Title: Washington University Observatory Collection, 1879-2003
ID: WUA/01/wua00330
Primary Creator: Washington University Observatory
Extent: 5.0 Linear Feet
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 & Co., and refigured in 1882 by Alvan Clark & 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.
Repository: WUA University Archives
Accruals: Accruals are interfiled with collection.
Access Restrictions: Open
Use Restrictions:
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.)
Physical Access Note: Some of these materials are fragile and may require special handling.
Acquisition Method: Accession number WUA2014-076
Preferred Citation: [Item description]. From the [collection title, series, box, folder]. University Archives, Washington University in St. Louis.
Processing Information: Updated by Sarah Gabriel in June 2016
Finding Aid Revision History: Updated by Sarah Gabriel in June 2016
