Walter Sydney Adams Papers 1881-1939

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Walter Sydney Adams Papers 1881-1939

http://www.amphilsoc.org/mole/view?docId=ead/Mss.B.Ad19-ead.xml

An expert in stellar spectroscopy, Walter Sydney Adams (1876-1956, APS 1915) made important empirical contributions to the analysis of the physical conditions of stellar and planetary atmospheres, determining the distances to extragalactic objects, and understanding stellar evolution. Adams succeeded his mentor George Ellery Hale as director of the Mount Wilson Observatory, serving in that capacity from 1923 to 1946. The Adams Papers contains approximately 100 letters addressed to the astronomer Walter Sydney Adams, dating primarily from the period after his move to Mount Wilson Observatory in 1904. Much of the correspondence is relatively perfunctory, however a few letters include interesting scientific content, including Harlow Shapley discussing his photometric study of HV 3435 and interest in Alpha Circini, Arthur Compton's comments on Keener's photoelectric method, Svante Arrhenius on the possibilities of constructing a new observatory for the Swedish Academy of Sciences, and Arthur Eddington discussing the implications of the spectrum of the companion to Sirius. Among Adams' other correspondents are J. C. Kapteyn, James H. Jeans, Henry Norris Russell, Elihu Thomson, and Willem de Sitter.

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American Philosophical Society

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SNAC Resource ID: 6631381

Related Entities

There are 37 Entities related to this resource.

Russell, Henry Norris, 1877-1957

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qj7jnn (person)

Astronomer (stellar evolution, astrophysics of stars, double stars) and administrator. On the astronomy faculty at Princeton University from 1905, director of the observatory, 1912-1947; research associate at Mt. Wilson Observatory, 1922-1942; and at Harvard College Observatory, 1947-1952. From the description of Manuscript of article, The probable distance of Orion, and letter to Russell from Edwin B. Frost, editor of the Astronomical Journal, rejecting the manuscript for publicatio...

Mount Wilson Observatory

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Founded in December 1904 by George Ellery Hale and funded by the Carnegie Institution, the Mount Wilson Observatory quickly became one of the 20th century's major astronomical research centers. Located just north of Los Angeles high atop the San Gabriel Mountains, the observatory took full advantage of Southern California's clear nights and uniquely steady air. The observatory's 60" telescope completed in 1908 was the largest then in existence. In 1917, another Mount Wilson telescope, 100" in di...

Compton, Arthur Holly, 1892-1962

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Physicist Arthur Holly Compton worked as a research engineer at Westinghouse Lamp Co. (1917-1919) and studied with Rutherford at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England (1919). He taught physics at Washington University (1920-1923) and at University of Chicago (1923-1945) and served as Chancellor of Washington University from 1945-1953. From the guide to the Arthur Holly Compton notebooks, 1919-1941, 1919-1941, (American Philosophical Society) In 1920, Arthur Holly Co...

Milne, E. A.

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Newall, Hugh Frank, 1871-

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Sitter, Willem de

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Birkhoff, George David, 1884-1944

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Birkhoff (1884-1944) graduated from Harvard in 1905 and taught mathematics at Harvard. From the description of Papers of George David Birkhoff, 1902-1946 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 249203829 ...

Aitken, Robert G.

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Thomson, Elihu, 1853-1937

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Electrician, inventor with 700 patents under his name; winner of many honors, prizes, and medals. From the description of Letter to S[amuel] S[ydney] McClure, 1894 February 3. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 55132441 Thomson joined the staff of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering in 1894, served as Acting President of the Institute, 1920-1922, and was a member of the MIT Corporation for many years....

Julien, W. H.

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Adams, Walter S. (Walter Sydney), 1876-1956

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Adams was the astronomer of stellar spectroscopy at Mount Wilson Observatory, 1904-1923, and Director, 1923-1946. From the description of Correspondence, 1881-1939. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 86165432 Astronomer. From the description of Papers, 1923-1956. [microform]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79843223 Walter Sydney Adams (1876-1956, APS 1915), astronomer, explored the uses of spectroscopy, investigate...

GREGORY, R. A.

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Hale, George Ellery, 1868-1938

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George Ellery Hale was an astrophysicist. He was the organizer and director of the Mount Wilson Observatory of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, 1904-1923, and was honorary director until his death in 1938. His principal scientific researches were made in stellar spectroscopy. From the description of Papers, 1903-1935. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82798019 From the description of Papers, 1882-1937. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122523501...

Turner, H. H. (Herbert Hall), 1861-1930

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Astronomer and seismologist; Fellow of the Royal Society; Savilian Professor of Astronomy, Oxford, from 1893 until his death. As well as directing the teaching and research of the University Observatory, Oxford, Turner was a promoter of international freiedships and collaboration in astronomy, and after 1913 continued the important seismological work of John Milne. From the description of Papers, 1900-1930. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80830617 Professor of astronomy, Oxfo...

Pickering, William H.

