

During the latter part of the 19th century, the Observatory, at that time located at 18th and St. Charles Streets in downtown St. Louis, served as a source of standard time for the region. A network of some 50,000 miles of telegraph wire existed. Henry W. Pritchett and other Observatory astronomers made several valuable determinations of longitude. In 1905, as the University moved to the present location from downtown, the Observatory moved to a site where Louderman Hall (chemistry) now stands. In 1954, the present dome atop Crow Hall was completed. The present electric drive for the telescope was installed in the mid-1960s, replacing the original pendulum drive.