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Swarthmore College Astronomy Department photographs

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Held at: Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College [Contact Us]500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Swarthmore College offered its first elective course in Astronomy in the mid 1870's. In 1885, the Board reported a proposal to erect an observatory near the east end of the College property. After Professor Susan Cunningham retired in 1906, Dr. John A. Miller was appointed as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy. Until 1952, courses were listed under the Department of Mathematics and Astronomy; a separate Department of Astronomy existed until it became the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the mid 1980's.

This collection, dating from 1905 to 1975, consists of astronomy images taken or collected by Swarthmore College Astronomy Department students and professors. Most of the images are on glassplates, but there are also some paper photographs. Images depict the college, eclipses, constellations, comets, and more.

The collection is organized by format and size. There is some topical order within format but the arrangement is not comprehensive.

See Swarthmore College Astronomy Department records, SFHL-RG6-J01.

Publisher
Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College
Finding Aid Author
Jissel Becerra Reyes
Finding Aid Date
3/21/18
Access Restrictions

This collection is available for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright has not been assigned to Friends Historical Library. All requests for permission to reproduce images must be submitted to the Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf Friends Historical Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by reader."

Collection Inventory

Archival Resource Key. Philadelphia.
Box A-1
Archival Resource Key. Grand Canyon.
Box A-1
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory.
Box A-1
Archival Resource Key. Miscellaneous.
Box A-1
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition, 1926.
Box A-2
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition (scenery, etc.), 1926.
Box A-3
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition (scenery, etc.), 1926.
Box A-4
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition, 1926.
Box A-5
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition, 1926.
Box A-6
Archival Resource Key. Scenery from Spain.
Box A-6
Archival Resource Key. Syracuse, Kansas eclipse expedition, 1918.
Box A-7
Archival Resource Key. Sumatra eclipse expedition, 1929.
Box A-8
Archival Resource Key. Coronas, 1905-1918.
Box A-9
Archival Resource Key. New Haven eclipse expedition, 1925.
Box A-9
Archival Resource Key. Mexico eclipse expedition, 1923.
Box A-9
Archival Resource Key. New Zealand eclipse expedition, 1930.
Box A-9
Archival Resource Key. New Zealand eclipse expedition, 1930.
Box A-10
Archival Resource Key. Unidentified expedition slides.
Box A-11

