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Start Over Online Content Includes Digital Content Collection Detroit Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1860-2004 (majority within 1994-2001)
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University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library

Detroit Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1860-2004 (majority within 1994-2001)

Online

29 linear feet (and oversize material) — 1.7 GB (online)

The Detroit Observatory, an astronomical observatory on the campus of the University of Michigan, was the vision of University of Michigan President Henry Philip Tappan. He recognized the need for institutions of higher education to pursue scientific endeavors. Built in 1854, the Detroit Observatory was named after the Detroit residents who helped finance the building project. Extensive restoration work of the Observatory was completed in 1999.

The Detroit Observatory record group includes administrative materials of the Observatory's later years (post-1994), including documentation on the Observatory's restoration project and materials encompassing the Observatory's publicity and outreach efforts. The collection also contains various historical documents and artifacts such as logbooks and records, photographs and other visual materials, motion pictures, architectural drawings, and publications. The collection includes all of the documents, artifacts, and records transferred to the Bentley Historical Library in 2005. Materials not physically transferred to the Bentley that remain in the Observatory (such as telescopes, clocks, and associated astronomical devices) have not been identified here, but documentation can be found listed in the various inventories and databases found in the administrative series.

This collection contains the following series: Administrative, Publicity and Outreach, Research, Historical, and Publications.

Top 3 results in this collection — view all 22
Folder

Historical, 1860-2004

14 linear feet

Online

The Historical series (1860-2004, 14 linear ft.) consists of data, audiovisual materials, artifacts, and other collected records documenting the many uses and functions of the Observatory throughout its history. The series includes records of observations and research activities conducted at the Detroit Observatory as well as some observational data from as early as 1800. Some of these records were apparently held by the university Department of Astronomy, individual faculty members and private collectors. When the Observatory was reopened for educational and public programming activities in the 1990s, director Sandy Whitesell began acquiring historical records of the observatory. The Historical series has been organized by material type into three subseries: Records and Observational Data, Audiovisual Materials, and Artifacts.

Detroit Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1860-2004 (majority within 1994-2001)
Folder

Audiovisual Materials

Online

The Audiovisual Materials sub-series includes photographs, lantern slides, photo negatives, etchings, and microfilm. These materials document various astronomical subject matter, people, the Detroit Observatory, astronomical observations (including solar flares, planets, stars, and Halley's Comet) other observatories around the world, and scientific instruments.

Additionally, moving image and audio recordings contain historic footage of various observations as well as Observatory construction and restoration projects.

In: Detroit Observatory (University of Michigan) records, 1860-2004 (majority within 1994-2001)Historical, 1860-2004
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