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Biography William H. Pickering was born in Havelock, a small town on New Zealand's South Island, in 1910. He came to the United States to study at Caltech in 1929. He received his BS from Caltech in 1932, his MS in 1933 and his PhD in Physics in 1936. William Pickering's graduate advisor was Robert Millikan. After completing his PhD, he was hired as an assistant professor in Caltech's Electrical Engineering Department. In 1944 Dr....

Plummer, H. S.

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Shapley, Harlow, 1885-1972

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Astronomer (galaxies, photometry, spectroscopy) and administrator. Astronomer, Mount Wilson Observatory, 1914-1921; director, Harvard Observatory, 1921-1952; on the astronomy faculty at Harvard from 1952. From the description of Papers [microform], 1910-1923. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80523781 Harlow Shapley (1885-1972) was an astronomer. Shapley served as director of the Harvard College Observatory and was a professor at Harvard University, eventually he became the Pai...

Day, Arthur L. (Arthur Louis), 1869-1960

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Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974

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Physicist, engineer, government official, and science administrator. From the description of Vannevar Bush papers, 1901-1974 (bulk 1932-1955). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980014 Administrator, engineer. From the description of Reminiscences of Vannevar Bush : oral history, 1967. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122569580 Biographical Note ...

Eddington, Arthur Stanley, Sir, 1882-1944

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Astronomer and Fellow of the Royal Society. From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 83660356 From the description of Letters. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82863606 From the description of Papers, 1905-1928. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78824422 Educated at Owen's College, Manchester and Trinity College, Cambridge. Senior Wrangler, 1904. Smith's Prizeman, 1907. Chief Assistant, Royal Observatory (Greenwich), 1906-1913. Plumian Prof...

Schlesinger, Frank, 1871-1943

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Astronomer (modern astrometry) and administrator. Head, International Latitude Observatory, 1899-1903; astronomer, Yerkes Observatory, 1903-1905; director, Allegheny Observatory, 1905-1920; and head, Department of Astronomy, Yale University, 1920-1941; and director, Yale Observatory, 1920-1941. From the description of Allegheny Observatory correspondence [microform], 1905-1920. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80601819 Astronomer (modern astrometry) and administrator. Head, In...

Pritchett, Henry S. (Henry Smith), 1857-1939

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Astronomer, superintendent of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, and president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From the description of Henry S. Pritchett papers, 1876-1967 (bulk 1900-1939). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71061298 Biographical Note 1857, Apr. 16 Born, Fayette, Mo. 1875 A.B.,...

Newcomb, Simon, 1835-1909

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American astronomist and political economist. From the description of Typed letter : [Washington, D.C., to the editors of The Critic, Jeannette L. and Joseph B. Gilder, 1884 Aug. 19]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 645229686 American astronomer. From the description of Typewritten letters signed (3) : Washington, D.C., to Harper & Brothers, 1886 Mar. 16-1883 Apr. 23. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270612661 Astronomer, mathematician, and economist. ...

Frost, Edwin Brant, 1866-1935

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Astronomer. Dartmouth College, A. B. 1886; A. M. 1889; D. Sc. 1911; D. Sc. (hon.) Cambridge University, 1912; studies physics and astonomy, Princeton, Strassburg (Germany), Astrophysical Observatory, Potsdam, Germany. Taught physics and astronomy at Dartmouth, 1887-1898; professor of astrophysics, University of Chicago, 1898- (and director of observatory, 1892); director of Yerkes Observatory, 1905-1932, emeritis. From the description of Papers, 1899-1904; 1908, 1923-1924. (Unknown)....

Dyson, Frank Watson, 1868-1939

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Astronomer. Fellow of the Royal Society. From the description of Papers, 1906-1910. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122420071 From the description of Papers, ca. 1894-1935. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79840333 ...

Sliphen, V. M.

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Campbell, W.W.

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Jeans, James, 1877-1946

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Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Smith's Prizeman, 1900. Fellow of Trinity, 1901. University lecturer in mathematics, 1904. Professor of Applied Mathematics, Princeton University, 1905-1909. F. R. S., 1906. Secretary Royal Society. Royal Medallist, 1919. Knighted, 1928. O. M., 1939. From the description of Papers and 11 miscellaneous items from other series, 1896-1945. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84865346 ...

Jones, H. Spencer (Harold Spencer), 1890-1960

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St. John, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1857-1935

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Escanglon, S. (Observatoire de Paris)

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Gates, Henry C.

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Kapteyn, J.C. (Jacobus Cornelius), 1851-1922

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Arrhenius, Svante, 1859-1927

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Professor in physics, University of Stockholm. 1903 Nobel Prize-winner in Chemistry. Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155004825 From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84273819 From the description of Papers. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 155004971 Swedish physicist and chemist. From the description of Correspondence of Svante Arrhenius, 1904-1925. (...

Abbot, C.G. (Charles Greeley), 1872-1973

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Astronomer, director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. From the description of Papers, 1918-1920. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78404538 Charles G. Abbot (1872-1973), the fifth Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, came to the Institution in 1895 as an assistant to Secretary Samuel P. Langley in the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. In 1907 he was named Director of the Astrophysical Observatory, a position w...

Turner, H. H.

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Wood, R.W.

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