United States. Naval Observatory

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Organizational History

  • 1830: Establishment of the Depot of Charts and Instruments, Washington, D.C.
  • 1843 - 1844 : Construction of the observatory on its present site
  • 1846: Publication of the first volume of Astronomical Observations, continued periodically and known as the “Washington Observations”
  • 1847: Construction of the superintendent’s residence
  • 1849: Establishment of the Nautical Almanac
  • 1860: Expedition to Canada to view the solar eclipse
  • 1865: Installation of the great transit circle telescope
  • 1869: Expedition to various western states to view the solar eclipse
  • 1874: Expedition to the Pacific to view the transit of Venus
  • 1878: Expedition to various western states to view the solar eclipse

From the guide to the United States Naval Observatory Records, 1830-1900, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Berger, C. Louis. The Washington sextant testing apparatus / by C. Louis Berger ; translated by A.N. Skinner, assisted by E.A. Boeger. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
referencedIn Princeton University Library, Dept. Of Rare Books & Mss., Ms. James Henry Coffin Papers.
creatorOf United States Naval Observatory. Symposium commemorating the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the satellites of Mars [sound recording] / 1977 August 11. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Herget, Paul, 1908-. Oral history interview with Paul Herget, 1977 April 19 and 20. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Morrill, Justin S. (Justin Smith), 1810-1898. Papers, 1828-1898. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Rodgers, John, 1812-1882. Letter of John Rodgers, superintendent, Naval Observatory, to counteract the circular invoking the interference of the National Academy of Sciences in regard to the proposed measure of moving the Naval Observatory. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
referencedIn Routly, Paul McRae. Oral History interview with Paul Routly, 1990 September 25. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Hayes, Dalton Smith, 1898-1950. Papers, 1898-1950 (bulk 1917-1950). Rutherford B Hayes Presidential Center, Hayes Presidential Center
referencedIn Asaph Hall Papers, 1837-1983, (bulk 1860-1920) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Hall, Asaph, 1829-1907. Discovery of the satellites of Mars : read before the Wash. Phil. Society Febr. 16, 1878 / [Asaph Hall]. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
referencedIn Strand, K. Aage (Kaj Aage), 1907-2000. Oral history interview with Kaj Strand, 1983 and 1984. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn [Pamphlets on the United States Naval Observatory]. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873. Letter to Capt. Charles Wilkes [manuscript], 1848 March 15. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Watts, C. B. (Chester Burleigh), 1889-1971. C.B. Watts recording his recollections of the Naval Observatory. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Videohistory Program. Classical observation techniques interviews [videorecording] / 1988-1991 American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873. Letter to President John Quincy Adams, 1847 November 17 / from Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury, U.S. Navy; transcribed by William Maury Morris 2nd. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
creatorOf Eastman, John R. (John Robie), 1836-1913. Papers, 1862-1911. New Hampshire Historical Society Library
referencedIn Strand, K. Aage (Kaj Aage), 1907-2000. K. Aage Strand papers, 1875-1999 (bulk 1947-1977). Library of Congress
referencedIn Hayden, Edward Everett, 1858-1932. Papers, 1817-1965 (bulk 1879-1932). Library of Congress
creatorOf United States Naval Observatory. Asaph Hall notebook, Aug. 5 - Sept. 24, 1877. Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command
referencedIn Warner & Swasey Company. Records, 1850-1919. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Ward, E. J., clinical photographer. Total eclipse of the sun photographs collection, 1896-1870. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Association Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIe. 1845-1865. American Philosophical Society
creatorOf United States Naval Observatory. Matthew Fontaine Maury observation book. No. 1 Dec. 27 - Mar. 11, 1846. Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command
referencedIn Walker, Richard L., 1938-. Oral History interview with Richard Walker, 1997 January 13. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Edward Everett Hayden Family Papers, 1817-1963, (bulk 1879-1932) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Records of the Harvard College Observatory Director Edward C. Pickering, 1854-1926 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf United States Naval Observatory Records, 1830-1900 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873. Matthew Fontaine Maury : Southern literary messenger. Navy Department Library, Naval History & Heritage Command
