University of Michigan. Astronomy Department

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The first mention of the Department of Astronomy as a unit of the University of Michigan was in 1929 when Will Carly Rufus was named Acting Director of the Observatories and acting Chairman of the Department of Astronomy. It is surmised that the Department was created in that year. During the 1980's, Chairmen of the Department included Robert P. Kirshner and Douglas O. Richstone.

Historically, the Department has operated, established, and cooperatively maintained a number of astronomical observatories. The Detroit Observatory was built in Ann Arbor in 1854. The Lamont-Hussey Observatory in Bloemfontein, South Africa was dedicated in 1928. In 1972, the Lamont-Hussey Observatory was closed and its equipment and records were returned to Ann Arbor. The McMath-Hulbert Observatory was opened in 1930 in Lake Angelus, Michigan and the McGraw-Hill Observatory in Arizona, which featured a 1.3 meter telescope, was opened in 1975.

One of the department's accomplishments was its participation in the creation of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). In 1957, Robert R. McMath of the University of Michigan became Chairman of the Board of Directors of AURA Inc. Three observatories are under the group's charge; Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, and the Sacramento Peak Observatory in Sunspot, New Mexico. On November 2, 1962, AURA acknowledged Dr. McMath's contributions to the organization by naming the world's largest solar telescope located on Kitt Peak in his honor.

A detailed history of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Michigan and its related observatories is available in The University of Michigan: An Encyclopedic Survey .

From the guide to the Dept. of Astronomy (University of Michigan) records, 1960-1989, 1980-1989, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn University of Michigan. Observatory. Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1855-1977. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Records, 1953-1974 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Curtiss, R. H. (Ralph Hamilton), 1880-1929. Ralph Hamilton Curtiss papers, 1907-1923. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hutchins, Harry B. (Harry Burns), 1847-1930. Harry Burns Hutchins papers, 1879-1930. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hussey family. Hussey family papers, 1876-1926. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Mohler, Orren C. (Orren Cuthbert), 1908-1985. Orren C. Mohler papers, 1928-1979. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hiltner, W. A. (William Albert), 1914-. William A. Hiltner papers, 1942-1991. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Alexander G. Ruthven Papers, 1901-1961, 1906-1951 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Watson, James C. (James Craig), 1838-1880. James Craig Watson papers, 1857-1881. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882-1971. Alexander Grant Ruthven papers, 1901-1961. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hulbert, Henry Schoolcraft, 1869-1959. Henry Schoolcraft Hulbert papers, 1909-1958. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942. Heber Doust papers, 1889-1890, 1900-1908, and 1921-1942. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Harry Burns Hutchins Papers, 1879-1930 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1855-1985 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Richstone, Douglas. Douglas Richstone papers, 1993-1996. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hopkins, Louis Allen. Louis A. Hopkins papers, 1906-1942. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Goldberg, Leo. Oral history interview with Leo Goldberg, 1983, February 22. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library
referencedIn Hazel Marie Losh papers, 1870s-1978 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Dept. of Astronomy. Dept. of Astronomy (University of Michigan) records, 1960-1989 (bulk 1980-1989). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Mohler, Orren C. (Orren Cuthbert), 1908-1985. Orren C. Mohler transcript of oral history interview, 1979. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Miller, Freeman D. (Freeman Devold), 1909-. Freeman D. Miller papers, ca. 1946-1995. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Losh, Hazel Marie, 1898-1978. Hazel Marie Losh papers, 1931-1978. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962. Robert R. McMath papers, 1916-1912. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan. Observatory. Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1855-1985. Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Dept. of Astronomy (University of Michigan) records, 1960-1989, 1980-1989 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hiltner, W. A. (William Albert), 1914-. William A. Hiltner papers, 1958-1991. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Robert R. McMath Papers, 1916-1962 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Allmendinger, George Franklin, 1855-1926. George Franklin Allmendinger student notebook, ca. 1876. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn James Craig Watson papers, 1855-1881 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962. Robert R. McMath papers, 1916-1962. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942. Heber Doust Curtis papers, 1889-1890, 1900-1908, and 1921-1942. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Turner, Scott, 1880-1972. Scott Turner student notebooks, 1900-1902 and 1904. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn William A. Hiltner papers, 1942-1991 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Heber Doust Curtis papers, 1889-1890, 1900-1908, and 1921-1942 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy records, 1953-1974. Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Hussey Family papers, 1876-1926 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf University of Michigan. Astronomy Dept. Department of Astronomy (University of Michigan) records, 1962-1989 (bulk 1980-1989). Bentley Historical Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Allmendinger, George Franklin, 1855-1926. person
associatedWith Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. corporateBody
associatedWith Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. corporateBody
associatedWith Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. corporateBody
associatedWith Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942 person
associatedWith Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942. person
associatedWith Curtis, Heber Doust, 1872-1942. person
associatedWith Curtiss, R. H. (Ralph Hamilton), 1880-1929. person
associatedWith Goldberg, Leo. person
associatedWith Hiltner, W. A. (William Albert), 1914- person
associatedWith Hiltner, W. A. (William Albert), 1914- person
associatedWith Hiltner, W. A. (William Albert), 1914- person
associatedWith Hopkins, Louis Allen. person
associatedWith Hulbert, Henry Schoolcraft, 1869-1959. person
associatedWith Hussey family. family
associatedWith Hussey Family. family
associatedWith Hutchins, Harry B. (Harry Burns), 1847-1930 person
associatedWith Hutchins, Harry B. (Harry Burns), 1847-1930. person
associatedWith Losh, Hazel Marie, 1898-1978 person
associatedWith Losh, Hazel Marie, 1898-1978. person
associatedWith McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962 person
associatedWith McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962. person
associatedWith McMath, Robert R. (Robert Raynolds), 1891-1962. person
associatedWith Miller, Freeman D. (Freeman Devold), 1909- person
associatedWith Mohler, Orren C. (Orren Cuthbert), 1908-1985. person
associatedWith Mohler, Orren C. (Orren Cuthbert), 1908-1985. person
associatedWith Richstone, Douglas. person
associatedWith Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882- person
associatedWith Ruthven, Alexander Grant, 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Turner, Scott, 1880-1972. person
associatedWith University of Michigan. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Observatory. corporateBody
associatedWith Watson, James C. (James Craig), 1838-1880 person
associatedWith Watson, James C. (James Craig), 1838-1880. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Michigan--Ann Arbor
Subject
Astronomical observatories
Astronomy
Astronomy
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1962

Active 1989

Active 1960

Active 1989

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