Records of the Harvard College Observatory : Photographs, 1887-approximately 1930? and undated
Overview
These photographs depict the activities, personnel, and research of the Harvard College Observatory, including Observatory personnel, buildings, equipment, and surrounding landscape in Cambridge and at observatory stations in Colorado, California, possibly Jamaica, and South America (chiefly Peru). Research was primarily astronomical, but involved some meteorological observation to determine where the Observatory stations should be sited. Approximately 600 of the photographs depict South America.
Dates
- Creation: 1887- 1930? and undated
Creator
- Harvard College Observatory (Organization)
Conditions on use and access
The collection is open for research. Permission of the University Archives is required for photocopying or publishing.
Extent
1200 photographs9.5 cubic feet (49 flat boxes)
These are a subset of the records of the Harvard College Observatory. These photographs depict the staff activities including travel and research, of the Harvard College Observatory as well as the landscape, buildings, and equipment in Cambridge and at observatory stations in Colorado, California, Jamaica, and South America (chiefly Peru). Research was primarily astronomical, but also included some meteorological observation.
Arrangement
- South American exploration photograph albums
- Images arranged by Observatory number,
- Imaged arranged by archivists
- Non-Harvard images
- United States Commission to the Paris Exposition of 1900
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Exact date of acquisition is unknown. It is assumed that these photographs were transferred to the University Archives from the Harvard College Observatory in two or more transfers between approximately 1920 and 1975.
Online access
Most of the photographs have been digitized and are available online. Links accompany detailed descriptions.
Inventory update
This document last updated 2023 September 8.
Processing Note
If possible, archivists transcribed titles and dates in the list of images. Where information was lacking, archivists supplied it. Information supplied by the archivist is in square brackets. Transcriptions came from the captions written on the images or on their cardboard supports, or from partial list that forms a part of the Records of the Harvard College Observatory (UAV 630.271.5).
Archivists organized the photographs into series. Some series follow the original alpha-numeric plate classification scheme of the Harvard College Observatory. Archivists attempted to approximate the Observatory's original classification as they organized the images lacking Observatory numbers.
This inventory was created by Patrice Donoghue and Kate Bowers in 2008-2009.
Fifty-two photographs, two sketches, two maps, and one graph were added to the Enlargements for display subseries by Dominic P. Grandinetti in September 2023.
Creator
- Harvard College Observatory (Organization)
- Title
- Harvard College Observatory. Records of the Harvard College Observatory : Photographs : an inventory
- Author
- Harvard University Archives
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hua04009
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
Pusey Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2461
archives_reference@harvard.edu