Archival Resource Key. Mixed, 1929.
Box B-1
Archival Resource Key. Old marked "G" (for "good"?).
Box B-1
Archival Resource Key. Comet Morehouse, 1908.
Box B-1
Archival Resource Key. Comet Peltier, 1936.
Box B-2
Archival Resource Key. Comet Finster, 1937.
Box B-2
Archival Resource Key. Pictures for book.
Box B-2
Archival Resource Key. Mars.
Box B-2
Archival Resource Key. Corona, 1918.
Box B-2
Archival Resource Key. Corona, 1918.
Box B-3
Archival Resource Key. Cygni, 1925.
Box B-3
Archival Resource Key. Jupiter, 1929.
Box B-3
Archival Resource Key. Pleiades, 1925.
Box B-3
Archival Resource Key. Hercules, 1925.
Box B-3
Archival Resource Key. Mixed Sumatra, 1926.
Box B-4
Archival Resource Key. Unidentified.
Box B-4
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory (loose) .
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Old observatory, rear.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Old observatory, rear (Cunningham, Hse, Scott Arboretum) - loose.
Box B-5
1. Group of Players (Plate 1), 1911.
Box B-5
2. Sommerville Hall (Plate 2), 1911.
Box B-5
3. Boy's Gym (Plate 3), 1911.
Box B-5
4. Campus from the top of Parrish (Plate 4), 1911.
Box B-5
5. Campus from the top of Parrish (Plate 5), 1911.
Box B-5
6. Campus from the top of Parrish (Plate 6), 1911.
Box B-5
7. Parrish Hall from lower end of campus (Plate 7) , 1911.
Box B-5
8. Sproul Observatory from top of Parrish (Plate 8), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Water Tank (Plate 9), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Water Tank (Plate 10), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Beardsley Hall (shops) (Plate 11), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Beardsley Hall (shops) (Plate 12), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Boy's Gym (Plate 13), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Boy's Gym (Plate 14), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sommerville Hall (science) (Plate 15), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sommerville Hall (science) (Plate 16), 1947.
Box B-5
20. Sommerville Hall (comparison with Plate #2) - Plate 17 , 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Parrish Hall (Plate 18), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Parrish Hall (Plate 19), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Parrish Hall (Plate 20), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Friends Meetinghouse (Plate 21), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Friends Meetinghouse (Plate 22), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Chemistry building (Plate 23), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Chemistry building (Plate 24), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Student Observatory (Plate 25), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Student Observatory (Plate 26), 1947.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Library (Plate 27), 1911.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Library (Plate 28), 1947.
Box B-5
32. Sproul Observatory with dome yet unfinished (Plate 29), 1911 (?).
Box B-5
33. Sproul Observatory with dome yet unfinished (Plate 30), 1911 (?).
Box B-5
34. Sproul Observatory front view (Plate 31), 1911 (?).
Box B-5
35. Sproul Observatory just after completion (Plate 32), 1911 (?).
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory with 2 people in foreground (Plate 33), 1912.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory with 2 people in foreground (Plate 34), 1912.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory with group of people in foreground (Plate 35), 1912.
Box B-5
Archival Resource Key. Sproul Observatory with group of people in foreground (Plate 36), 1912.
Box B-5
34. Sproul Observatory, front (Plate 37), August 1947.
Box B-6
35. Sproul Observatory, front (Plate 38), 1947.
Box B-6
36. Sproul Observatory, back - best view (Plate 39), 1947.
Box B-6
37. Observatory from campus - poor (Plate 40), 1947.
Box B-6
38. Observatory from Clothier tower - slit right (Plate 41), 1947.
Box B-6
39. Observatory from Strauss's in foreground (Plate 42), 1947.
Box B-6
40. Observatory from Strauss's - slit in center (Plate 43), 1947.
Box B-6
41. Open, telescope left (Plate 44), 1947.
Box B-6
42. Open telescope left (Plate 45), 1947.
Box B-6
43. Open telescope center (Plate 46), 1947.
Box B-6
44. Open, telescope slit left, Strauss's in foreground (Plate 47), 1947.
Box B-6
45. Slit left, Strauss's in foreground (Plate 48), 1947.
Box B-6
46. Rear (Plate 49), 1947.
Box B-6
47. Rear (Plate 50), 1947.
Box B-6
48. Rear telephoto, same as 50 (Plate 51), 1947.
Box B-6
49. Rear (Plate 52), 1947.
Box B-6
53. Rear telephoto, same as 52 (Plate 53), 1947.
Box B-6
51. Rear, front - best of front (Plate 54), 1947.
Box B-6
52. Rear from campus - good (Plate 55), 1947.
Box B-6
53. Rear from campus - telephoto same as 55, dense negative (Plate 56), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Calculating room (DH, SL, LS) (Plate 57), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Calculating room (DH, SL, LS) (Plate 58), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Measuring room (DH and SL) (Plate 59), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Measuring room (DH and WS) (Plate 60), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Library (west) (Plate 61), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Library (east) (Plate 62), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Library (east) (Plate 63), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Director's office (PvdK) (Plate 64), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Director's office (WS) (Plate 65), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Library (DH, LS, WS?, JP) (Plate 66), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Library (DH, LS, WS?, JP) (Plate 67), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Observatory dome - 25" refractor in use (RD; 69 is close-up) (Plate 68), 1947.
Box B-6
Archival Resource Key. Observatory dome - 25" refractor in use (RD; 69 is close-up) (Plate 69), 1947.
Box B-6
67. Sproul Observatory - 26" refractor (Plate 70), 1947.
Box B-6
68. Copy of photo of paintig of W.C. Sproul (Plate 71), 1947.
Box B-6
69. Copy of engraving, Susan Cunnhingham (Plate 72), 1947.
Box B-6
70. Plaque on Sproul Observatory (Plate 73), 1947.
Box B-6

