Robert d'Escourt Atkinson, astronomer, physicist, and inventor, was known around the world for his work in general physics, atomic synthesis and stellar energy, precision astrometry and fundamental astronomy, instrumentation, and relativity. Consists of personal papers, research notes, published papers, and class and lecture notes of Robert d'E. Atkinson in seven series: Pre-IU, 1918-1978, containing papers and correspondence from his college days, World War II, and from his time at the Royal Observatory in England. A great deal of the Royal Observatory records are about the Observatory's move to Hurstmonceux, which Atkinson oversaw. Conferences and Meetings, 1958-1987, containing pamphlets and notes on conferences he attended; Correspondence, 1926-1981, containing personal correspondence with friends and colleagues. Prominently feature are famed astronomer and astrophysicist Henry Norris Russell and correspondence about Herman B Wells Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Publications and Papers, 1893-1980, consists both of Atkinson's papers and papers of others he chose to save; Subject files, 1924-1981, consists of notes, correspondence, and publications on relativity, Mirror Transit Circles, astrometry, and miscellaneous files; Indiana University, 1964-1981, made up of notes and correspondence from his time as a visiting professor at IU; Visual Materials, 1948-1979 containing photographs, glass and plastic slides, charts, microfiche, and a short home film.