Collections

The University of Chicago cares for a variety of materials related to Yerkes Observatory:

Glass plate negatives

Yerkes Observatory cares for nearly 200,000 glass plate negatives dating from 1897 to the 1990s. The strengths of the collection include early photographic sky surveys and spectra.

The majority of plates are not yet digitized, as the UChicago team explores the possibilities of cost-effective digitization using off the shelf equipment. However, there are still multiple ways to access the collection, including LUNA, Knowledge@UChicago, and series inventories.

Spectra of Nova Herculis

IR11471, December 26, 1943

Spectra measures the elements that make up stars as well as their temperature and density. This spectra is of Nova Herculis, a highly studied bright nova. It was first observed by J. P. M. Prentice of Suffolk, England in December 1934.

Logbooks

More than 100 logbooks document the specifications of glass plate negatives housed at Yerkes Observatory. The logbooks are treasure troves of information about the plates, the photographic process, and the people making, measuring, and interpreting the images. Librarians, astronomers, and students are working to digitize and transcribe the logbook data to make it searchable, unlocking these resources in new ways.

A lined notebook open to a 2 page spread. There are 14 columns from left to right. They are plate number star, right ascension (indicated with a lowercase Greek alpha), Date, C.S.T. middle, Exposure, eyepiece slide Hr. Angle Pos. Tel. Seeing, Transparency, Observer, Sky, and Remarks. There are handwritten notes in each of the columns.
Logbook for Pi series

Sample spread from a logbook recording information about the Pi series of plates.

A lined notebook open to a 2 page spread. The first column records the plate number, the second records the date, object, right ascension and declination, and exposure time information. All information is written in a neat penmanship.
Logbook for S series

Sample spread from a logbook recording information about the Sullivan series of plates.

Yerkes Photo Archives

The Yerkes Photo Archive contains more than 4,800 documentary photos depicting the construction of the main observatory building and the installation of instruments, the work of astronomers and staff, astronomical expeditions to sites including Sumatra and Catalina Island, and important visitors, among them Albert Einstein.

Black and white photo of large group of people standing in desert. Three large rock formation are behind them. All are wearing hats, and are dressed in a variety of clothing, including suits and ties, coveralls, and skirts and blouses.
Solar Eclipse Expedition to Green River, Wyoming, 1918

University of Chicago Photographic Archive, [apf6-00786], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Black and white image of 3 people in a room with a large telescope in the upper left corner. 2 people work at a desk adjusting knobs on equipment. The 3rd stands at a larger, separate piece of equipment adjusting knobs. The room is made of brick, with a balcony around the outside of the second floor.
Astronomers wait to open the Century of Progress, 1933

University of Chicago Photographic Archive, [apf6-00458], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Special Collections

The Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center cares for the archival records of Yerkes Observatory, including materials from the Office of the Director, logbooks and notebooks, records of the Astrophysical Journal, and papers of astronomers and administrators relating to both the scientific endeavors and administration of the Observatory.

Typed letter from Philip Fox to Otto Struve about happenings at the Yerkes Observatory and Adler Planetarium.
Letter to Otto Struve from Philip Fox, 1935

University of Chicago. Yerkes Observatory. Office of the Director. Records, [Box 154, Folder 6], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

List of names typed on copy paper, "summer 1915" written in pencil at the top.
List of persons at Yerkes, Summer 1915

Morgan, W. W. Papers, [Box 49, Folder 4], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library


Support for this project comes from the National Science Foundation (Grant AST-2101781), University of Chicago College Innovation Fund, John Crerar Foundation, Kathleen and Howard Zar Science Library Fund, Institute on the Formation of Knowledge, and Yerkes Future Foundation.