Archival Resource Key. Partial Lunar Eclipse, 1937.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. Finsler comet, 1937.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. A-606, 1936.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. Spectra and Constellations, 1922.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. P2 1900, 1925.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. Planets & Stars.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. Halley's Comet, 1910.
Box C-1
Archival Resource Key. Astronomy, 1908.
Box C-2
Archival Resource Key. Comet Morehouse, 1908.
Box C-2
Archival Resource Key. 9" telescope, 1908.
Box C-2
Archival Resource Key. Misc. as labeled, 1915-1918.
Box C-3
Archival Resource Key. Misc. as labeled , 1915-1918.
Box C-4
Archival Resource Key. Planets, Pleaides, etc. , 1915-1918.
Box C-5
Archival Resource Key. Eclipse, Brandon Col., 1918-06-18.
Box C-6
Archival Resource Key. Eclipse and telescope, 1923.
Box C-6
Archival Resource Key. Corona, 1923.
Box C-6
Archival Resource Key. Corona.
Box C-7
Archival Resource Key. Eclipse expedition (tropical -- ship, staff, tent city).
Box C-7
Archival Resource Key. Student (?) observations from Sproul, 1925-1937.
Box C-8
Archival Resource Key. Student (?) observations from Sproul, 1948.
Box C-9
Archival Resource Key. Moon plates, 1948.
Box C-9
Archival Resource Key. Student (?) observations from Sproul, 1960.
Box C-10

Archival Resource Key. Miss Cunningham.
Box D-1
Archival Resource Key. Cluster of Perseus.
Box D-1
Archival Resource Key. Andromeda Nebula, 1912-1928.
Box D-1
Archival Resource Key. Orion Nebula, 1912.
Box D-1
Archival Resource Key. Cygnus, 1922.
Box D-1
Archival Resource Key. Other Nebulae.
Box D-2
Archival Resource Key. Solar prominences, 1908.
Box D-2
Archival Resource Key. Moon, 1910.
Box D-2
Archival Resource Key. Moon craters.
Box D-2
Archival Resource Key. Eclipse, 1920.
Box D-2
Archival Resource Key. Northern Cross, 1924.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Lunar Eclipse, 1929.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Taurus, 1912.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Corona streamers, 1912.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Sword of Orion, 1929.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Finsler comet, 1937.
Box D-3
Archival Resource Key. Pisces, 1937.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Lyra, 1940.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Perseus, 1939.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Pegasus, 1939.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Gemini, 1941.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Hercules, 1939.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Lepus, 1940.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Leonis.
Box D-4
Archival Resource Key. Brooks comet, 1911.
Box D-5
Archival Resource Key. Halley's comet, 1910.
Box D-5
Archival Resource Key. Comets, 1919.
Box D-5
Archival Resource Key. Solar eclipse, 1918.
Box D-5
Archival Resource Key. Spectrum of Albaron.
Box D-5
Archival Resource Key. Morehouse comet, 1908.
Box D-6
Archival Resource Key. Cardboard records, 1918-1931.
Box D-6
Archival Resource Key. Stars.
Box D-6
Archival Resource Key. Observatory plates.
Box D-6
Archival Resource Key. Eclipse in Peru, 1937.
Box D-6

1. Star model, (?).
Box E-1
2. Found loose among glass plates, 1919-1923.
Box E-1
3. Meetings and Conferences, 1948-1975.
Box E-1
4. Krueger 60, 1939-1965.
Box E-1
5. Eclipse, 1923.
Box E-1
6. Barnard's star photos and correspondence, 1938-1974.
Box E-1
7. Astronomers, 1940s.
Box E-1
1. Sumatra small, medium, large photographs, 1927.
Box E-2
2. Sumatra oversize photographs, 1926.
Box E-2
3. Pictures of Sumatra eclipse, 1926.
Box E-2
1. Telescope, 1974.
Box E-3
2. Sirius photographs and pamphlets, 1961/1964.
Box E-3
3. Vandekamp and others, 1958-1974.
Box E-3
4. S.L. Lippincott, 1952-1974.
Box E-3
5. Ross 614 AB, 1955-1956.
Box E-3
6. Telescope renovation, 1966.
Box E-3
7. Old observatory interiors, various exteriors, (?).
Box E-3

1. 11x14 photograph of Sumatra eclipse, 1926.
Box F-1
2. Cardboard-mounted photos of New Haven expedition, 1925.
Box F-1
3. Mounted photo of Sproul Observatory with enclosed poster for Sigma Xi talk, 1958.
Box F-1

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