Herget, Paul, 1908-

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Astronmer. Cincinnati Observatory, 1931-1940; Director, 1943-; Lick Observatory, 1935-1936; U. S. Naval Observatory, 1942-1946.

From the description of Papers, 1935-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78261249

Astronomer.

From the description of The first astronauts: Second Dirk Brouwer Memorial Prize Lecture delivered before the American Astronomical Society at the University of Maryland, 1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84586814

Paul Herget graduated from Withrow High School in Cincinnati and entered the University of Cincinnati in 1926 as a student in Civil Engineering. After a few weeks, he withdrew and took a job as a surveyor to earn money for school. In 1927, Herget re-enrolled at UC as a mathematics major. He graduated in 1931 with an A.B. degree. Upon graduation, he was offered a position as an assistant at the Cincinnati Observatory, which would allow him to continue graduate studies at UC part-time. He completed his Ph.D. at UC in 1935 with a dissertation on the computations of orbits of newly discovered minor planets. Herget received an Alexander Morrison Fellowship and spent one year at the University of California as a postdoctoral research associate.

During World War II he served in the Nautical Almanac Office of the U.S. Naval Observatory from 1942 until 1946. There he instituted the use of an IBM tabulator and worked on the Air Almanac, the Nautical Almanac, and the "Submarine Book." Herget's knowledge of tabulating equipment and computers led to him becoming a consultant in a variety of related fields: The Manhattan District (atom bomb project), Argonne National Laboratory (U.S. Atomic Energy Commission), Mapping and Charting Laboratory, Project Atlas, Project Vanguard, and Project Mercury.

Herget was appointed director of the Cincinnati Observatory in 1943. In 1947, he began directing the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union, and received at Cincinnati a complete collection of all observations and computations concerning the minor planets from all over the world.

In 1962, he was elected to the National Academy of Science, and in 1965 was awarded the James Craig Watson gold medal by the Academy in recognition of his research contributions. Also in 1965 he was appointed Distinguished Service Professor of Astronomy at the University of Cincinnati, and was the recipient of the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement in Life from the UC Alumni Association. He died in 1981

From the guide to the Paul Herget papers, 1935-1987, 1935-1987, (University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Van de Kamp, Peter, 1901-. Symposium on the galaxy [motion picture] / taken by Peter Van de Kamp, 1950. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herget, Paul, 1908-. The first astronauts: Second Dirk Brouwer Memorial Prize Lecture delivered before the American Astronomical Society at the University of Maryland, 1980. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn History of physics manuscript biography collection D-H, 1901-1989, [ca. 1960]-1989 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Herget, Paul, 1908-. Oral history interview with Paul Herget, 1977 April 19 and 20. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Edmondson, Frank K. (Frank Kelley), 1912-. History of AURA : interviews and documentation, 1978-1991. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
creatorOf Herget, Paul, 1908-. Papers, 1935-1981. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Center for History of Physics (American Institute of Physics). History of Modern Astrophysics Archives, 1976-1979. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Paul Herget papers, 1935-1987, 1935-1987 University of Cincinnati, Archives and Rare Books Library
creatorOf Nicholson, Seth B. (Seth Barnes), 1891-1963. Papers of Seth Barnes Nicholson, 1914-1963. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn History of Modern Astrophysics Collection, 1849-1979 American Philosophical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Center for History of Physics (American Institute of Physics). corporateBody
associatedWith Cincinnati Observatory (Ohio) corporateBody
associatedWith DeVorkin, David H., 1944- person
associatedWith Edmondson, Frank K. (Frank Kelley), 1912- person
associatedWith Lick Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Nicholson, Seth B. (Seth Barnes), 1891-1963. person
associatedWith Niels Bohr Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Project Mercury (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration corporateBody
associatedWith United States Naval Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Berkeley. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Cincinnati. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Van de Kamp, Peter, 1901- person
associatedWith Yerkes Observatory. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Astronautics
Astronomers
Astronomers
Astronomers
Astronomical observatories
Astronomy
Astronomy
Ballistics
Computers
Physics
Rockets (Aeronautics)
Space probes
Space sciences
World War, 1914-1918
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Astronomers
Activity

Person

Birth 1908

Death 1981

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