referencedIn Herbert Friedman Papers, 1940-2000 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Minor family. Papers, 1657-1942. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn American Astronomical Society. Historical Astronomy Division. Records of the Historical Astronomy Division Preservation Committee, 1981-1984. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIj, 1898-1988 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Hayes, Dalton Smith, 1898-1950. Papers, 1898-1950 (bulk 1917-19150). University of Oslo Medical Library
referencedIn Charles Jackson Train Journals, 1863-1870 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (Chile). Personal papers of former directors, 1853-1960. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Hellweg, J. F. (Julius Frederick), b. 1879. U.S. Naval Observatory [1809-1948] : first draft narrative prepared under the general supervision of the Director of Naval History / prepared by J.F. Hellweg ; foreword by Guy W. Clark. US Naval Observatory, James M. Gilliss Library
referencedIn Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henry), 1829-1928. Francis H. Smith memoranda concerning photometer [manuscript], 1905 Jun 5. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Matthew Fontaine Maury Papers, 1825-1960, (bulk 1830-1880) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIf, 1866-1886 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Mason, Charles, 1804-1882. Papers, 1829-1882. State Historical Society of Iowa, Library
referencedIn Hall, J. L. (John L.), 1934-. Oral history interview with John L. Hall, 1979 February 21. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Secretary. Correspondence, 1865-1891 Smithsonian Institution Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Astronomical Society. Historical Astronomy Division. corporateBody
associatedWith American Institute of Physics. corporateBody
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Berger, C. Louis. person
associatedWith Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
associatedWith Duxbury, Thomas C. person
associatedWith Eastman, John R. (John Robie), 1836-1913. person
associatedWith Elkin, William Lewis, 1855-1933. person
associatedWith Ferrel, William, 1817-1891. person
associatedWith Friedman, Herbert, 1916-2000 person
associatedWith Gingerich, Owen. person
associatedWith Grinnell, Henry, 1799-1874. person
associatedWith Hall, Asaph, 1800-1842 person
associatedWith Hall, Asaph, 1829-1907. person
associatedWith Hall, J. L. (John L.), 1934- person
associatedWith Harvard College Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Hayden, Edward Everett, 1858-1932. person
associatedWith Hayes, Dalton Smith, 1898-1950. person
associatedWith Hellweg, J. F. (Julius Frederick), b. 1879. person
associatedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878. person
associatedWith Herget, Paul, 1908- person
associatedWith Holden, Edward Singleton, 1846-1914. person
correspondedWith Manning, George person
associatedWith Manning, George. person
associatedWith Mason, Charles, 1804-1882. person
associatedWith Maury, Matthew Fontaine, 1806-1873. person
associatedWith Michelson, Albert Abraham, 1852-1931. person
associatedWith Minor family. family
associatedWith Mitchell, Maria, 1818-1889. person
associatedWith Morrill, Justin S. (Justin Smith), 1810-1898. person
associatedWith Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (Chile) corporateBody
correspondedWith Peters, C. H. F. (Christian Heinrich Friedrich), 1813-1890 person
associatedWith Peters, Christian Henry Frederick, 1813-1890. person
associatedWith Pickering, Edward C. 1846-1919. person
correspondedWith Pickering, Edward C. (Edward Charles), 1846-1919 person
associatedWith Rodgers, John, 1812-1882. person
associatedWith Routly, Paul McRae person
associatedWith Safford, Edward Charles, 1859-1926. person
correspondedWith Safford, Truman Henry, 1836-1901 person
associatedWith Sinclair, Andrew. person
associatedWith Smith, Francis H. (Francis Henry), 1829-1928. person
associatedWith Smithsonian Videohistory Program. corporateBody
associatedWith Stone, Ormond, 1847-1933. person
associatedWith Strand, K. Aage (Kaj Aage), 1907-2000. person
associatedWith Todd, David P. 1855-1939. person
associatedWith Train, Charles Jackson, 1845-1906. person
associatedWith Twining, Alexander C. 1801-1884. person
correspondedWith United States Naval Observatory. Nautical Almanac Office corporateBody
associatedWith Veverka, Joseph. person
associatedWith Walker, Richard L., 1938- person
associatedWith Warner & Swasey Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Watts, C. B. (Chester Burleigh), 1889-1971. person
associatedWith Young, Charles A. 1834-1908. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Amazon River
Biela comet
Amazon River
Arctic regions
Mars (Planet)
South America
South America
Washington (D.C.)
Mars (Planet)
Arctic regions
Subject
Astronomical observatories
Astronomical observatories
Astronomy
Astronomy
Cables, Submarine
Eclipses
Navigation
Satellites
Scientific expeditions
Smithsonian Exchange
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1862

Active 1911

Americans

English

Information

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