Kevin H. Prendergast papers, 1954-1990

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 12 series.

• Series I: Personal
• Subseries I.1: Photography
• Subseries 1.2: Correspondence
• Series II: Astronomy
• Subseries II.1: Cosmology
• Subseries II.2: Dynamics of Galaxies: General
• Subseries II.3: Dynamics of Galaxies: Spiral Galaxies
• Subseries II.4: Dynamics of Galaxies: Barred Spiral Galaxies
• Subseries II.5: Dynamics of Galaxies: Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies (and Elliptical Galaxies)
• Subseries II.6: Dynamics of Galaxies: Star-Gas Interactions in Galaxies
• Subseries II.7: Star Clusters
• Subseries II.8: Accretion Disks
• Subseries II.9: Asteroid
• Subseries II.10: Few- and N-body Problems, and Celestial Mechanics
• Subseries II.11: Hydrodynamics, Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, and Gas-Kinetic Theory
• Subseries II.12: Magnetohydrodynamics
• Series III: Dynamical Systems and Applied Mathematics
• Series IV: Numerical Hydrodynamics
• Series V: Applications of Hydrodynamics and Rarified Gas Dynamics
• Series VI: Miscellaneous
• Series VII: Published Papers
• Series VIII: Lecture Notes
• Subseries VIII.1: Graduate School Courses (developed by K. Prendergast)
• Subseries VIII.2: Lecture notes on undergraduate courses
• Subseries VIII.3: Lecture notes on graduate school courses (developed by others)
• Series IX: Astronomy Department/Professional Organizations
• Series X: Ephemera
• Series XI: Papers by Others
• Series XII: Printed Material

Description

Summary

Correspondence, manuscripts, lectures, notes, and printed materials of Kevin H. Prendergast, a prominent astronomer who worked in the fields off dynamics of many-body systems, the rotation curves of galaxies, and X-ray binary systems.

• Series I: Personal

• Series II: Astronomy

• Series III: Dynamical Systems and Applied Mathematics

• Series IV: Numerical Hydrodynamics

• Series V: Applications of Hydrodynamics and Rarified Gas Dynamics

• Series VI: Miscellaneous

• Series VII: Published Papers

• Series VIII: Lecture Notes

• Series IX: Astronomy Department/Professional Organizations

• Series X: Ephemera

• Series XI: Papers by Others

• Series XII: Printed Material

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

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This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies 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.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Kevin H. Prendergast papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2004-2005-M35: Source of acquisition--Jane Prendergast. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--2/1/2005.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Papers processed Wei-Hwan Chiang 10/2005.

Revision Description

2010-02-24 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Prendergast received his Ph.D. at Columbia in 1954 and then went to the University of Chicago, returning to Columbia as a professor in 1962. He chaired the Columbia astronomy department from 1978 to 1984, retiring in 2000 with a long trail of successful young theorists in his wake. Prendergast was an icon in the field of dynamics of many-body systems. He also was well known for a series of papers in the 1960s and 1970s, written with Geoffrey and Margaret Burbidge, on understanding the rotation curves of galaxies. Numerous theoretical studies of the structure of galaxies followed, and he was a pioneer in the study of X-ray binary systems. In addition to Prendergast's professional accomplishments, he was also a skilled pianist and an avid sailor. During his long career, Prendergast became famous for using yellow legal pads, on which he had scrawled analyses of many problems in astronomical dynamics. His classes were renowned for the exactitude of his standards and the high percentage of faculty in attendance. During one year, regularly attending faculty outnumbered students.