This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Source of acquisition--Dept. of Astronomy. Method of acquisition--gift.
This collection is arranged in 5 series.
The records within this collection begin with the recruitment of J.K Rees to Columbia College as Director of the Observatory in 1881. A graduate of Columbia in 1875, Rees left his position at Washington University in St. Louis as Professor of Math and Astronomy and joined the faculty of the School of Mines at Columbia. He took charge of the newly founded Summer School of Geodesy and taught courses in astronomy and geodesy throughout the academic year. At the urging of his fellow professors of the School of Mines to President Barnard in 1883, Rees was promoted to the position of Professor in 1884 and to the title of Professor of Practical Astronomy and Geodesy in 1892. In addition to his contributions at Columbia, Rees was an active member of many professional societies throughout his career.
As Director of the Observatory from 1881-1902, Rees oversaw the construction of the first observatory at Columbia and lead the astronomy department through significant transitional phases both in academic structuring and in physical location. When Rees began his work at Columbia, the college was located in mid-town Manhattan and the School of Mines at the corner of 4th Avenue and 49th Street. Soon after the construction of the Latitude Observatory between 1881 and 1883, the college began to outgrow its limited campus size. As Columbia College developed into Columbia University, the campus was relocated to Morningside Heights and Rees was once again in the position of building another observatory at the new location. Simultaneously, the astronomy department moved from a department within the School of Mines to the School of Pure Science. A Faculty of Pure Sciences was established in 1892 with 13 professors and adjunct professors spanning 10 departments. The faculty grew quickly over the next four years and officially moved to its Morningside Heights location on October 4, 1897.
A student and protégée of Rees, Harold Jacoby was hired as the Assistant in the Observatory in 1888, as Instructor in Astronomy in 1890, and was promoted to the Faculty of Pure Sciences in 1896. As successor to Rees, Jacoby lead the department and continued working to rebuild an observatory at the new location. The Wilde Observatory was constructed between 1906 and 1907 on the corner of 120th Street and Broadway.
Use of the Wilde Observatory was essentially replaced in 1927 by the Rutherford Observatory. Still in use today, the Rutherford Observatory is located on the roof of Pupin Hall at 550 W 120th Street and hosts regular public outreach programs.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Department of Astronomy Records; Box and Folder; University Archives, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Papers processed Gwyn Hervochon 7/2008. Finding aid written Gwyn Hervochon 8/2009.
Box 7 was added by Joanna Rios, November 2021.
This collection contains the records generated by the founding members of the modern astronomy department at Columbia University. The bulk of the collection is comprised of the correspondence of Professor John K. Rees along with the correspondence and writings of Professor Harold Jacoby. The records also include financial reports, departmental reports, curriculum outlines, student reports, and observatory ledgers. A few photographs and technical drawings of telescopes are included with the correspondence. The collection provides insight into many aspects of the department including: procuring donor support to build the observatories, the growth of the department as it went from the School of Mines to the School of Pure Sciences, the central role of the observatory within the department, contemporary astronomical events of interest to the scholarly community, and the professional input sought in regard to the construction of the observatories. Furthermore, the collection highlights public interest in the observatory and in the field of astronomy in New York City at the turn of the century.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
This first series contains extensive correspondence between Rees and his colleagues from across the country and abroad. Beginning in 1880 as the newly appointed "Director of the Observatory," Rees seeks and gives advice as plans are made to construct an observatory for the department on the mid-town Columbia College campus, and later on the Morningside Heights campus. Most carbon copies of Rees' letters are preserved along with original letters from a variety of senders including Columbia faculty members, contractors, astronomical instrument makers, and scholars.
Like his mentor John K. Rees, Harold Jacoby's written correspondence demonstrates an extensive communication with colleagues within the Columbia community and beyond.
This subseries includes the bulk of Jacoby's professional correspondence with publishers, manufacturers of astronomical instruments and colleagues. Communication with Carl Zeiss, an astronomical instrument maker in Germany, contains some photographs and technical drawings of telescopes and is predominantly in German. Jacoby's carbon copy responses are in English. Of additional interest is correspondence between Jacoby and the general public regarding inquiries and appointments to visit the observatory, and a folder of letters pertaining to the 1908 meeting of the Astronomical Society of America at Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
This subseries is arranged alphabetically according to Jacoby's personal letter file and contains both professional and personal correspondence with colleagues, friends and family members. Many carbon copies of Jacoby's original letters are included and of special interest is correspondence regarding Jacoby's involvement in an expedition to Cape Hope, South Africa to observe an eclipse in 1887.
This small series is comprised of two folders: One containing the correspondence of Professor Charles Lane Poor, and the other the correspondence of Professor S.A Mitchell. Poor's letters document the establishment of a course in Nautical Science as he communicates extensively with naval officers, interested attendees and other colleagues. The correspondence of S.A Mitchell provides further insight into the general departmental activity of a founding faculty member.
Series IV consists of Harold Jacoby's manuscript and typewritten lectures as well as articles for publication. Jacoby's writings cover a wide range of astronomical topics and contemporary events.
The final series of the collection is comprised of notes, observations and computations on graph paper as well as two hard-cover bound student project reports. About half of the graph paper records are marked as the charts of the "Lick Eros Plates" and represent a collaborative effort with the Lick Observatory in California. Some correspondence regarding this collaboration can be found in Box 2 Folder 7. This series also includes 5 bound ledger books with computations on the Rutherfurd plates as well as from observations at Bloomingdale Station/116th Street from 1893 to 1901.
Definitive investigation of the periodic errors of the Zenith telescope screw, 1896. Computations by F.E. Harpham under the direction of Harold Jacoby. Includes additional computations by J.K. Rees and H.S. Davis.
Latitude observations, variation of latitude pairs, and reduction to apparent place.
Computations by J.K. Rees and Harold Jacoby, from Bloomingdale Station / 116th Street with the Zenith telescope.
"Plates without Reseau." Includes designation of plate (Rutherfurd Perseus and numerals) and dates (1901 April-May). Book spine attributes the work to "Young" - possibly work by Anne Sewell Young for her dissertation
Computers Harold Jacoby, James McRichard and F.E. Hurley