Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Biography
Scope and Content of Collection
Indexing Terms
Descriptive Summary
Title: Sandra M. Faber papers
Dates: 1968-1997
Collection number: UA 35
Creator:
Faber, Sandra M.
Collection Size:
42 linear ft.
76 half cartons
Repository:
University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library.
University Archives
Santa Cruz, California 95064
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence, notes, papers, reports, minutes, articles, charts, tables, scan data sheets and maps,
and photographs relating
to Faber's research on the structure, formation and evolution of
galaxies and stars since joining the faculty at UCSC Lick Observatory in 1972. Included also is material documenting her involvement
with Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory projects. A portion of the papers contain manuscript pages, diagrams
and other supportive material to Faber's thesis (Ph. D.), "Photometry of Elliptical Galaxies in Multiple Systems", completed
at Harvard University, 1971.
Physical location: Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Collection open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Sandra M. Faber papers. UA 35. University Archives, University Library, University of
California, Santa Cruz.
Acquisition Information
Materials gifted and transferred by Sandra M. Faber in 2001.
Biography
Astronomer Sandra Faber, a University Professor of astronomy and astrophysics, was elected to the American Philosophical Society
on April 29. The learned society, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, honors extraordinary accomplishments in all fields.
Faber was one of three scientists who diagnosed a flaw in the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror.
Faber is renowned for her research on the formation and evolution of galaxies and the evolution of structure in the universe.
She has made significant scientific contributions in the areas of structure and formation of elliptical galaxies; the nature,
compositions, and motions of stars within a galaxy as related to their ages; and the streaming motions of large numbers of
galaxies. Important concepts such as "cold dark matter" and the "Great Attractor" are direct results of work by Faber and
her colleagues.
Two of the major optical astronomy ventures of recent years have benefited from Faber's involvement: the Hubble Space Telescope
and the W. M. Keck Observatory. She was one of three scientists who diagnosed a flaw in the Hubble's mirror and later helped
craft the strategy for a successful repair mission. She is a member of Hubble's wide field/planetary camera team, which directs
many of the telescope's most striking observations.
In addition, for nearly two decades Faber has helped plan and develop the Keck Observatory in Hawaii, home to the world's
largest optical and infrared telescopes.
Faber's many honors include election to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In 1995, she was appointed University Professor, the highest honor for faculty in the UC system.
Faber earned her B.A. in physics from Swarthmore College and her Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University. She joined the
faculty of UCSC and the UC Observatories/Lick Observatory in 1972.
Scope and Content of Collection
This inventory contains correspondence, notes, papers, reports, minutes, articles,
charts, tables, scan data sheets and maps, and photographs relating to Faber's research on the structure, formation and evolution
of galaxies and stars since joining the faculty at UCSC Lick Observatory in 1972. Included also is material documenting her
involvement with Hubble Space Telescope and the W.M. Keck Observatory projects. A portion of the papers contain manuscript
pages, diagrams and other supportive material to Faber's thesis (Ph.D.), "Photometry of Elliptical Galaxies in Multiple Systems",
completed at Harvard University in 1971.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Faber, S.M. (Sandra M.)--Archives
University of California, Santa Cruz--Astronomy and Astrophysics
Hubble Space Telescope (Spacecraft)
W. M. Keck Observatory
Space Telescope Science institute (U.S.)
University of California, Santa Cruz--Center for Adaptive Optics
Lick Observatory
Astronomy--Research--United States
Cosmology
Expanding universe
Big bang theory