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Truman H. Safford (1836-1901) Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 29/4

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The records consist mainly of notebooks in which Safford recorded observations, calculations and notes. Materials include Safford's teaching files from the first University of Chicago, astronomical observations, computations regarding celestial objects, extracts from astronomical catalogs and two manuscripts. One file contains biographical material.

The notebooks are arranged according to the bulk of their contents; however, all of the volumes were used to record a variety of observations, calculations and notes, and they should thus be consulted as a body rather than individually. Materials include Safford's teaching files from the University of Chicago, astronomical observations, computations regarding celestial objects, extracts from astronomical catalogs and two manuscripts.

The first four volumes pertain principally to Safford's teaching at the first University of Chicago. They include lecture notes, problems, class lists, and grades for his classes in astronomy and mathematics. The next seven notebooks record primarily astronomical observations made by Safford at the Dearborn Observatory and other facilities in the period 1854-1875. Many of the observations are of the planets Neptune and Saturn, various nebulae, and the star Polaris. The next four volumes consist chiefly of Safford's computations of the locations, magnitudes, and motions of various celestial objects. The last five volumes include extracts copied from various astronomical catalogs. Safford used these tables for comparisons with each other and with the positions and motions he observed directly.

Following the notebooks are two manuscript essays dealing with education. The first concerns the German Gymnasium system and the second speculates on the future of the public schools in the United States. The published articles that follow the essays span the period 1861-1864 and deal with the positions and motions of stars and planets based upon his observations at the Harvard College Observatory. They represent the principal type of astronomical research being conducted in the mid-nineteenth century. The articles were published in the Proceedings of the American Academy of Science.

A final folder contains a small amount of biographical material, none of which is original or contemporary with Safford's life.

Dates

  • 1850-1871

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored off-site and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

2.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Astronomer Truman Safford was the first director of the Dearborn Observatory (in its old location on the South Side of Chicago, before it was moved in 1889 to Northwestern University). The records consist mainly of notebooks in which he recorded observations, calculations and notes. Materials include Safford's teaching files from the first University of Chicago, astronomical observations, computations regarding celestial objects, extracts from astronomical catalogs and two manuscripts. One file contains biographical material.

Arrangement

The papers are organized into teaching material, observations, computations, catalogue extracts, essay drafts, publications, and biographical materials.

Method of Acquisition

The Truman H. Safford Papers were separated from the Records of the Dearborn Observatory (29/2) on August 1, 1982 as Accession #82-139. Material from teh Archives' Biographical Files was added in January, 2011.

Processing Information

Thomas J. Dorst, June, 1983.

Title
Guide to the Truman H. Safford (1836-1901) Papers
Author
Thomas J. Dorst
Date
01/06/1983
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635