Frank P. Brackett Collection, 1887-1953

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Summary

Creators:
Brackett, Frank P.
Abstract:
The Frank P. Brackett collection include his manuscript for Granite and Sagebrush and the History of Pomona Valley; documents about the Belgium Relief Fund; his students' papers, tests, and homework with the syllabi for the classes he taught at Pomona College; pamphlets written by and about Professor Brackett and the Brackett observatory; meteorological, weather, and sun observations recorded for the U.S. Weather Bureau at the Brackett Observatory on the Pomona College campus; maps; and catalogs for astronomical equipment; 52 wood blocks used for an article about astronomy observations.
Extent:
7 feet (14 boxes)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes astronomy equipment catalogs; student homework assignments, tests, and syllabi for a couple of courses from 1926 to 1932 and professional publications; government documents from the U.S. Weather Bureau from 1892 to 1949; scientific observations of the Leonid meteor, Perseid meteor, and sun spot observations; 52 wood blocks used for an article; a manuscript about the Brackett Observatory; maps of ranches in Los Angeles County California and celestial maps; catalogs from astronomy equipment companies; selective service documents from World War I; correspondence between Captain A. W. Stevens and himself; a biographical history of early pioneers of the Claremont area; lecture and class notes; and World War I documents.

Biographical / historical:

Dr. Brackett graduated from Dartmouth College in 1887. After he graduated he moved to California. He taught astronomy, mathematics, and Latin at Pomona College from 1892 to 1932. In 1912, he took a sabbatical. He travelled to Algeria to conduct experiments. During World War I, he took another leave of absence from teaching, to participate in the Belgium Relief Fund (also known as the Commission for Belgian Relief. Also, at that time, he worked closely with Captain A. W. Stevens in Los Angeles on the Selective Service during World War I. Brackett joined the R.O.T.C. at Angel Island, in the San Francisco harbor, during the 1920s. From 1892 to 1932 Dr. Brackett, his colleagues and his students, as well as members of the community observed climatical, meteorological, and solar observations at the Brackett Observatory on the Pomona College campus for the United States Department of Agriculture and later the Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau.

Acquisition information:
Gift given from Allison Howell, 2004.
Arrangement:

Series 1 Astronomy Equipment Catalogs

Series 2 Pomona College

Subseries 2.1 Astronomy students' homework

Subseries 2.2 Astronomy curriculum

Series 3 Meteor and Solar observations

Subseries 3.1 Leonid and Perseid observations

Subseries 3.2 Solar observations

Series 4 Government documents

Subseries 4.1 Los Angeles Flood Control,

Subseries 4.2 U.S. Agricultural Department, Weather Bureau, Meteorological record, 1893-1945

Series 5 Copper and lead printing blocks

Series 6 Photographs

Series 7 Correspondence

Series 8 Walter T. Whitney

Physical location:
Special Collections. Honnold/Mudd Library.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
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