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Mount Wilson Observatory Photographs and Audiovisual
Materials
photCL COPC
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library Photo Archives
Title: Mount Wilson Observatory photographs and audiovisual materials
Creator:
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Identifier/Call Number: photCL COPC
Physical Description:
35.55 Linear Feet
(87 boxes, 5 volumes)
Date (inclusive): approximately 1890s-2004
Date (bulk): 1925-1975
Abstract: A collection of photographs and
audiovisual materials chiefly related to Mount Wilson Observatory, Los Angeles County,
California, and 20th-century astronomical research.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
Restrictions apply to: Boxes 23-79: Glass plate negatives not available for paging due to
fragility and availability of digital reproductions in the
Huntington Digital Library.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
Huntington Library owns the copyright for these materials; copyright was transferred by the
Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.
[Identification of item]. Mount Wilson Observatory photographs and audiovisual materials,
The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Placed on deposit in the Huntington Library by the Observatories of the Carnegie
Institution of Washington, 1988.
Mount Wilson Observatory was founded in 1904 by George Ellery Hale under the auspices of
the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Built on the summit of Mount Wilson, above Pasadena
in Los Angeles County, California, it was called the Mount Wilson Solar Observatory until
1919, when "Solar" was dropped from the name.
This is a collection of over 8,000 photographs and a few audiovisual materials chiefly
related to Mount Wilson Observatory, located in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, in
Los Angeles County, California. The materials date from 1890 to 2004, with the bulk of
material dated 1925 to 1975. Subjects include the building of the observatory and its
development, various telescopes, structures, and scientific instruments, as well as numerous
astronomers, scientists, and related workers. Images depict the construction of Mount Wilson
Toll Road, transportation of items to the observatory, night views of city lights seen from
Mount Wilson, and brush fires around Mount Wilson. Scientists are seen working at the Mount
Wilson Observatory administrative buildings and workshops on Santa Barbara Street in
Pasadena, and taking part in various eclipse expeditions. Other subjects are: the Hale Solar
Laboratory, Palomar Observatory, Yerkes Observatory, astronomical photographs, and many
images of notable scientists and astronomers, including George Ellery Hale, Edwin Powell
Hubble, Albert Einstein, Walter Sydney Adams, and Ferdinand Ellerman. Also included are
audio recordings and motion picture films related to Mount Wilson Observatory.
In 1988 and 1989, Ronald Brashear, the Huntington's first History of Science curator,
organized the collection and wrote photograph descriptions. From 1999 to 2001, 2,219 images
were scanned by the Huntington Library and added to the Huntington Digital Library. In 2018
and 2019, Laura Rips re-housed some materials and wrote descriptions of the albums. In 2021,
Suzanne Oatey completed processing and created a finding aid.
Organized in six series:
- Series 1. Photograph albums, 1891-1936
- Series 2. Photographic prints, approximately 1890s-1987
- Series 3. Glass plate negatives, approximately 1890s-1920s
- Series 4. Film negatives, approximately 1920s-1970s
- Series 5. Audiovisual materials, 1930-2004
- Series 6. Photocopies and subject index, approximately 1989
Existence and Location of Copies
The majority of unique images in this collection have been digitized and the digital
reproductions are available in the
Huntington Digital Library. Six motion picture films are available on the
Internet Archive,
and an audio recording is available on the
Internet Archive.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Boxes 18-22: Film negatives and audiovisual materials housed in cold storage; extended
retrieval and delivery time required.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Astronomers -- United States -- 20th century
Astronomical observatories
Astronomical observatories -- California -- Wilson, Mount
(Mountain)
Astronomical photography -- Equipment and supplies
Astronomy -- United States -- History -- 20th century --
Sources
Astronomy -- Photographs
Telescopes -- Design and construction -- History -- Sources
Mount Wilson (Calif.)
Pasadena (Calif.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
San Gabriel Mountains (Calif.) -- Photographs
Photograph albums
Photographs
Glass plate negatives
Film negatives
Negatives (photographs)
Audiocassettes
Videocassettes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Wire recordings
Carnegie Institution of Washington
Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories.
Mount Wilson Observatory
Mount Wilson Solar Observatory
Adams, Walter S. (Walter Sydney), 1876-1956
Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955 -- Photographs.
Ellerman, Ferdinand, 1869-1940
Hale, George Ellery,
1868-1938
Hubble, Edwin, 1889-1953
Yerkes Observatory