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Mayall (Nicholas U.) papers
MS.279
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Contributing Institution:
University of California, Santa Cruz
Title: Nicholas U. Mayall papers
Creator:
Mayall, N. U. (Nicholas Ulrich),
1906-1993
Identifier/Call Number: MS.279
Physical Description:
31 Linear Feet
74 document boxes
Date (inclusive): 1931-1990
Abstract: This collection contains
correspondence, administrative files, photographs, charts, meeting notes, research, and
writings of astronomer Nicholas Ulrich Mayall.
Physical Location: Collection stored off-site at NRLF:
Advance notice is required for access.
Language of Material:
English
Collection open for research.
Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs.
Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair
use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to
determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more
information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.
Nicholas U. Mayall papers. MS279. Special Collections and Archives, University Library,
University of California, Santa Cruz.
Nicholas Ulrich Mayall (May 9, 1906-January 5, 1993). Born in Moline, Illinois, Dr. Mayall
grew up in Stockton, California. He earned his bachelor's degree and doctorate at the
University of California at Berkeley. During World War II he did government research at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dr. Mayall worked on projects that helped develop scientific understanding of the origin,
age, and size of the universe. He contributed to astronomical knowledge of nebulae,
supernovae, spiral galaxy internal motions, and the reshifts of galaxies.
As a young astronomer at Mount Wilson Observatory, California, he exposed a single plate
that recorded 48 bright-line stars, of which 27 were previously undiscovered. Previous to
that, other researchers seeking to record bright-line stars often took photographs without
success.
From Lick Observatory in California, he worked on a 20-year project with astronomers at
Mount Wilson and Mount Palomar on the big-bang concept of the beginning of the universe. He
was a co-author of a 1955 report on research concluding that the universe is 6 billion years
old, three times the previous estimate, and three times bigger than previously thought. At
Lick he also studied galaxy movement and did studies of Pluto.
The National Science Foundation appointed him to develop and head the Kitt Observatory in
Arizona from 1960 until his retirement in 1971. He also worked at its affiliated Cerro
Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile.
He died in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 86.
Excerpt from, "Nicholas U. Mayall, 86, Leader Of Studies on Nature of Universe" by Bruce
Lambert.
The New York Times Jan. 11, 1993.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection contains correspondence, research and writings, files and notes for
committees, working groups, and symposiums, club annual reports and by-laws, awards,
brochures, photographs and negatives, reprints, reviews, and clippings.
The collection adheres to the original order organized by the creator and arranged
alphabetically and by subject. Original folder titles were retained.
Processed by Debra Roussopoulos, 2015. EAD encoded finding aid by Debra Roussopoulos.
UA36 Lick Observatory Records
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Astronomy -- United States -- History
Lick Observatory